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Studies & Degrees in Irrigation

Irrigation is the controlled supply of water to crops, pasture, gardens and sports turf when rainfall is not enough. As a field of study it sits between agriculture, engineering and water management. Students learn how much water a crop needs and when, how to bring water from a river, reservoir or well to the field, and how to design, install, run and maintain the systems that apply it, from surface channels to sprinklers and drip lines.

The subject matters because farming is the largest user of fresh water. According to the AQUASTAT database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 69 percent of global water withdrawals are agricultural. The FAO also states that 23 percent of all croplands are equipped for irrigation, and that more than 60 percent of irrigated land lies in areas of high or very high water stress. Producing the same harvest with less water is therefore a theme of every course.

What students learn

  • soil, water and plant relationships, and how to calculate crop water requirements
  • hydraulics: pumps, pipes, pressure and flow
  • design and installation of surface, sprinkler and drip systems
  • irrigation scheduling with sensors, weather data and software; the FAO names AquaCrop and CROPWAT as decision-support tools for this
  • drainage, salinity and water quality
  • maintenance and repair of pumps and field equipment
  • water rights, water users' associations and the management of irrigation schemes

Irrigation is not only agricultural. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that water is also used to irrigate golf courses, parks, plant nurseries and turf farms, and some courses focus on this landscape and turf side.

Qualifications and levels

Irrigation is rarely the title of a degree. It is usually a course, a specialisation or an internship option inside a wider programme.

  • Two-year college programmes. In the United States and Canada, community colleges and polytechnics teach irrigation within applied agriculture programmes. At Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, the Associate of Applied Science in Precision Agriculture takes 2 years (67-68 credits) and includes a course in Precision Irrigation Management. The college's Mechanized Agriculture degree covers planting, irrigation and harvesting systems, and its Agronomy students work on the 500-acre Acklie Family College Farm.
  • Bachelor's degrees. At university level, irrigation belongs to agricultural or biological engineering and to agronomy. In Spain, a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, and the ministerial order for degrees that give access to the profession of Ingeniero Técnico Agrícola lists irrigation systems and technology ("Sistemas y tecnología del riego") and irrigation and drainage ("Riegos y drenajes") among the required content.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. Graduates can specialise in irrigation engineering, hydrology or water resources management. Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
  • Short courses. Installers, designers and farm staff can take short courses on a specific system or on water management. Ask the provider what recognition the certificate has.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 2 active schools for irrigation, one in the United States and one in Canada. Both teach in English.

The Canadian entry is Lethbridge Polytechnic (formerly Lethbridge College) in Alberta, which appears in the directory through its English Language Centre. Its Agriculture Sciences programme is a two-year diploma, and the institution has a 385-acre research farm with irrigation, precision agriculture, crop storage and greenhouse production.

Because irrigation is taught inside other programmes, it is worth searching under agricultural engineering, agronomy, horticulture and water management as well. When comparing programmes, check whether the school has its own irrigated farm or laboratory, how many hours are spent in the field, and whether an internship with a farm, an equipment dealer or a water authority is part of the course.

Careers

Graduates work as irrigation technicians and installers, system designers, farm water managers, advisers for equipment manufacturers and dealers, staff of irrigation districts and water authorities, and, with an engineering degree, as agricultural engineers. Landscape companies, golf courses and public parks also employ irrigation specialists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in an engineering field, and their employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. The Bureau expects them to keep working on precision and automated farming technologies for irrigation, spraying and harvesting.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take a degree in irrigation only?

Rarely. Irrigation is usually a course or specialisation inside a programme in precision agriculture, agronomy or agricultural engineering, so compare the irrigation content of those programmes.

How long does it take to study irrigation?

A college programme with irrigation content, such as the Associate of Applied Science in Precision Agriculture at Northeast Community College, takes 2 years. A bachelor's degree (grado) in agricultural engineering in Spain has 240 ECTS credits.

Do I need mathematics and physics?

Yes, at least at a basic level. Irrigation design relies on hydraulics, which involves pressure, flow and pump calculations, and engineering degrees go considerably further.

Why is irrigation an important subject?

According to the FAO, 69 percent of global water withdrawals are agricultural and more than 60 percent of irrigated land lies in areas of high or very high water stress, so efficient irrigation is needed to grow food with less water.