University Catalog 2024-2025

Environmental Engineering (MS)

Master of Science Degree Requirements

Students may choose from the degree tracks below to complete coursework within a focus area.

Degrees earned will be distributed as: "Master of Science" without specialization specifications.

Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering Specialization

Required Courses
CE 607Water Resource and Environmental Engineering Seminar1
CE 695Master's Thesis Research1-6
Total Hours2-7

Water Resources Engineering Specialization

CE 584Hydraulics Of Ground Water3
CE 586Engineering Hydrology3
CE 588Water Resources Engineering3
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Fluid Mechanics in Natural Environments)1-6
Core Electives
Technical Electives
Total Hours10-15

Core Electives

CE 583Engineering Aspects Of Coastal Processes3
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Coastal Hydrodynamics)1-6
CE 772Environmental Exposure and Risk Analysis3
CE 776Advanced Water Management Systems3
CE 784Ground Water Contaminant Transport3
CE 791Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering Computing (Complex Adaptive Systems Analysis)1-3
CE 796Advanced Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Statistical Methods)1-3

Technical Electives

CE 536Introduction to Numerical Methods for Civil Engineers3
CE 537Computer Methods and Applications3
CE 571Physical Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 574Chemical Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 583Engineering Aspects Of Coastal Processes3
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering)1-6
BAE 573Introduction to Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling3
BAE 574DRAINMOD: Theory and Application3
BAE 575Design of Structural Stormwater Best Management Practices3
BAE 576Watershed Monitoring and Assessment3
BAE 581Open Channel Hydraulics for Natural Systems3
BAE 584Introduction to Fluvial Geomorphology3
BAE/SSC 7713
FOR 7844
MEA 540Principles of Physical Oceanography3
MEA/GIS 582Geospatial Modeling3
MEA 700Environmental Fluid Mechanics3
NR 500Natural Resource Management4

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) degree program allows exceptional undergraduate students at NC State an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may double count up to 12 credits and obtain a non-thesis Master’s degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree, or obtain a thesis-based Master’s degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree.

This degree program also provides an opportunity for the Directors of Graduate Programs (DGPs) at NC State to recruit rising juniors in their major to their graduate programs. However, permission to pursue an ABM degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission is contingent on meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.

CCEE Department ABM Admission

The CCEE department encourages excellent undergraduate students to obtain a master’s degree in their chosen field of specialization within 2 to 3 semesters past BS graduation, through double counting up to 9 credit hours towards both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. This is referred to as the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) degree program. Following is the pathway for the ABM program.

Step 1 – Verify your eligibility for applying to the ABM program

  • You must have completed at least 75 credit hours (this typically means junior standing)
    • If you are a transfer student, you must have completed at least two semesters at NCSU, earning a minimum of 24 credit hours
  • You must not have already received a BS degree
  • You must have an overall GPA ≥ 3.5 and major GPA ≥ 3.25

Step 2 – Apply for ABM by following the steps below

  • Determine your area of interest from the list of graduate specialty areas on the next page.
  • Talk to the ABM advisor in the specialty area (provided below), and agree on a tentative ABM Plan of Work (POW) that would suit your interests and satisfy the ABM requirements. A finalized ABM POW must be in place before completion of the BS degree.
  • Submit an application at go.ncsu.edu/ccee-abm, which includes the tentative ABM POW.
    • The application will first be reviewed by the ABM advisor and a recommendation will be made to the department. The final determination will be made after a joint review by the directors of undergraduate and graduate programs, after which you will be notified.

Step 3 – While in the ABM program, maintain status by following the steps below:

  • With the specialty area ABM advisor’s help, prepare a tentative Graduate POW, that complements the Undergraduate POW.
    • Up to 9 credit hours can be double counted, they must be at the 500 level, and they must be selected from the approved list of courses in the specialty area (provided in the subsequent pages).
    • The (tentative) Graduate POW must be formally approved by the ABM advisor.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that both the Graduate POW and Undergraduate POW satisfy the respective master’s and undergraduate degree requirements
  • You must maintain an overall GPA ≥ 3.5 and a major GPA ≥ 3.25 until you enter the master’s program.
  • Only graduate courses with a grade ≥ B can be double counted. Courses with a grade ≤ B- cannot be counted towards the master’s degree.
  • Towards the end of your bachelor’s program, you must formally apply to the master’s program, per deadlines published by the graduate school. Note that the GRE may be waived for ABM students – consult with your ABM advisor. The application must include to include a completed and signed ABM Plan of Work.
  • You must complete the master’s degree within a time limit (12 months if MCE/MENE, 18 months if MSCE/MSENE), to take advantage of the double counting associated with the ABM. If you do not graduate within this time, you will be considered a regular master’s student needing to take the full 30/31 graduate credits solely towards your master’s degree.

Graduate Specialty Areas for ABM

Degrees earned will be distributed as: "Master of Civil Engineering" without  specialization specifications.

