Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Master of Science Degree Program

Environmental and Sustainable Engineering (ESE) is a discipline that builds on knowledge, discovery, and information from mathematics and basic sciences to solve critical environmental problems at the local, national, and global scales. The MS ESE program aims to prepare a highly skilled workforce with advanced knowledge to embark on the mission of protecting human health and the environment. This workforce will be equipped with deep understanding of the ESE field and state-of-the-art technologies and tools through well-designed coursework and research. The research component of the MS ESE program focuses on four concentration areas: 1) water and wastewater; 2) air quality monitoring and control; 3) human health and the environment; and 4) sustainability engineering.

The course work for each area of concentration consists of a set of required core courses, a set of elective courses in the concentration areas, and elective courses related to the four areas but offered by other units on campus.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants are expected to have an ABET accredited bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering. Applicants from other areas will be considered on a case by case basis. The MS ESE program admission policies and procedures will verify and enforce the requirement that each entering student to the program has completed a set of post-secondary educational and professional experiences which satisfy student attainment outcomes defined in the general ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) criteria for baccalaureate level engineering programs, and the curriculum requirements. If the student has graduated from an EAC of ABET - accredited baccalaureate program, the presumption is that both criteria have been satisfied.

For students entering the MS program without engineering degrees, but from quantitative science backgrounds such as chemistry, physics, meteorology, etc., they would need to take at least three (3) 400-level ESE courses specifically related to their research projects (for thesis option) or chosen concentration areas (non-thesis option). A grade of B or above for each course is required in order to be fully admitted to the MS program.

For students entering the MS program without engineering degrees, but from less quantitative backgrounds such as biology, public health etc., they would need to take at least two (2) 300 level ESE courses and at least three (3) 400-level ESE courses specifically related to their research projects (for thesis option) or chosen concentration areas (non-thesis option). A grade of B or above for each course is required in order to be fully admitted to the MS program.

Program Requirements - 30 credits

Thesis Option - 30 Credits

• Depth – Core courses for all Concentration Areas (12 credits)
  1. Ese 501 Environmental Physical and Chemical Processes (3)
  2. Ese 515 Biological Treatment Processes (3)
  3. Ese 533 Sustainable Air Pollution Management (3)
  4. Ese 552 Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering (3)
• Breadth – Elective courses in the selected Concentration Area (6 credits)
• Electives outside of the concentration (3 credits)
• Thesis (9 credits minimum)

Non-Thesis Option - 30 Credits

• Depth – Core courses for all Concentration Areas (12 credits)
  1. Ese 501 Environmental Physical and Chemical Processes (3)
  2. Ese 515 Biological Treatment Processes (3)
  3. Ese 533 Sustainable Air Pollution Management (3)
  4. Ese 552 Nonpoint Source Pollution Engineering (3)
• Breadth – Elective courses in the selected Concentration Area (15 credits)
• Projects Course or Master’s Project (3 credits)

The course categories are:

• Depth: 12 credit hours (4 courses) are required in core courses for all concentration areas.
• Breadth: Elective courses chosen from the student’s concentration area.
• Elective(s) outside the concentration: Courses within and beyond the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), mathematics (Mat), physics (Phy), biology, (Bio), chemistry (Chm), and environmental health sciences (Ehs).
• Thesis: a minimum of 9 credit hours of thesis (thesis option).
• Project Course or Master’s Project: non-thesis option students are required to take one of the designated ESE Project Courses or do a 3 credit Master’s Project as a culminating experience. In the Project Courses, students investigate state-of-the-art technologies and topics in an area within ESE through the study of current publications, student class presentations, and a major project.