Program Overview

Master of Engineering Environmental Engineering

The Master of Engineering Environmental Engineering program is offered by the University of Ottawa, in collaboration with Carleton University, through the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Environmental Engineering (OCIENE).

Program Overview

• Degree offered: Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Registration status options: Full-time, Part-time
• Language of instruction: English
• Program options (expected duration of the program): within two years of full-time study
• Academic units: Faculty of Engineering, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Environmental Engineering

Program Description

Established in 2000, the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Environmental Engineering (OCIENE) combines the teaching and research strengths of the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Ottawa with that of the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University. The Institute offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering (MASc), a Master of Engineering (MEng), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Engineering.

Main Areas of Research

• Biofilms and biofilm technologies for water and wastewater treatment
• Drinking water: membrane treatment and climate change adaptation technologies
• Ecological engineering and agricultural waste management
• Mining impacted water management
• Northern, rural and First Nation water and wastewater
• Water resources and management

Learning Outcomes

• Autonomy in conducting research
• Autonomy in preparing scholarly publications

Other Programs Offered Within the Same Discipline or in a Related Area

• Master of Applied Science Environmental Engineering (MASc)
• Master of Applied Science Civil Engineering (MASc)
• Master of Applied Science Civil Engineering Specialization in Science, Society and Policy (MASc)
• Master of Engineering Civil Engineering (MEng)
• Doctorate in Philosophy Environmental Engineering (PhD)
• Doctorate in Philosophy Civil Engineering (PhD)

Fees and Funding

• Program fees: The estimated amount for university fees associated with this program are available under the section Finance your studies.
• International students enrolled in a French-language program of study may be eligible for a differential tuition fee exemption.
• To learn about possibilities for financing your graduate studies, consult the Awards and financial support section.

Admission Requirements

• To be eligible, candidates must have one of the following:
  • An honours bachelors degree with a specialization or a major in environmental engineering (or equivalent) with a minimum average of 70% (B).
  • An honours bachelors degree with a specialization or a major in related engineering disciplines (civil, chemical, mechanical, etc.) with a minimum average of 70% (B).
  • An honours bachelors degree with specialization or a major in environmental science disciplines with a minimum average of 70% (B).
• Demonstrate a good academic performance in previous studies as shown by official transcripts, research reports, abstracts or any other documents demonstrating research skills.
• Meet the following additional requirements:
  • All students entering the program are required to have courses in mathematics, probability and statistics equivalent to courses required in undergraduate engineering programs.
  • All students entering the program are also required to have taken three undergraduate courses equivalent to the following University of Ottawa courses: CHG 2312 or CVG 2116, CVG 2132, CVG 3132.

Language Requirements

Applicants must be able to understand and fluently speak the language of instruction (French or English) in the program to which they are applying. Proof of linguistic proficiency may be required. Applicants whose first language is neither French nor English must provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction.

Program Structure

• The passing grade in all courses is B.
• Students must complete 30 course units.
• Course List:
  • Compulsory Courses:
    • GNG 5301: Professional Skills and Responsibility (3 Units)
  • Optional Courses:
    • 3 optional course units from:
      • GNG 5100: Introduction to Engineering Management
      • GNG 5120: Technology entrepreneurship for Engineers and Computer Scientists
      • GNG 5130: Communication and Influence for Engineers
      • GNG 5140: Engineering Design
    • 18 optional course units from the list of optional courses
  • Coursework or Project:
    • One option from the following:
      • EVG 6001: Environmental Engineering Project (6 Units)
      • GNG 5902: Industry Project (6 course units from the list of optional courses)
      • 6 course units from the list of optional courses

List of Optional Courses

Course selection is subject to the approval of the advisor or the advisory committee. Students may choose courses offered at either university from among those listed below. The courses listed below are grouped by area of study.

Air Pollution

• CHG 8132: Adsorption Separation Processes (3 Units)
• EVG 7101: Air Pollution Control (3 Units)
• EVG 7104: Indoor Environmental Quality (3 Units)
• EVG 7105: Atmospheric Aerosols (3 Units)
• EVG 7106: Atmospheric Chemical Transport Modelling (3 Units)

Water Resources Management, Groundwater Management, and Contaminant Transport

• CVG 5112: Numerical modelling in water resources (3 Units)
• CVG 5124: Coastal Engineering (3 Units)
• CVG 5160: Sediment Transport (3 Units)
• CVG 5162: River Hydraulics (3 Units)
• EVG 5125: Statistical Methods in Hydrology (3 Units)
• EVG 5182: Water Resources Management (3 Units)
• EVG 5183: Mixing and Transport in Water Bodies (3 Units)
• GEO 5143: Environmental Isotopes and Groundwater Geochemistry (3 Units)
• GEO 5147: Aqueous Inorganic Geochemistry and Modelling (3 Units)
• GEO 5153: Computer Techniques in the Earth Sciences (3 Units)

Management of Solid, Hazardous, and Radioactive Waste and Pollution Prevention

• CVG 5314: Geotechnical Hazards (3 Units)
• EVG 5133: Solid Waste Management (3 Units)
• EVG 5179: Anaerobic Digestion (3 Units)
• EVG 7132: Sludge Treatment and Disposal (3 Units)
• EVG 7134: Resource Industry Waste Management (3 Units)
• EVG 7201: Geo-Environmental Engineering (3 Units)

Water and Wastewater Treatment

• CHG 8192: Membranes in Clean Processes (3 Units)
• EVG 5001: Biofilm Processes in Wastewater Treatment (3 Units)
• EVG 5130: Wastewater Treatment Process Design (3 Units)
• EVG 5132: Unit Operations of Water Treatment (3 Units)
• EVG 5134: Chemistry for Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 5137: Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Analysis (3 Units)
• EVG 5138: Advanced Water Treatment (3 Units)
• EVG 5302: Decentralized Wastewater Management (3 Units)
• EVG 7007: Filtration and Membranes in Water Treatment (3 Units)
• EVG 7144: Advanced Wastewater Treatment (3 Units)

Environmental Impact Assessment, Sustainability and Climate Change

• EVG 5139: Environmental Assessment of Civil Engineering Projects (3 Units)
• EVG 5212: Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources (3 Units)
• EVG 7107: Radiative Transfer and Remote Sensing (3 Units)
• EVG 7200: Climate Change and Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7206: Energy and Resources from waste (3 Units)
• EVG 7207: Energy and the Critical Zone (3 Units)

Other Courses

• CHG 8194: Membrane Liquid Separation Processes and Materials (3 Units)
• CHG 8195: Advanced Numerical Methods in Chemical and Biological Engineering (3 Units)
• CHG 8196: Interfacial Phenomena in Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 5192: Characterization Methods for Materials (3 Units)
• EVG 5333: Research Methodology (3 Units)
• EVG 6108: Directed Studies I (3 Units)
• EVG 6109: Directed Studies II (3 Units)
• EVG 6300: Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 6301: Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 6302: Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 6303: Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 6304: Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7001: Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7002: Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7003: Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7004: Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• EVG 7005: Topics in Environmental Engineering (3 Units)
• GNG 5121: Taguchi methods for efficient Engineering RD (3 Units)
• GNG 5122: Operational Excellence and Lean Six Sigma (3 Units)

Fast-track from Masters to PhD

Students enrolled in the masters program in environmental engineering at the University of Ottawa may be eligible to fast-track directly into the doctoral program without writing a masters thesis. For additional information, please contact the graduate studies office of the Faculty of Engineering.

Research at the University of Ottawa

Located in the heart of Canadas capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canadas top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Research at the Faculty of Engineering

Areas of research:

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.