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Environmental Engineering, Master of Science
This program prepares students who want to further their engineering education by acquiring new knowledge and skills to tackle important engineering challenges, including resilience and sustainability. The plan of study features real-world relevancy and considers how sustainable and resilient systems impact economics, design, usability, and society.
Requirements Accordion Open
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
- All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
Read the full policy here.
Overview Accordion Closed
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research is required. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
Purpose Statement
The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering aims to educate environmental engineers to conduct analytical and experimental studies in water quality analysis, water and wastewater design, solid and hazardous waste management, and air quality engineering. Examples of content areas include ecosystem restoration, analysis of the movement of toxic metals in the landscape and aquatic systems, advanced wastewater treatment using algae and microbial unit operations, energy and resource recovery from wastewater, and water and sanitation in developing countries. The learning experiences provided by the program prepare students to enter the workforce with advanced skills or to pursue further studies in a doctoral program. The program also aims at increasing competitiveness in the local, regional, and global markets, advancing existing careers, or serving as a gateway to the PhD degree.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to apply graduate level critical thinking skills to formulate and solve advanced environmental engineering problems including those at the water-energy nexus, those with multi-stakeholder decision-making needs, and those with significant impact on public health and ecosystems.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently identify sources and distill relevant information from the literature on advanced environmental engineering topics including emerging trends in air, water, and soil quality, sampling and data capture techniques, analytical tools, and management of remediation processes.
- Demonstrate the ability to document and explain advanced environmental engineering solutions to a variety of audiences, including peers, the general public, interested stakeholders, and non-technically-trained decision makers.
Details Accordion Closed
Graduate Admission Information
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:- Transcripts.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Additional Admission Requirements
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- BS degree in Engineering or completion of prerequisite courses.
- See the Civil and Environmental Engineering website for details.
- Personal Statement or Essay
- Three Letters of Recommendation
For those applying for fall 2025 and beyond, the following will also be required:
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Recommended
- GRE® Revised General Test
Master's Requirements
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
- Graduate-Level Mathematics or Statistics: 3 units
- Environmental Engineering Coursework: 12 units
- Additional Electives: 9 units
- Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select One: 6 units
- Non-Thesis Option
- Thesis Option
Take the following 30 units:
Graduate-Level Mathematics or Statistics (3 units)
- Select a graduate-level (500-level or higher) mathematics or statistics course (3 units)
Environmental Engineering Coursework (12 units)
Additional Electives (9 units)
- Selected in consultation with your advisor.
- A maximum of 2 courses, up to 6 units, may be at the 400-level.
- You must complete at least 18 hours of formal coursework, other than such individualized studies as independent study, directed readings, thesis, project and research.
Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select One (6 units)
Non-Thesis Option (6 units)
- Additional CENE electives or CENE 690 (Project)
- Students completing a non-thesis, coursework, project, or track option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Thesis Option (6 units)
- CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of approved thesis.
- Students selecting a thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Since the Environmental Engineering MS program emphasizes interdisciplinary topics, students may wish to take courses outside of their primary emphasis area. Some courses may require prior completion of prerequisite courses. Other requirements for Civil Engineering Master of Science students include the following:
- You are responsible for choosing the chair and members of your advisory committee before completing 9 units of coursework.
- You must submit a plan of study that lists all coursework intended to satisfy the MS degree requirements by the first month of the semester in which you take your 10th credit. The elective and math/statistics courses are selected in consultation with and acceptable to the student's graduate committee and its chair.
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate plans are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and start a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at NAU.
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Master's Requirements
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:- Graduate-Level Mathematics or Statistics: 3 units
- Environmental Engineering Coursework: 18 units
- Additional Electives: 3 units
- Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select One: 6 units
- Non-Thesis Option
- Thesis Option
Take the following 30 units:
Graduate-Level Mathematics or Statistics (3 units)
- Select a graduate-level (500-level or higher) mathematics or statistics course (3 units)
Additional Electives (3 units)
- Selected in consultation with your advisor.
- You must complete at least 18 hours of formal coursework, other than such individualized studies as independent study, directed readings, thesis, project and research.
Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select One (6 units)
Non-Thesis Option (6 units)
- Additional CENE electives or CENE 690 (Project)
- Students completing a non-thesis, coursework, project, or track option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Thesis Option (6 units)
- CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of approved thesis.
- Students selecting a thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Since the Environmental Engineering MS program emphasizes interdisciplinary topics, students may wish to take courses outside of their primary emphasis area. Some courses may require prior completion of prerequisite courses. Other requirements for Civil Engineering Master of Science students include the following:
- You are responsible for choosing the chair and members of your advisory committee before completing 9 units of coursework.
- You must submit a plan of study that lists all coursework intended to satisfy the MS degree requirements by the first month of the semester in which you take your 10th credit. The elective and math/statistics courses are selected in consultation with and acceptable to the student's graduate committee and its chair.
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
- Program Fee Information
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.
Application Deadlines Accordion Closed
Application Requirements Accordion Closed
- Statement of Purpose - This should be a short letter addressed to the Admissions Committee. It should state your reason for pursuing the intended degree, what relevant experience you already have, and what experience you hope to gain by completing the degree.
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume - This is an extended version of your resume. It should provide more information on your studies and experiences, and support your statement of purpose.
- Three letters of Recommendation - These should come from individuals who could provide insight on your readiness and ability to successfully complete your graduate studies (e.g. faculty members, technical supervisors, or other individuals from the field in which you wish to pursue the degree). Within the online application you will be required to input the email addresses of your references and the system will automatically send the letter of recommendation request to each of them.
- Test Scores -
- The GRE test is required for applicants earning their undergraduate degree at an institution other than Northern Arizona University. Competitive GRE scores are expected. Quantitative scores over 151, Verbal scores over 148, and Written scores over 3.0 are encouraged. Report your official GRE test scores to NAU using ETS code 4006.
- International applicants from non-English speaking countries (or international applicants that didn't complete prior degrees at an institution using English as language of instruction) must submit TOEFL, IELTS or DuoLingo scores. The minimum scores accepted for TOEFL, IELTS and DuoLingo are 80, 6.5, and 105 respectively. Applicants with lower scores may be considered for the Program in Intensive English.
- Transcript(s) - Unofficial transcripts must be included in your application. GPA over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected. Domestic students with GPA over 2.8 will be considered for conditional admission. Official transcripts are not required until admissions.
Financial Support Accordion Closed
- Graduate Assistantships - Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Research Assistantships are available on a competitive basis and availability varies based on the needs of the program. All graduate assistants receive health insurance, tuition remission, and a stipend. Full time graduate assistants, working 20 hours a week, receive 100% tuition remission, while part time graduate assistants, working 10 hours a week, receive 50% tuition remission. Stipend amounts vary by number of hours work and type of assistantship. Admitted students are automatically considered for teaching assistantships. Please contact our Department for more information on becoming a research assistant at NAU Engineering.
- Financial Aid - Students may be eligible for additional financial aid and scholarships. See the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies webpage on financing your education for more information.
Documents and Forms Accordion Closed
- Prerequisite Courses for MS Environmental Engineering
- Program of Study (by catalog year)
- MS Learning Objective Evaluation - Contact Department
- MS Thesis Proposal
- Thesis Advisory Committee Form