Course Syllabus

Welcome to CEE 3430 Engineering Hydrology, Spring 2026

Instructor:  Professor David Tarboton, david.tarboton@usu.edu

Office: UWRL 244 (most of time), ENGR 223 (for office hours)

Teaching Assistants: Motasem Abualqumboz (motasem.abualqumboz@usu.edu), Ehsan Ebrahimi (ehsan.ebrahimi@usu.edu), Sam Anderson (a02346409@usu.edu)  

Class Time: MWF, 1:30 - 2:20, ENGR 302

Office Hours:
Mon 2:30-3:30 (Dr. Tarboton). Room ENLAB 211
Fri 11:30-12:30 (Dr. Tarboton). Room ENLAB 211
Additional office hour sessions will be arranged with TA’s as needed.

Textbook:

Mays, L. W., (2011) Ground and Surface Water Hydrology, John Wiley & Sons, 704 p. 

We will only use Chapters 1-4 and 7-9 from this book.  These chapters are available as a Custom Book for this class: Hydrology ePDF by Mays. There are printed versions in the campus bookstore and an e-book is also available.

This course requires all-inclusive digital materials that are paid for through an “Auto Access Digital Materials” charge placed on your student account when you registered for the course. To access the materials, visit the Canvas course site. For more details, including dates, deadlines, and opt-out info, visit your Bookshelf in Canvas.

Additional Course Materials:

Hydrologic Modeling System HEC-HMS User’s Manual.  Available online at http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-hms/documentation.aspx

HydroLearn Learning Modules:

Topics:

  1. Occurrence of Groundwater
  2. Groundwater Movement
  3. Well Hydraulics
  4. Surface Hydrologic Processes
  5. Surface Runoff
  6. Reservoir and Streamflow Routing

Course Description:

Provides a basic understanding of engineering hydrology through the hydrologic cycle, watershed characteristics, rainfall-runoff processes, infiltration and evaporation, streamflow analysis, groundwater flow, and related designs.

Course Objectives:

Successful students will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental hydrologic processes and be able to solve fundamental problems within hydrologic modeling, analysis, and design. General course objectives are to:

  1. Gain factual knowledge.
  2. Learn fundamental principles and theories.
  3. Learn to apply course materials to solve problems.

Expectations and Philosophy:

Hydrology requires you to draw from past classes and from real life experiences in the watersheds we all live in or visit. I expect that students learn how to think critically in any class they take. In this class, I expect that you begin thinking through complicated hydrologic responses and systems by first tackling the smaller pieces (or hydrologic processes) and their influence. By the end of the class, you should have an understanding of key hydrologic processes, how to estimate them, and how they can be combined to solve engineering problems. You will be expected to understand how water moves in natural and managed environments and how to use water balances to account for where it goes.

I will provide a context for the topics covered in class so that you know why we are doing things. Examples of real problems encountered that use each concept will be provided. If a person understands ‘why’ they are doing something, I think they will more clearly understand ‘how’ to do something. At this time in your student career, we expect you to be initiators, especially if there are problems.  If there is confusion or help is needed, take the responsibility to seek out the necessary help. 

Grading Policy:                                                        Letter Grades:

      Assignments............................. 35%                    92%.... A             90%.... A-

      Three midterms (each).......... 15%                     87%.... B+           84%.... B   

      Final exam............................. 20%                       80%.... B-            77%.... C+

                                                                                   74%.... C             70%.... C-

                                                                                   65%.... D+           60%.... D

Homework Assignments:

There will be homework assignments given most weeks throughout the semester. These assignments are always due before lecture starts unless otherwise indicated. If you turn the assignment in late, we will take 10% off for each day it is late up to 50% off.

We will post an example of the appropriate format for homework. Include a problem statement, show all equations, steps, units, and unit conversions, and clearly identify your answer to the problem. All homework will be submitted electronically via Canvas as a single PDF file. If you write out your assignment on engineering paper you will need to scan and upload as a .pdf file. Scanners are available in the computer labs and there are free phone apps such as CamScanner and Adobe Scan. If you take a picture of your paper with your phone make sure it is of sufficient quality to be clear when combined into the single PDF file you turn in. Do not submit multiple and separate individual photograph files. You may also create your homework on a tablet or word document if it is well organized. Submit the whole assignment as a single pdf and put the assignment number in the file name — e.g., “HW1.pdf”. Canvas will automatically append your name to the file name. If you upload files that are not clear, easy to read, or easy to grade, you will have one opportunity to upload a new file without penalty. If you repeatedly upload files that do not meet the requirements, you will be penalized 10% each time. If you do not produce an appropriate file, you will get a zero on the assignment. If you have questions or need help, please contact the instructor or the teaching assistants.

Exams:

There will be three midterm exams and a final exam.  Each of the three midterm exams count as 15% of your overall grade and will include all material covered prior to the exam. The final exam is comprehensive and is worth 20%.  Exams will be in person and you are expected to bring a calculator. Computers and cell phones cannot be used and you may not communicate with anyone other than the instructor during an exam.

