GO 740/PO 540

Hydropolitics and Water Resources in the 21st Century

Instructors: Dr. Marcia K. Schulmeister & Dr. John Barnett

Earth Science and Political Science Departments,

Emporia State University, Kansas, U.S.A.


UPDATE 7/1/2020 : This course will be taught in the future as a joint Emporia State University/University of Kansas collaboration.


Pingshan Dam, Hubei Province, China.Built to provide sustainability for the government and people (photo credit: Schulmeister, 2004).

Water supplies can impact the sustainable development of economy and society on local to global scales. Human response to the scarcity and abundance of water can also degrade the natural environment. This course will examine historical and modern issues surrounding the supply and management of water. Complex social, economic, and political case studies will be explored in detail. Fundamental hydrologic, geologic, and environmental concepts will be introduced, along with the importance o data-driven decision making. Both instructors are Fulbright Scholars with research experience in ASEAN countries. The course may be taken for either Earth Science or Social Science credit.

The course is taught via the internet using ESU's Canvas learning management system and is available to students enrolled in both on-campus and off-campus programs at ESU. On-campus students should ask their advisors to help them get enrolled in the course, following traditional on-campus enrollment procedures. Off-campus students should enroll through ESU's Distance Education program. To receive university credit for the course, students must be officially enrolled. Enrolled students will receive instructions for accessing course materials on the first day of class from the instructors.

  • Prerequisite

A introductory course in earth science, geology or geography or consent of instructor.

  • Textbooks

Chartres, C. and V. Samyuktha, 2010, Out of Water: From abundance to scarcity and how to solve the world's water problem. Pearson Education Inc., Upper Saddle River, N.J., 220 p.

Kerwin C.M. and S. R. Furlong, 2018 RUlemaking: How Government Agencies write Law and make Policy. 5th ed. CQ PRess, Thousand Oaks CA 281 p.,

  • Additional Readings will be assigned during class.

Distance-learning students may order textbooks online at the The Memorial Union Bookstore or by calling 620-341-6214. Etext versions fo both books are also available.