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Environmental Engineering, MS

Environmental Engineering, MS

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Environmental Engineering, MS

Air Quality, Environmental Health Engineering, Wastewater, Water, Water Augmentation, Water Policy, Water Quality, Water Resources, Water Reuse, Water Supply, Water Treatment, approved for STEM-OPT extension, biological, chemical, public health, water pollution

Do you want to learn how environmental engineers create solutions for society's most pressing challenges? This is your opportunity to take environmental engineering courses and participate in research with faculty experts in water quality, water treatment and reuse, biotechnology, nanotechnology and emerging topics.

Program description
Degree awarded: MS  Environmental Engineering

The MS program in environmental engineering is designed for students who have a background in agricultural, biological, chemical, civil or environmental engineering or related fields.

The program provides students with advanced knowledge that can be applied when addressing grand challenges facing society, such as how to supply clean water and safe food, design a future without pollution, recover valuable resources from waste, and create healthy and smart cities.

Environmental engineers study nanotechnology, biotechnology and sustainable engineering.

STEM-OPT for international students on F-1 visas

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 36 months. This OPT work authorization term may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.

The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing the degree through ASU Online.

At a glance
Accelerated program options
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Degree requirements

30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours and a written comprehensive exam, or
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (EVE 593)

Required Core (12 credit hours)
CEE 561 Physical-chemical Treatment of Water and Waste (3)
CEE 562 Environmental Biochemistry and Waste Treatment (3)
CEE 563 Environmental Engineering Chemistry (3)
CEE 567 Environmental Microbiology (3)

Electives or Research (6-12 credit hours)

Other Requirements (6 credit hours)
CEE 560 Soil and Groundwater Remediation (3)
CEE 564 Contaminant Fate and Transport (3)
EVE 568 Environmental Risk Assessment (3)
EVE 571 Water Quality Modeling (3)

Culminating Experience (0-6 credit hours)
EVE 593 Applied Project (3) or
EVE 599 Thesis (6) or
written comprehensive exam (0)

Additional Curriculum Information
Students complete a thesis, complete an applied project or take a written comprehensive exam as the culminating experience. Regardless of the culminating experience chosen, all students in the program complete six credit hours from the Other Requirements course list. Other Requirement coursework may be substituted with approval of the academic unit.

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, agricultural engineering, biological engineering or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants are required to submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. three letters of recommendation
  4. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Those seeking a teaching assistantship must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English with a score of 55 or better on the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit or a score of 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL.

The student's credentials for admission are evaluated by the graduate program chair. A student whose undergraduate degree is not in environmental engineering or a related field is required to take appropriate undergraduate courses as deficiency courses to establish a base of knowledge in the discipline. Deficiencies for admission to the graduate degree program are specified at the time of admission.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a professional resume and personal statement.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Career opportunities

Graduates with a master's degree in environmental engineering are employed in engineering consulting companies, private industry, local and federal government and nongovernmental organizations.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program)?
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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