Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
The MS in Environmental Engineering at Lehigh University builds expertise in the engineering of clean air, safe water and healthy land.
- Credits30
- Typical length1.5–2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Science
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
On this page
Overview
What the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering is
Environmental problems call for chemistry, process design and data skills working together, and employers look for engineers who can move among them. Here you start from a common base in environmental engineering processes and quantitative methods, then tailor the remaining coursework to the kind of problem you want to solve, from treating water and controlling air pollution to assessing risk and managing hazardous waste.
A 30-credit degree, typically 1.5–2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Research areas
Research behind the systems communities rely on
Across its four research areas, the department’s faculty and students work on some of the largest and most complex problems in the built and natural environment: infrastructure that must last and withstand hazards, secure and clean water, stable ground beneath cities, and a healthier environment. Master’s students can take part through electives, projects and the research option.
Environmental Engineering
Clean air, safe water and healthy land depend on engineered solutions. This area applies engineering and chemistry to understand pollution and to design ways to control and remove it.
Water Resources Engineering
Communities need reliable water and protection from too much of it. Work in this area addresses how water moves through natural and built systems, and how to manage it for supply, drainage and flood protection.
Geotechnical Engineering
Every structure rests on soil or rock. This area studies how ground behaves under load, water and disturbance, so that foundations, slopes and underground works can be designed with confidence.
Structural Engineering
Bridges, buildings and other structures must carry heavy loads for decades and survive extreme events. Work in this area focuses on how structures behave and how to design and maintain them so that they stay safe and serviceable.
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits: 3 credits of advanced mathematics or numerical methods, 3 credits in the core environmental engineering course, 9 credits of environmental engineering electives, and 15 credits of technical electives.
- Advanced math or numerical methods, 3 credits. Choose one course: ENGR 452, BIOE 463, MATH 231, MATH 309, MATH 312 or MATH 430.
- Environmental engineering course, 3 credits. Environmental Engineering Processes (CEE 477) is required.
- Environmental engineering electives, 9 credits. Choose three from CEE 373, CEE 379, CEE 470, CEE 471, CEE 473, CEE 474, CEE 478 and CEE 484, which cover air pollution, case studies, reaction kinetics, risk assessment, separation and control, water chemistry, hazardous waste and advanced environmental chemistry.
- Technical electives, 15 credits. Five courses at the 300 or 400 level in CEE or CAT, or, with advisor approval, from other departments. At least 3 credits must be at the 400 level in CEE.
- Research option. Up to 3 credits of your technical electives can go to thesis or project-based research through CEE 491 (Thesis), CEE 480 (Independent Study) or CEE 481 (MS or MEng Project). No more than 6 credits across those three courses can count toward the degree. A thesis is not required, and there is no comprehensive exam.
- Course-level rules. At least 24 credits must be at the 300 and 400 level, with 18 of them at the 400 level, and research or thesis registration can count toward that 400-level total. At least 18 credits must be in the major field, 15 of them at the 400 level. You need a B- or better in at least 18 credits of your program and in all 300-level courses in the major field, and no course graded below C- counts toward the degree.
- Exclusions. Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, the doctoral-only courses ENGR 441, ENGR 499, CEE 482 and CEE 499, ENGR 492 (Summer Research) and ENGR 496 (Summer Work Experience) cannot count toward the degree.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 477 | Environmental Engineering Processes | Air, water and waste treatment processes. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog listing and with your academic advisor.
Careers
Where graduates work
Environmental engineering alumni apply engineering to protect and restore the environment.
Our alumni work in consulting, government, universities and industry, with many in engineering roles such as environmental engineer, project engineer, process and water treatment engineer, and research scientist. Others have moved into data science, strategy consulting, business and executive roles, and some have co-founded companies or joined university faculties.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Geosyntec Consultants
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Lafayette College
- DOCOMO Innovations
- atalanta climate
- STEPS Ventures
- Chevron
- Duke University
Alumni also work at The ELM Group, Stetson Engineers, Kuraray, University of Missouri-Columbia, AES Drilling Fluids, Office of Naval Research and pa department of environmental protection.
Based on current employers of Lehigh environmental engineering alumni who graduated between 1996 and 2024. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $52,050.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and GPA standards for international institutions are applied accordingly. A trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters is taken into account.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the minimums in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the MS in Environmental Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree with required core courses in environmental engineering and access to a broad portfolio of electives from the civil and environmental engineering department and other departments.
How many credits is the MS in Environmental Engineering?
30 credits: 3 in advanced math or numerical methods, 3 in the required environmental engineering course, 9 in environmental engineering electives, and 15 in technical electives.
How long does the MS in Environmental Engineering take to complete?
The program typically takes 1.5 to 2 years. Faster completion can be achieved through academic planning with your advisor.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required. If you want research or project experience, up to 3 credits of your technical electives can go to thesis or project-based research.
What courses are required?
Every student takes Environmental Engineering Processes (CEE 477), one advanced math or numerical methods course, and three environmental engineering electives. The remaining 15 credits are technical electives chosen with your advisor.
What environmental engineering electives can I choose from?
Fundamentals of Air Pollution, Environmental Case Studies, Reaction Kinetics in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Risk Assessment, Environmental Separation and Control, Environmental Water Chemistry, Hazardous Waste Treatment and Management, and Advanced Environmental Chemistry.
What are the admission requirements?
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with consideration for a trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering?
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $52,050 for the 30-credit degree. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
Which department offers this program?
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, English-proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Deadlines are December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
Contact
Talk to the program
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Fritz Engineering Laboratory, 13 East Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3176
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering »
General inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.