The goal of the Irrigation and Agricultural Water Management (IAWM) educational programs is to prepare students to be wise managers of irrigation, water resources, and agricultural systems.
The need for professionals in agricultural water management is great, yet few universities in the U.S. have maintained educational programs in irrigation engineering and management.
UNL is well positioned to address this gap with several irrigation faculty and synergy with Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI). Nebraska has more irrigated acres than any other state and is home to the irrigation industry (the four largest center pivot manufacturers, power and pumping systems, water conveyance systems, service providers, etc.).
As a land-grant university, we maintain a strong connection with the irrigation industry by equipping students to work in the irrigation profession and integrating current technology into irrigation coursework. Our programs focus on irrigated agriculture in Nebraska, the Great Plains, and internationally.

Undergraduate programs
Undergraduate students interested in irrigation typically major in Agricultural Engineering or Agricultural Systems Technology. Students learn about the fundamentals of irrigation from a systems perspective, as well as current technology and issues related to irrigation and water resources. Students often find summer internships, either in industry or with faculty doing irrigation research. Job opportunities after graduation include irrigation industry, government, international development, and graduate school.
Undergraduate courses
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AGST/MYSM 452 Irrigation Systems Management (fall semesters)
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AGEN 453 Irrigation and Drainage Systems Engineering (fall semesters)

Graduate programs
By working closely with faculty, students learn about current research and technology as well as the fundamentals of irrigation. Key components of a graduate education in irrigation include field experience, a systems perspective, and learning to think critically about issues related to irrigation, agriculture, and water resources. Student projects are often interdisciplinary in nature, and students often have the opportunity to present at professional conferences.
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Specialization option
The Irrigation and Agricultural Water Management (IAWM) graduate specialization is available to both MS students and PhD students in the BSE department. Unique in the country, the specialization is designed to provide in-depth expertise on irrigation, at the graduate level, for students pursuing irrigation careers in industry, government, research, teaching, or extension. The specialization is credentialed and will be listed on the student’s transcript.
Learn more7-12 Irrigation and Water Management Curriculum
UNL Extension is a leader in irrigation management and has developed Irrigation and Agricultural Water Management lessons, YouTube videos, and other curricula to use in the classroom. These materials were created with funds from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
Visit siteIAWM Faculty
- Dean Eisenhauer, Emeritus Professor
- Derek Heeren, Associate Professor
- Abia Katimbo, Assistant Professor
- William Kranz, Emeritus Professor
- Wei-zhen Liang, Research Assistant Professor
- Derrel Martin, Emeritus Professor
- Peter McCornick, Professor and Executive Director, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
- Aaron Mittelstet, Associate Professor
- Francisco Munoz-Arriola, Associate Professor
- Christopher Neale, Professor and Director of Research, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
- Xin Qiao, Assistant Professor
- Randall Ritzema, Courtesy Research Associate Professor and Research Program Scientist, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
- Daran Rudnick, Associate Professor
- Saleh Taghvaeian, Associate Professor
- Ron Yoder, Professor and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Contact Information
For more information about UNL's educational programs in irrigation, contact Dr. Derek Heeren at derek.heeren@unl.edu.