The WRESE PhD program is designed to enhance the UW strategic planning goals in a variety of ways. Notably, the emphasis on water-related teaching and research programs at the graduate level will:

1. Link and amplify the use of existing faculty expertise and research facilities associated with water resources;
2. Link students to international programs of post-graduate instruction, such as HydroEurope, and HydroAsia, and regional programs surrounding Wyoming
3. Produce more graduates with advanced degrees directly related to water-resource science, engineering, and management
4. Enable students to pursue thesis research under a thesis adviser in a department differing from the student's undergraduate-degree major (e.g., a science major student advised by an engineering adviser);
5. Facilitate faculty in departments not offering Ph.D. degree related to water resources the opportunity to participate in a Ph.D. program that does Facilitate comprehensive, and at times innovative, curricular opportunities;
6. Substantially help recruitment of high-quality graduate students in water-resource disciplines;
7. Substantially help recruitment of talented faculty, and research experts, in water-resource disciplines; and
8. Promote inter-program collaboration between water-resource disciplines, UW's Program in Ecology, Haub School & Ruckelshaus Instutue for Environment and Natural Resources.