  • Computing and Systems
  • Construction Engineering
  • EWC – Air
  • EWC – Environmental Process Engineering
  • EWC – Water Resource and Coastal Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
  • Transportation Materials
  • Transportation Systems

Allowable Courses by Specialty Area

COMPUTING SYSTEMS

CE 536Introduction to Numerical Methods for Civil Engineers3
CE 537Computer Methods and Applications3
CE 538Information Technology and Modeling3
CE 590Special Topics In Civil Engineering (Civil Engineering Systems)1-6

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

CE 561Construction Project Management3
CE 562Lean Construction Concepts and Methods3
CE 564Legal Aspects of Contracting3
CE 565Construction Safety Management3
CE 567Risk and Financial Management in Construction3
CE 592Special Topics in Construction Engineering1-6
Other courses may selected and approved in conjunction with the academic committee, examples include but are not subject to:
Advanced Strength of Materials
Theory and Design Of Prestressed Concrete
Theory and Behavior Of Steel Structures
Analysis and Design Of Masonry Structures
Engineering Properties Of Soils I

EWC – AIR

CE 576Engineering Principles Of Air Pollution Control *3
CE 578Energy and Climate *3
CE 579Principles of Air Quality Engineering *3

EWC – ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ENGINEERING

CE 571Physical Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 573Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 574Chemical Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 577Engineering Principles Of Solid Waste Management *3
CE 578Energy and Climate *3
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Global Sanitation) *1-6

EWC – WATER RESOURCES, COASTAL

CE 581Fluid Mechanics in Natural Environments3
CE 583Engineering Aspects Of Coastal Processes3
CE 584Hydraulics Of Ground Water3
CE 586Engineering Hydrology3
CE 588Water Resources Engineering *3
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Coastal Hydrodynamics) *1-6
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Coastal Modeling)1-6
CE 596Special Topics in Water Resource and Environmental Engineering (Surface Water Quality Modeling)1-6

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

CE 548Engineering Properties Of Soils I3
CE 584Hydraulics Of Ground Water3
CE 593Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering (Dynamics of Soils and Foundations)1-3
Other courses may selected and approved in conjunction with the academic committee, examples include but are not subject to:
Advanced Strength of Materials
Finite Element Method in Structural Engineering
Engineering Principles Of Solid Waste Management

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS

CE 515Advanced Strength of Materials3
CE 522Theory and Design Of Prestressed Concrete3
CE 523Theory and Behavior Of Steel Structures3
CE 524Analysis and Design Of Masonry Structures3
CE 525Advanced Structural Analysis3
CE 526Finite Element Method in Structural Engineering3
CE 527Structural Dynamics3
CE 528Structural Design in Wood3
CE 529FRP Strengthening and Repair of Concrete Structures3
CE 530Properties of Concrete and Advanced Cement-Based Composites3

TRANSPORTATION MATERIALS

CE 515Advanced Strength of Materials3
CE 530Properties of Concrete and Advanced Cement-Based Composites3
CE 548Engineering Properties Of Soils I3
CE 595Special Topics in Transportation Engineering (A - Asphalt and Bituminous Materials)1-6

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

CE 501Transportation Planning *3
CE 502Traffic Operations *3
CE 503Transportation System Design *3
CE 504Airport Planning and Design3
CE 505Railroad System Planning, Design, and Operation 3
CE 509Highway Safety3
*

This course is not a prerequisite but recommended to be completed prior to enrollment.

Full Professors

  • Sankarasubramanian Arumugam
  • Morton A. Barlaz
  • Emily Zechman Berglund
  • Joseph F. DeCarolis
    Area of Research: Environmental Engineering & Energy Policy
  • Francis Lajara De Los Reyes III
  • Joel Ducoste
  • Henry C. Frey
  • Mohammed Awad Gabr
  • Detlef R. Knappe
  • Gnanamanikam Mahinthakumar
  • Margery Frances Overton
  • Ranji Ranjithan

Associate Professors

  • Douglas F. Call
    Area of Research: Environmental Engineering & Water Resources
  • Joel Casey Dietrich
  • Andrew P. Grieshop
  • Brina Mortensen Montoya
  • Daniel R. Obenour
    Area of Research: Environmental & Coastal Engineering
  • Benjamin Shane Underwood

Assistant Professors

  • Katherine Anarde
  • Tarek Aziz
  • Jorge Emilio San Juan Blanco
  • Fernando Garcia Menendez
  • Angela Rose Harris
  • Jordan Kern
  • Jacelyn Jaunice Rice-Boayue

Practice/Research/Teaching Professors

  • Florentino Banaag De La Cruz
  • Meagan Kittle Autry
  • James William Levis
  • Gregory W. Lucier
  • Elizabeth J. Sciaudone

Adjunct Faculty

  • Michael Scott Breen
  • Anderson Rodrigo de Queiroz
  • Daniel J. Findley
  • Alejandra C. Geiger-Ortiz
  • Aditya Sinha

Assistant Research Professor

  • Tongchuan Wei

Emeritus Faculty

  • Robert C. Borden
  • Earl Downey Brill Jr.