The Master of Science in Climate Science and Engineering is offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the College of Science. The program provides training in the fundamental scientific processes that underpin the structure and dynamics of the climate, as well as the engineering strategies and technologies required for decarbonization and adaptation to climate change.
Incoming students will typically hold a bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, or related field. The program is designed to prepare students for climate-facing positions in the public or private sectors and can serve as a springboard for students interested in pursuing doctoral-level research. Students must take at least 12 semester hours of College of Science courses and at least 12 semester hours of College of Engineering courses, which includes a report, thesis, or coursework option.
| Degree Requirements | With Project | With Thesis | Coursework Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required core courses | 20 SH | 20 SH | 20 SH |
| Other electives | 8 SH | 4 SH | 12 SH |
| Master of Science report/thesis | 4 SH | 8 SH | |
| Minimum semester hours required | 32 SH | 32 SH | 32 SH |
Graduate Certificate Options
Students enrolled in a master's degree have the opportunity to also pursue one of the many engineering graduate certificate options in addition to or in combination with the MS degree. Student should consult their faculty advisor regarding these options.
Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership
Master's Degree in Climate Science and Engineering with Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership
Students may complete a Master of Science in Climate Science and Engineering in addition to earning a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership. Students must apply and be admitted to the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program in order to pursue this option. The program requires fulfillment of the 16-semester-hour curriculum required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership, which includes an industry-based challenge project with multiple mentors. The integrated 36-semester-hour degree and certificate will require 20 hours of advisor-approved technical courses. For students who concurrently enroll in the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership, 12 semester hours of the certificate coursework may be applied to the restricted elective requirements of this program's coursework option. Of the remaining 20 semester hours required by this program, students must take 12 semester hours of College of Science courses (subject codes EEMB and ENVR) and 8 semester hours from College of Engineering courses (subject codes CIVE, EECE, ENSY, MATL, ME, and SBSY).
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering encourages students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership to complete their MS coursework requirements in their first year and their certificate requirements in their second year. Students who prefer to complete their certificate requirements in their first year are asked to speak with their MS degree advisor in advance.
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated. In order to ensure a balance of training across science and engineering, students must take at least 12 semester hours of College of Science courses (starting with EEMB, ENVR) and at least 12 semester hours of College of Engineering courses (starting with CIVE, EECE, ENSY, MATL, ME, SBSY) from the core requirements and restricted elective course options.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 20 semester hours from the core requirements listed below (any core course not used to meet this core course requirement can be taken as a restricted elective): | 20 | |
| Climate and Atmospheric Change | ||
or ENVR 5150 | Climate and Atmospheric Change | |
| Life Cycle Assessment of Materials, Products, and Infrastructure | ||
| Coastal Dynamics and Design | ||
| Climate Science, Engineering Adaptation, and Policy | ||
| Climate Technologies for Decarbonization, Mitigation, and Adaptation | ||
| Air Quality Engineering and Science | ||
| Global Biogeochemistry | ||
or ENVR 5670 | Global Biogeochemistry | |
| Critical Infrastructure Resilience | ||
| Sustainable Energy and Climate Solutions | ||
| Coastal Processes, Adaptation, and Resilience | ||
| Climate Adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions | ||
Options
Complete one of the following options:
Coursework Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 12 semester hours from the restricted electives course list below. | 12 | |
Report Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 7945 | Master’s Project | 4 |
| or EEMB 8984 | Research | |
| Complete 8 semester hours from the restricted electives course list below. | 8 | |
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete CIVE 7945 and CIVE 7990 for 8 semester hours or complete EEMB 8984 twice for 8 semester hours: | 8 | |
| Master’s Project and Thesis | ||
| Research (Completed twice) | ||
| Complete 4 semester hours from the restricted electives course list below. | 4 | |
| In addition to completing the thesis course, College of Engineering students must successfully complete the thesis submission process, including securing committee and Graduate School of Engineering signatures and submission of an electronic copy of their MS thesis to ProQuest. | ||
Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
| Time Series and Geospatial Data Sciences | ||
| Coastal and Hydraulic Modeling | ||
| Public Transportation | ||
| Special Topics in Environmental Engineering | ||
| Sustainable Energy: Materials, Conversion, Storage, and Usage | ||
| Fundamentals of Energy System Integration | ||
| Hydropower | ||
| Energy Storage Systems | ||
| Electrochemical Energy Storage | ||
| Smart Grid | ||
| Wind Energy Systems | ||
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Ecosystem-Based Management | ||
| Advanced Spatial Analysis | ||
| Climate and Development | ||
| Energy Law and Policy | ||
| Cities, Sustainability, and Climate Change | ||
| Principles, Devices, and Materials for Energy Storage and Energy Harvesting | ||
| Solar Thermal Engineering | ||
| Climate Change and Global Urbanization | ||
| Energy Democracy and Climate Justice: Technology, Policy, and Social Change | ||
| International Environmental Policy | ||
| Sustainable Design and Technologies in Construction | ||
| Sustainable Engineering Systems for Buildings |
Optional Co-op Experience
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following (students must complete ENCP 6100 to qualify for co-op experience): | ||
| ENCP 6100 | Introduction to Cooperative Education | 1 |
| ENCP 6964 | Co-op Work Experience | 0 |
| or ENCP 6954 | Co-op Work Experience - Half-Time | |
| or ENCP 6955 | Co-op Work Experience Abroad - Half-Time | |
| or ENCP 6965 | Co-op Work Experience Abroad | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
32 total semester hours required (33 with optional co-op)
Minimum 3.000 GPA required