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Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering

A Career-Focused Option with an Internship Experience

The challenge of sustainable environmental quality requires innovative thinking, clear leadership and strong technical expertise.

Duke’s Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering is highly-ranked. At Duke, you'll join a supportive campus community and receive comprehensive training you need to become a leader in protecting natural resources.

Scholarships

We offer significant support for competitive applicants—typical scholarships range from

$20,000-$30,000

Our program draws from Duke's Pratt School of Engineering and Nicholas School of the Environment—so you get the best of our renowned engineering and environmental research community.

Coursework draws on recent research by our world-class faculty, many of whom are involved in major federally-funded research centers such as the Superfund Research Center at Duke.

Specializations

  • Environmental Data Science
  • Environmental Engineering and Public Policy
  • Environmental Health Engineering
  • Hydrology & Environmental Fluid Dynamics

How to Apply

Apply Now

 

Degree Requirements

Overview

Master of Engineering (MEng) students complete the Core Industry Preparatory Courses and Internship, Departmental Requirements, and choose specialization requirements of (4) four courses.

Summary

The curriculum, detailed below, includes:

  • 30 course credits
  • 1 Seminar
  • Internship

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering is a 30-credit degree distributed as follows:

  • Core Industry Preparation Courses (6 credits)
  • Departmental Requirements (15 credits)
  • Specialization Requirements (9 credits)
  • Internship, Applied Research Experience or Project (0 credits)
Curriculum Notes
  1. Students are required to attend seminar programs specific to environmental engineering or their specialization
  2. Students may also pursue the MEng in Environmental Engineering without a specialization in which case 3 courses from an extended list of electives as well as courses listed in each of the specializations may be substituted

Core Industry Preparation Course Requirements

(6 credits)

  • MENG 540: Management of High Tech Industries
  • MENG 570: Business Fundamentals for Engineers
Departmental Requirements

15 credits with at least 1 course each from 5 of the 6 following categories

Chemistry

  • CEE 561: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry - Fall
  • CEE 563: Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds - Fall
  • CEE 565: Environmental Analytical Chemistry – alt. Fall
  • CEE 666: Aquatic Geochemistry – Spring
  • CEE 667: Chemical Transformations of Environmental Contaminants - Alt. Spring

Biosciences

  • CEE 566: Environmental Microbiology - Fall
  • CEE 661L: Environmental Molecular Biotechnology - Spring
  • CEE 562: Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering - Spring
  • CEE 690: Modeling of Environ., Chem., and Biol. Processes – Fall

Applied Mathematics, Statistics & Data Science

  • CEE 501: Applied Mathematics for Engineers - occasional
  • CEE 502: Engineering Data Analysis - occasional
  • CEE 675: Introduction to the Physical Principles of Remote Sensing of the Environment – odd-year Fall 
  • CEE 690: Data Science and Machine Learning in Applied Science and Engineering – Fall 
  • CEE 690/628: Uncertainty Quantification - Spring
  • CEE 690/590: Environmental Spatial Data Analysis – Fall 
  • CEE 690: Uncertainty and Risk in Engineering
  • ENVIRON 764: Applied Differential Equations in Environmental Science
  • STA 601(L): Bayesian and Modern Statistics 
  • STA 611: Introduction to Statistical Methods – Fall

Transport Processes & Modeling

  • CEE 531: Finite Elements for Fluids
  • CEE 560: Environmental Transport Phenomena – Fall
  • CEE 581: Numerical Methods in Env Transport - Spring
  • CEE 683: Groundwater Hydrology and Contaminant Transport – alt. Fall (even yrs)
  • CEE 690: Modeling of Environ., Chem., and Biol. Processes – Fall
  • CEE 690: Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Sediment Transport - Spring

Atmospheric & Hydrologic Processes

  • ENVIRON 734L: Watershed Hydrology
  • CEE 575/690: Air Pollution Engineering - Spring

