In this rapidly changing and increasingly competitive technological world, graduate degrees are highly desirable and most often master’s degrees are required to hold higher-level professional environmental engineering positions in the industry, and in federal, state and municipal government agencies. The department’s graduate programs are designed to educate the technological leaders of the future in environmental engineering, and are structured to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. The specialty areas in environmental engineering include water quality, water and wastewater treatment, hydrologic processes, water resources, environmental engineering microbiology, air quality, hazardous and solid waste, biofuels, nutrient cycling, and pollution prevention. A distance learning master’s degree programs in Environmental Engineering is also available.
Program Highlights
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For the MS program, there are three options; Thesis option with 24 credit hours of coursework and a six credit hour thesis, Project option with 27 credit hours of coursework and a three-credit hour research project, and Course option with 30 credit hours of coursework and a final comprehension examination.
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Environmental Engineers
Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.
Environmental Engineering Technicians
Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientist. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.
Requirements
Environmental Engineering master's degree applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably, in civil or environmental engineering with a strong background in mathematics and physical sciences. Each applicant must submit an essay of 500 words or less describing personal and academic goals, professional objectives, preparation for graduate study, and how the chosen program will help the applicant achieve these goals and objectives. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted from former or current professors, or employment supervisors. Provisional admission may also be possible for applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than the applicant’s intended graduate program. In such cases there will be pre-requisite course requirements. Provisional admission may be given to those applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering; however, these students will be required to complete undergraduate coursework in addition to the graduate program requirements.
For Admission to the Environmental Engineering (M.S.) Program
Regular admission to a master’s degree program generally requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA may be considered for regular or provisional admission on the basis of successful engineering work experience or other credentials demonstrating potential for success in the graduate program.
The submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required unless the applicant holds an ABET accredited engineering degree from an institution.
TOEFL (or IELTS) is required for all applicants whose native language is not English unless their BS degrees are from USA institutions or countries where English is the primary language of the people.
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Cost of Attendance
We believe in providing students with transparent and accessible information about the cost of attendance.
Review the estimated tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year (subject to change). Non-resident rates are charged for anyone who is not a current Virginia resident, including international students.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Teaching & Research Assistantships
Teaching and research assistantships may be available on a competitive basis. The Civil and Environmental Engineering Visiting Council also offers Graduate Enhancement Awards to provide supplemental financial support to some of the graduate students who receive an assistantship.
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