The specialty of water conservancy and hydropower engineering was founded in 1952 with a history of more than 50 years. It is the earliest specialty of its kind in China and has trained the most students. At the beginning of its establishment, this major was hydraulic construction major of river hub and hydropower station, and later it was renamed as water conservancy and hydropower engineering major. 1998 according to the new professional catalogue of the Ministry of education, it was adjusted to the major of water conservancy and hydropower engineering. Every adjustment of professional name reflects the change of professional connotation. At present, the specialty of water conservancy and hydropower engineering covers the fields of survey, planning, design, construction, supervision and operation management of large and medium-sized water conservancy and hydropower hubs and river regulation, and further extends to water resources planning, engineering construction supervision, scientific research and strengthening capacity training. This major was awarded the brand specialty of Hohai University in 2002 and the brand specialty of Jiangsu Province in 2003.

The specialty of thermal energy and power engineering was formerly the specialty of hydropower station founded by 1958, and later changed to the specialty of power equipment of hydropower station, and 1986 changed to the specialty of water conservancy and hydropower power engineering. According to the new professional catalogue issued by the Ministry of Education 1998, the major of water conservancy, hydropower and power engineering has been adjusted to the major of thermal energy and power engineering.

Over the past 50 years, the School of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering has trained nearly 10,000 graduates for the country, and many of them have become outstanding experts and professors in their respective fields. Among them, there are many outstanding talents represented by, Wu Zhongru, Shen Zhujiang, Lu and Academician. 10 people have served as provincial and ministerial leading cadres, and more people have become the front-line business backbones of production, scientific research and teaching. After decades of construction and development, the specialty of water conservancy and hydropower engineering in our college has become an influential brand specialty in China. The college has also trained a large number of international students for developing countries in Asia and Africa.