The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering program was created for students who have an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering or any other closely related degree in engineering. Applicants are expected to be knowledgeable in topics including chemistry, process design, water resources, and air pollution. The program focuses on pollution control, pollution prevention, and the correction of pollution effects on natural and man-made environments.
The program is noted for its strong faculty research interests, and areas of study include drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, atmospheric pollution control and modeling, environmental water resources, and stormwater management. The program's overall mission is to prepare students for careers in environmental engineering with consulting firms; with industry; within federal, state, and local governments; and/or in higher education.
The program's overall mission is to prepare students for Environmental Engineering careers in federal, state, and local governments; higher education; consulting; and industry. Other key objectives include:
- Producing graduates who have technical knowledge in critical areas of environmental engineering
- Providing a professional engineering education that challenges our graduates to think critically
- Forming and maintaining partnerships with industry, government agencies, and professional organizations
- Developing awareness of the changing environmental needs of society and the global environment.
The Environmental Engineering MSEnvE program offers both thesis and nonthesis options with each requiring 30 credit hours of courses beyond the bachelor's degree. Prerequisites are required depending upon the discipline of a student's bachelor's degree. The thesis option is primarily for those who can devote a full-time effort to their research project and is required for all students supported by contracts and grants, as well as any student receiving department financial support. The nonthesis option is recommended strongly for part-time students and requires submission of an end-of-program portfolio as a requirement for graduation.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
This program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please view the licensure disclosure for the program.
Please Note: Environmental Engineering MSEnvE may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit . If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.
UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to for current information.
Program Prerequisites
Those applying to the programs without a directly related undergraduate degree should closely check the prerequisites. Students with nontechnical undergraduate degrees are recommended to complete a second undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering before applying to graduate school.
Final articulation requirements will be determined by the department after students have been admitted and after discussions with their advisers.
Prerequisites (Articulation)
The completion of prerequisite courses may be required before students can begin program course work. Please contact the program director to review your background and determine the prerequisites that you may need to take.
The following mathematics prerequisite requirement is for all students.
Calculus and Differential Equations should ideally be passed prior to applying to our Graduate Programs
- MAC 2311 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1
- MAC 2312 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 2
- MAC 2313 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 3
- MAP 2302 Ordinary Differential Equations 1
The following prerequisites may be required for students with undergraduate degrees outside of Civil, or Environmental Engineering. Equivalent courses may be acceptable. These courses are only offered face-to-face on campus. All graduate classes (e.g. 5XXX and 6XXX) are offered on-line.
- ENV 4531 Environmental Engineering Operations and Processes (3 hrs) Taught all 3 semesters
- ENV 4561 Advanced Environmental Engineering Operations and Processes (3 hrs) Taught in Summer and Spring ENV 4120 Air Pollution and Hazardous Waste Control (3 hrs) Taught in Fall only
- CWR 4202C Hydraulics (3 hrs) Taught all 3 semesters
- CWR 4120 Hydrology (3 hrs) Taught in Fall and Spring
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- ENV6015 - Physical/Chemical Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3)
- ENV6016 - Biological Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3)
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- ENV6558 - Industrial Waste Treatment (3)
- ENV5410 - Water Treatment (3)
- EES5318 - Industrial Ecology (3)
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Any CWR course at the 5000 or 6000 level
Non-Thesis Students - Required Course Selection/Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- Nonthesis students are required to take at least one course that provides an independent learning experience for students, consisting of a research or design project. This requirement is fulfilled in the required course ENV 6016 above and is also fulfilled by the elective course ENV 6126 Design of Air Pollution Controls (3 credit hours) and the elective course ENV 6106 Theory and Practice of Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (3 credit hours). Other courses may be used to meet this criterion if a research or design project can be verified and reviewed for approval by of the Graduate Program Director.
Elective Courses
12 Total Credits
- Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: All students, both thesis and nonthesis, are required to take 12 credit hours of elective courses. Courses that comprise the elective part of the program are selected in accordance with the general requirements of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and often include courses taken from the following two sub-discipline areas: Environmental Specialization鈥擜ny of the appropriate ENV graduate-level courses (5000 or 6000) with the consent of the student's adviser Water Resources Specialization鈥擜ny of the appropriate CWR graduate-level courses (5000 or 6000) with the consent of the student's adviser
Thesis/Nonthesis Option
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: XXX 6971 - Thesis Thesis students are expected to complete an independent research project and then write and successfully defend their thesis. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all thesis defense announcements be approved by the student's adviser and posted on the college's website and on the Events Calendar and on the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date. This is strictly enforced and if you are late you will have to move the date of your defense.
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Nonthesis students must take 6 more credit hours of electives in addition to the 12 credit hours of electives described above.
- Students are required to complete a culminating experience. The culminating experience for nonthesis MS students is submission of an end-of-program portfolio. The portfolio requirements are listed on the CECE website. Make sure and contact your programs coordinator early in your graduating semester to find out when the portfolios are to be turned in for evaluation. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator, Arvin Cortez, should be able to tell you who the coordinator is for your degree program if you do not already know.
Grand Total Credits: 30
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Students choosing the thesis option must take 12 credit hours of required credit hours of electives, and 6 thesis credit hours. Students choosing the nonthesis option must take 12 credit hours of required courses, 18 credit hours of electives, and submit a portfolio (which includes a comprehensive final examination) before graduating.
Students develop an individualized program of study with a faculty adviser. At least 24 credit hours in the program of study must be earned exclusive of thesis and research courses and Directed Research (XXX 6918) is not permitted in the MSEnvE program of study.
Equipment Fee
Students in the Environmental Engineering MSEnvE program pay a $16 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $8 per semester.