Cell Phones/Computers:

When you come to class, please make sure your cell phone is off or on silent. You are welcome to take notes on computers/tablets, but please do not work on other things during class. Our goal is to make this a great learning environment by limiting distractions for all students.

Academic Integrity:

The University expects that students and faculty alike maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. The Code of Policies and Procedures for Students at Utah State University (Student Conduct) addresses academic integrity and honesty and notes the following:

Academic Integrity: Students have a responsibility to promote academic integrity at the University by not participating in or facilitating others' participation in any act of academic dishonesty and by reporting all violations or suspected violations of the Academic Integrity Standard to their instructors.

The Honor Pledge: To enhance the learning environment at USU and to develop student academic integrity, each student agrees to the following Honor Pledge: "I pledge, on my honor, to conduct myself with the foremost level of academic integrity". Violations of the Academic Integrity Standard (academic violations) include, but are not limited to cheating, falsification, and plagiarism.

Plagiarism:

The University states that plagiarism includes knowingly "representing by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person as one's own in any academic exercise or activity without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials." The penalties for plagiarism are severe. They include warning or reprimand, grade adjustment, probation, suspension, expulsion, withholding of transcripts, denial or revocation of degrees, and referral to psychological counseling.

We encourage you to collaborate with classmates on homework, including discussing the solution approach and checking final answers. However, the following are prohibited:

  • copying someone else’s assignment, or allowing another student to copy yours  
  • using common spreadsheets on homework
  • using material from previous years’ classes  
  • using the instructor’s solution manual from this class’s textbook

Other unacceptable behavior is listed in the student code at the link above. An academic violation may result in a zero on that assignment. Further violations may result in a grade of “F” for the course or other disciplinary measures as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. ALL violations will be reported to the University based on the student code requirements. If you have questions, please let us know.

Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct:

General Overview

USU strives to provide an environment for students and employees that is free from discrimination and sexual misconduct. If you experience sexual misconduct or discrimination at any point during the semester inside or outside of class, you are encouraged to contact the USU Title IX Coordinator via Distance Education room 400 in Logan, 435-797-1266, titleix@usu.edu, or at crtix.usu.edu/report. You can learn more about the USU resources available for individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct at sexualrespect.usu.edu. Resources for individuals who have experienced discrimination are listed at crtix.usu.edu/resources.

Required Reporting of Sexual Misconduct and Threats of Harm

USU cares about our students and provides a number of resources and supportive measures to students who may be experiencing thoughts of self-harm or who have experienced sexual misconduct. To ensure students are informed about resources and services available to them, including available grievance or criminal processes for incidents of sexual misconduct, USU has implemented reporting policies and practices that require designated employees to report any information they receive about incidents of sexual misconduct. This reporting policy also assists USU with its efforts to prevent sexual misconduct and keep our campus community safe. 

Under USU’s sexual misconduct reporting policy, your instructor and TA’s are designated as "reporting employee." This means that if you share information with us about incidents of sexual misconduct (sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship violence, or sex-based stalking), including within a course assignment, we are required to report that information to the USU Title IX Coordinator. I will also share with you information about designated confidential resources, supportive measures, and how you can file a report with the USU Title IX Coordinator.

Self-disclosures about sexual misconduct that you experienced are not required for your course work.

If you disclose thoughts of harm to yourself or a threat to others to me, including within a course assignment, I will report the information to the appropriate campus administrators. I will also share with you information about the mental health and wellness resources available to you. 

Students with Disabilities:

USU welcomes students with disabilities. If you have, or suspect you may have, a physical, mental health, or learning disability that may require accommodations in this course, please contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) as early in the semester as possible (University Inn # 101, 435‐797‐2444, drc@usu.edu). All disability related accommodations must be approved by the DRC. Once approved, the DRC will coordinate with faculty to provide accommodations.

Assumption of Risk

All classes, programs, and extracurricular activities within the university involve some risk, and certain ones involve travel. The university provides opportunities to participate in these programs on a voluntary basis. Therefore, students should not participate in them if they do not care to assume the risks. Students can ask the respective program leaders/sponsors about the possible risks a program may generate, and if students are not willing to assume the risks, they should not select that program. By voluntarily participating in classes, programs, and extracurricular activities, students do so at their own risk. General information about university risk management policies, insurance coverage, vehicle use policies, and risk management forms can be found at www.usu.edu/risk. (https://catalog.usu.edu/pages/eVqk9JaBKGKBwIMMAtox)

Mental Health

Mental health is critically important for the success of USU students. As a student, you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. Utah State University provides free services for students to assist them with addressing these and other concerns. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Students are also encouraged to download the “SafeUT App” to their smartphones. The SafeUT application is a 24/7 statewide crisis text and tip service that provides real-time crisis intervention to students through texting and a confidential tip program that can help anyone with emotional crises, bullying, relationship problems, mental health, or suicide related issues.