Program Overview

Risk Engineering Master of Engineering

Overview

The Risk Engineering Master of Engineering program is designed to provide students with the training needed to assess risks and guide decisions using big data and computer models. This three-semester non-thesis master’s degree program is unique among professional master’s programs, offering scholarships to competitive applicants, typically ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.

Program Description

The program focuses on making human civilization more resilient to extreme weather and similar crises. Engineers and scientists trained in statistical decision theory are uniquely positioned to help public policymakers and private organizations mitigate losses and reduce human impacts.

Choose Your Concentration

The 30-credit professional degree includes an industry internship and can be completed in three semesters. Students can choose from four concentrations:

• Energy & Climate Systems
• Environment & Population Health
• Financial Risk
• Materials & Structures

Expanding Career Opportunities

Demand is growing for leaders with interdisciplinary training where engineering intersects with economics, decision science, and public policy. Potential careers include:

• Business and engineering consulting
• Financial engineering
• Infrastructure analysis
• Risk assessment
• Insurance and reinsurance industries

Who Should Consider Applying

Successful applicants can include:

• A practicing scientist or engineer looking for a high-impact, career-ready master’s degree
• A recent undergraduate with a degree in engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences
• A prospective graduate student seeking excellent preparation for doctoral study
• A Duke engineering undergraduate who wants to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years

Scholarships

Typically, $20,000 to $30,000 for competitive applicants.

Courses

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum includes:

• Industry Preparation Core:
  • MENG 540: Management of High Tech Industries (3 credits)
  • MENG 570: Business Fundamentals for Engineers (3 credits)
  • MENG 550: Internship or Project (0 credits)
  • MENG 551: Internship/Project Assessment (0 credits)
• Methodology Core:
  • Choose one from each of three areas:
    • Mathematical Modeling & Optimization
    • Valuation, Assessment & Decision-Making
    • Policy Analysis
• Uncertainty, Risk & Systems Engineering Core:
  • CEE 551: Risk and Resilience Engineering (3 credits)
  • EGRMGMT 580: Decision Models (3 credits)

Specialization Courses

Choose three courses in one of four specializations—9 credits:

• Energy & Climate Systems
• Environment & Public Health
• Financial Risk
• Materials & Structures

Typical Study Plan

The typical study plan spans 3 semesters, or about 1.5 years, and includes:

• Industry Preparation Core
• Uncertainty, Risk & Systems Engineering Core
• Methodology Core
• Specialization

Additional Information

For more details on admissions requirements, application deadlines, tuition, and financial aid, please refer to the program's official resources.

Program Director

Mark Borsuk, James L. and Elizabeth M. Vincent Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, serves as the program director.

Other MEng Degree Options

Duke also offers other MEng degree options, including:

• Civil Engineering
• Climate & Sustainability Engineering
• Computational Mechanics & Scientific Computing
• Environmental Engineering