The quickest route to your Master’s degree is to enroll in a 4+1 program. This plan means that you roll from a bachelor’s degree to the next level. The curriculum is formatted so that you can complete your graduate degree in five years. Therefore, you shave one year off the traditional method, which involves a four-year undergraduate program followed by two years of graduate study.
You may not have to commit to the 4+1 program in your first year or two of college. Typically, you have until your junior year to finalize your plan to advance your education. Also, there can be courses required at the undergraduate level before being eligible to enter the master’s coursework. However, by reducing your college enrollment by one year does not equate to a more relaxed schedule. Often, the credit hours are the same as a two-year master’s. The average is 30 credits.
The following is a collection of schools with a 4+1 program in environmental engineering.
The major is more aligned with engineering than science. For this reason, some schools list their program within the engineering department, or in particular with civil engineering. An example of this relationship is Michigan Tech’s accelerated Master of Science in Civil or Environmental Engineering. Eligible students need to have a Bachelor of Science in Civil or Environmental Engineering. Upon acceptance into the accelerated program. The curriculum saves a year by allowing up to six approved credits in the bachelor’s degree also apply to your masters.
In your fifth year at Michigan Tech, you only need to complete 24 credits instead of the standard 30 credits. There is a minimum of 155-semester credits required for both degrees.
The University of South Florida’s (USF) Civil & Environmental Engineering Department offers a program similar to the above. USF has accelerated graduate programs, one of which is the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEV). If you have a 3.3 GPA or higher, you can receive double credits for six master’s level courses. The double count applies to both degrees.
At USF, you can choose either the MSEV or the Master of Environmental Engineering (MEVE). The latter is also an accelerated format. The difference is the MEVE is a non-thesis program, whereas the MSEV requires six credit hours of thesis. Both total 30 credits.
Cleveland State University (CSU) has a 4+1 accelerated program through their Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They offer a traditional Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEE) for students without an engineering bachelor’s degree. The accelerated program combines a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with the MSEE. Admission to the graduate program requires that you earn no fewer than 30 credits at CSU. As a student, you need at least sixty undergraduate hours before submitting your application.
The study plan allows up to twelve graduate credit hours to use toward your master’s requirements. You complete these hours during the undergraduate program. This allowance means you receive a graduate diploma in five years.
Traditional Master’s Program
Qualified students may consider the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at the University of North Dakota (UND). To be eligible, you need a Bachelor of Science from one of the engineering disciplines, namely civil, chemical, environmental, or geological. You may still apply; however, your acceptance will require a commitment to make up for your lack of engineering knowledge.
UND has a thesis and non-thesis option-the latter consists of 32-semester credits. The former is 30 credits. You may transfer up to eight credits in both formats from another learning institution. The program has the convenience of on-campus or online classes. You can earn your master’s degree in as few as eighteen months in either format.
Another online Master of Science in Engineering is at the University of California-Riverside. The program offers six specializations, one of which is titled Environmental Engineering Systems that concentrates on water chemistry and water treatment. The curriculum consists of sixteen engineering courses that establish a foundation in technology and systems. The concentration in water resources has the same number of credits. This phase explores chemistry and biology, as they affect treatment systems.
In as few as thirteen months, you will be able to advance your career or start one in water reclamation and treatment projects, water pollution control, and sustainability studies.
Norwich University’s Master of Civil Engineering is not as fast as the above program. They offer an online concentration in Environmental/Water Resources Engineering with an average completion time of eighteen months. The learning format has a total of 36 credit hours or six courses. Each course lasts eleven weeks.
The water resources specialization studies the biological and chemical processes involved in waste and potable water treatment. You also examine the influence of geology concerning groundwater flow and contamination, soil conditions, porous rock formations, and aquifers.
Additional Resources
What degree do I need to become an Environmental Engineer?
How Advanced Does My Degree in Environmental Engineering Need to Be to Get a Good Job?
What Master’s Degrees Should I Consider If I Want to Help the Environment?
What are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?
The Top 10 “Green” Careers for Nature-Lovers
30 Great Outdoor Jobs Requiring a College Degree
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Civil Engineer?
Top 10 Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Environmental Science
What Civil Engineering Courses Will I Have to Take for a Degree in Civil Engineering?
