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.
The knowledge gained during this program, in the emphasis area of choice, will prepare you for tackling real world engineering challenges, providing solutions to complex engineering problems, and creating products that will benefit the society. The Environmental Engineering Master of Science will help you enter a satisfying, productive and exciting profession, or continue on to a doctoral degree.
The program will help you understand the application of your profession to sustainability and/or advanced engineering design. Faculty are engaged in research and its creative application to relevant problems, and you will have the opportunity to join them. The methods of design and innovation are necessary to the successful development of sustainable and resilient systems. Likewise, the principles of sustainability and resilience can foster innovation and economic development. By combining both themes, you will have the opportunity to engineer a brighter future for yourself and for the world.
Students wanting to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously may qualify for our Accelerated Program which allows students to count six units toward both degrees, shortening the time to graduation.
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:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University 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
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:
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.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
For those applying for fall 2025 and beyond, the following will also be required:
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 30 units:
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 (6 units)
Thesis Option (6 units)
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:
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
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 accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Master's Requirements
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 30 units:
Graduate-Level Mathematics or Statistics (3 units)
Additional Electives (3 units)
Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select One (6 units)
Non-Thesis Option (6 units)
Thesis Option (6 units)
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:
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
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 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.