Program Overview

Overview of the Combined B.S. - M.S. Degree Program for Environmental Engineering

The Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering (EnvE) and the Undergraduate Programs in Environmental Engineering offer a Combined B.S. - M.S. (4+1) Program. This program enables qualified EnvE undergraduate students to be accepted into the EnvE graduate program in an expedited way, thus providing those students the possibility to earn an M.S. degree in a shortened time frame.

Program Description

Recent alumni surveys of EnvE graduates have shown that approximately 50% of B.S. graduates have gone on to obtain Professional Engineering (PE) licenses. State PE licensing boards are considering a Graduate Studies requirement for all new PEs. Thus, a seamless process leading directly to an M.S. degree is of major benefit to qualified EnvE students.

In addition, approximately 25% of EnvE graduates have found employment in the government sector. Some government agencies regard the M.S. degree as a professional credential with recipients eligible for salary increases.

Eligibility

• EnvE undergraduates who have attained an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher and have completed (or are completing) the second semester of their junior year are eligible to apply to the 4+1 program.
• Students usually apply during their sixth semester or right before their seventh semester.
• Applicants apply through the Graduate School application portal.
• The application fee is waived.
• The interested student must have completed 90 credits of coursework by the end of their sixth semester of undergraduate study.
• They will be granted conditional admission while they are still undergraduates and be formally admitted to the M.S. program once they have successfully completed all the requirements for their undergraduate degree.

Study Program

The traditional EnvE M.S. program offers two plans:

• Plan A: 24-25 credits of coursework, 6 credits of research, and a comprehensive oral examination that includes the defense of a written thesis.
• Plan B: 30 credits of coursework, submission of an approved critical essay, and a comprehensive oral examination.

The B.S. - M.S. (4+1) program also offers two plans and provides students with the opportunity to earn a Master's degree within an expedited time frame. This becomes possible by taking one or more graduate-level courses in the senior year in addition to completing the undergraduate degree requirements.

Recommended Study Sequence for Plan B

• Senior year: During the Spring Semester, the student takes at least one graduate course in addition to the remaining B.S. courses.
• Summer after Senior Year: Consult with advisor to define topic and scope of critical essay.
• Fifth year Fall Semester: The student takes four 3-credit graduate courses, a one-credit graduate seminar, and Special Problems in Environmental Engineering for one credit for preparation of the critical essay.
• Fifth year Spring Semester: The student takes four 3-credit graduate courses. In addition, the student takes Special Problems in Environmental Engineering for one credit for completion of the critical essay.
• Summer following fifth year: The student finalizes the critical essay and takes the comprehensive final exam.

Recommended Study Sequence for Plan A (Research)

• Senior year: Enroll in Slade Scholars or George H. Cook Honors Program. Take six credits of Honors Research, which count as course credits towards the B.S. Honors research can become the thesis topic for the M.S. degree. Students take 2 graduate courses, if prepared, but can take up to 3 graduate courses.
• Fifth year: Three graduate courses and three credit hours of research each semester. A one-credit graduate seminar is taken during the fall semester.
• Summer (and perhaps fall) following fifth year: Write M.S. thesis and defend.