Hydrogeology Field Course

  • Hydrogeology Field Course

    Hydrogeology Field Course

    Tom Howe and Dr. Matt Reeves with summer II semester hydrogeology field course students.

  • Students in protective gear receiving OSHA training.

    HAZWOPER

    All students receive 40-hour OSHA training.

  • Students watching stock drilling.

    Explore

    Geological investigations are critical to the understanding of the earth.

  • Students doing experiments in the field.

    The world is our lab!

    WMU geologists are outstanding in the field.

The Hydrogeology Field Course offered by the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University is one of very few hydro-technical programs in the United States. The program, developed in 1987, is directed by Tom Howe and Dr. Matt Reeves. This applied course has trained hundreds of students from around the nation and abroad. The Hydrogeology Field Course teaches the following skills: aquifer testing, environmental surface geophysics, groundwater sampling and monitoring, HAZWOPER training, remediation and well drilling and installation. The majority of the geophysical testing, field work and training for this course is conducted at the Asylum Lake research and training site, which was developed to provide advanced field work and hands-on experience.

Course dates - SUMMER 2021

Summer Session I

  • Geophysics: May 10-15
  • HAZWOPER: May 17-20
  • Drilling: May 24-29 
  • Sampling: June 1-5
  • Aquifer Testing: June 7-12
  • Remediation: June 14-18

Summer Session II

  • Geophysics: July 5-10
  • HAZWOPER: July 12-15
  • Drilling: July 19-24
  • Sampling: July 26-31
  • Aquifer Testing: Aug. 2-7
  • Remediation: Aug. 9-13

Application instructions - summer 2021

Registration for the HFC will begin on Jan. 1, 2021 and remain open until full. Those persons wishing to apply earlier than Jan. 1, 2021 may do so, but applications will not begin to be reviewed and processed until that date. The courses usually fill up quickly so the earlier you complete your registration the better chance you will have of securing a spot in the course. Enrollment is limited to qualified applicants with preference to those whom apply first and/or apply for multiple weeks. Places will be filled in the order in which registration fees and completed applications are received.

Summer 2021 application

Note: International students are required to enroll in consecutive module blocks, e.g., Modules 1 through 3, Modules 1 through 6.

In addition to our hydrogeology field course, the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences is also now offering a Certificate Program in Hydrogeology.

HFC prerequisites

Prerequisite: An introductory course in hydrogeology or equivalent. Each spring term, the Department offers GEOS 5120: Hydrogeology online. This course will satisfy the HFC prerequisite. 

Please note, you may be admitted without the prerequisite if you meet the following:

  • An appropriate level of relative experience 
  • Letters of recommendation explaining why you would be a good candidate for the course

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