Academics
  /  
Master's Program
  /  
Environmental Engineering and Science Specialization
Curriculum and Requirements

To earn a master of science in civil and environmental engineering with a focus on environmental engineering and science, students must complete the following:

Residency Requirement

Satisfy the University’s residency requirement of three quarters. (A minimum of three units and a maximum of four units constitutes full-time residency for any quarter.)

Coursework

Complete at least 12 graduate-level units in this manner:

  • Complete environmental engineering and science master’s degree core program courses (6 units), plus the CIV_ENV 516 seminar each quarter. Students who have already completed equivalent coursework will not be required to repeat courses at Northwestern.
  • Complete specialization courses (3 units) to be approved by environmental engineering and science faculty.
  • Complete graduate-level elective courses (3 units) to be approved by environmental engineering and science faculty.

Full-time students who do not need remedial courses are able to complete the MS degree coursework in three academic quarters, or nine months. The necessary requirements for remedial courses may extend the program’s duration beyond nine months. In addition, an independent research project may also extend the program’s duration beyond nine months.

Thesis (Optional)

Typically the MS program does not require an MS thesis, although an independent study project can be arranged at the discretion of the student and a faculty adviser and may produce a written report. At the invitation of the faculty, MS students may prepare an MS thesis and receive thesis-research credit.

Certificates and Minors (Optional)

Students may also choose to pursue one of the following minors or certificates:

See the curriculum plan for detail.

2023 MS Curriculum Plan