  • CEE 5XX/690: Hydrology - Spring
  • CEE 683: Groundwater and Vadose Zone Hydrology – even-year Fall
  • CEE 684: Physical Hydrology and Hydrometeorology – alt. Fall
  • CEE 690: Turbulence I – Fall
  • CEE 581: Numerical Methods in Env Transport – Spring
  • ENVIRON 603 & 604: Air Quality: Management & Human Health Effects - Fall

Engineered Systems

  • CEE 564: Physical Chemical Processes in Environmental Engineering - Spring
  • CEE 562: Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering - Spring
  • CEE 575/690: Air Pollution Engineering - Spring
Specializations

Nine (9) credits satisfied with at least three (3) courses from a specialization area.

Environmental Data Science

  • CEE 675: Intro to Physical Principles of Remote Sensing of Environ.– odd Fall
  • CEE 690. Risk and Resilience in Engineering – odd Fall & odd Spring
  • CEE 690: Data Science and Machine Learning in Applied Science and Engineering – Fall
  • CEE 690: Environmental Cheminformatics – alt. Fall
  • CEE 690: Introduction to Deep Learning – Fall
  • CEE 690: Environmental Spatial Data Analysis - Fall
  • CEE 690: Model-Based Data Science – odd Fall
  • CEE 761: Hydrologic Data Analysis
  • MATH 561: Scientific Computing - Fall 
  • STA 601(L): Bayesian and Modern Statistics 
  • STA 611: Introduction to Statistical Methods – Fall
  • ENVIRON 559: Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis - Fall

Environmental Engineering & Public Policy

  • ENVIRON 502: Climate Change and the Law
  • ENVIRON 520: Resource and Environmental Economics
  • ENVIRON 531: Economic Valuation of the Environment
  • ENVIRON 552: Climate and Society - Fall
  • ENVIRON 563: Cost-Benefit Analysis for Health and Environmental Policy - Fall
  • ENVIRON 577: Environmental Politics
  • ENVIRON 603: Air Quality Management (1.5 credits) - Fall
  • ENVIRON 604: Air Quality: Human Health Effects (1.5 credits) - Fall
  • ENVIRON 638: Environmental Life Cycle Analysis and Decision
  • ENVIRON 640: Climate Change Economics and Policy
  • ENVIRON 711: Energy and Environment
  • ENVIRON 740: Water Resources Planning and Management
  • ENVIRON 741: Water Resources Finance
  • PUBPOL 577: Environmental Policy
  • PUBPOL 811: Microeconomics: Policy Applications
  • PUBPOL 813: Quantitative Evaluation Methods
  • ENERGY 727: Energy Law

Environmental Health Engineering

  • CEE 560: Environmental Transport Phenomena – Fall
  • CEE 561: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry – Fall
  • CEE 562: Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering
  • CEE 563: Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds – Fall
  • CEE 564: Physical Chemical processes in Environmental Engineering
  • CEE 565: Environmental Analytical Chemistry – alt. Spring
  • CEE 566: Environmental Microbiology – Fall
  • CEE 575/690: Air Pollution Engineering
  • CEE 661L: Environmental Molecular Biotechnology – Spring
  • CEE 666: Aquatic Geochemistry – Spring
  • CEE 667: Chemical Transformations of Environmental Contaminants – alt. Spring
  • CEE 679: Environmental Engineering Project Management
  • CEE 5XX/690: Hydrology - Spring
  • CEE 690: Modeling of Environ., Chem., and Biol. Processes – Fall
  • CEE 690. Risk and Resilience in Engineering – odd Fall & odd Spring
  • CEE 690: Data Science and Machine Learning in Applied Science and Engineering – Fall
  • CEE 690: Environmental Cheminformatics – alt. Fall
  • CEE 690: Environmental Spatial Data Analysis - Fall
  • ENVIRON 603: Air Quality: Management (1.5 credits) - Fall
  • ENVIRON 604: Air Quality: Human Health Effects (1.5 credits) - Fall

