Texas State's proximity to the San Marcos River and Spring Lake, the Aquarena Center and the Freeman Aquatic Biology Building provides students with a unique opportunity for study and research. The location also offers students access to a diversity of exceptional aquatic ecosystems throughout the Texas Hill Country and the Edwards Aquifer.<br><br>The aquatic resources program is a multidisciplinary program of study and research based on aquatic sciences and aquatic resource management.<br><br>The Department of Biology at Texas State offers a master of science with a major in aquatic resources, a thesis-based degree that requires a minimum of 31 credit hours of course work. Students can select one of two areas of concentration: aquatic biology or aquatic systems. Students in the aquatic biology concentration focus on the biology and ecology of aquatic organisms and the dynamics and management of aquatic ecosystems. Students in the aquatic systems concentration focus on understanding the structure and functioning of aquatic systems as integrated physical, biological, and socio-economic entities. The program emphasizes practices aimed at protecting, maintaining, and restoring the health and sustainable use of these resources.