Hydrology & Environmental Fluid Dynamics

  • CEE 531: Finite Elements for Fluids
  • CEE 560: Environmental Transport Phenomena - Fall
  • CEE 581: Numerical Methods in Env Transport –Spring
  • CEE 675: Introduction to the Physical Principles of Remote Sensing of the Environment – odd Fall
  • CEE 683: Groundwater Hydrology and Contaminant Transport - Fall
  • CEE 684: Physical Hydrology and Hydrometeorology – alt. Fall
  • CEE 688: Turbulence I – Fall
  • CEE 642: Environmental Geomechanics
  • ME 536: Compressible Fluid Flow
  • ME 631: Intermediate Fluid Mechanics
  • ME 632/CEE690: Advanced Fluid Mechanics
  • ME 639: Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
  • CEE 690: Advanced Turbulence Theories
  • CEE690: Hydrology
  • CEE 690: Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Sediment Transport - Spring
  • CEE 690: Data Science and Machine Learning in Applied Science and Engineering – Fall
  • CEE 690/628: Uncertainty Quantification
  • CEE 690: Environmental Spatial Data Analysis – Fall
  • ENVIRON 734L: Watershed Hydrology
Degree Without Specialization

Nine (9) credits satisfied by any non-redundant three (3) courses from any of the above lists, including departmental requirements- or electives approved by the Director of Master's Studies.

Internship, Project or Equivalent Requirements

(0 credits)

  • MENG 550: Internship or Applied Research Project
  • MENG 551: Internship/Project Assessment

More Information

Admissions Profile

The Duke Master of Engineering (MEng) program does not require a minimum GPA or a minimum score on the GRE or TOEFL. The program does not require work experience. Average GRE, TOEFL and grade-point averages of recently admitted Duke MEng applicants were*:

  • GRE Quantitative: 163-169
  • GRE Verbal: 152-161
  • UGPA: 3.4-3.7

* Mid-50% range

Scholarships and Cost of Attendance

We offer significant support for competitive applicants – typical scholarships range from $20,000-$30,000.

For details on the cost of attendance before scholarships, go to the Duke Engineering MEng website.

Financial Aid and Fellowships

For costs after scholarships, many students take out loans and believe there will be an excellent return on investment when they get out into the work force.

Limited additional financial aid is available to highly qualified candidates through academic scholarships with an emphasis on increasing diversity within the program.

Diversity Scholarships

Underrepresented minorities may receive up to 50 percent per year in tuition scholarship through our Diversity Scholarships. 

Externally Funded Scholarships

We also offer support to recipients of select competitively externally funded scholarships, such as

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowships
  • Fulbright Scholar Program

DoD SMART Scholarship Program

For US Citizens only – The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.  Read more

Veteran's Benefits

Duke University offers information for veterans who are applying for VA benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Federal Loan Programs

Duke University offers the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs for graduate students, including Stafford unsubsidized loans, Graduate PLUS, and Carl Perkins loans. Each of these loans has different terms and conditions, but they are generally deferrable until after graduation or until the student is enrolled for less than half-time.

These federal loans are available only to United States citizens. Visit the Duke Financial Aid website for more information and application procedures for student loans.

On-Campus Work

While enrolled in the program, many students work in a variety of places, such as campus libraries and various departments within Duke University. Teaching assistantships are available in various departments, and some departments have research assistantships as well.

These positions are paid an hourly rate, and most students work between 10 to 20 hours per week. Positions are generally posted and filled just a week or two before classes begin each semester.

External Funding Opportunities

Browse our extensive list of potential external funding opportunities.

Career Services

We provide outstanding career support to our master's students.

As a Duke master's student, you can take advantage of our comprehensive and aggressive career development and job search program. You will receive advice from our Master's Assistant Directors of Career Services who work with the Duke Career Center to coordinate various activities throughout the year.

Our career services include:

  • On-campus recruiting
  • Individual and group career coaching
  • Special networking events such as Career Fairs, Tech Connect, Night with Industry and Alumni Networking Event
  • Resume and cover letter development, interviewing tips, and social media advice