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Environmental Engineering



	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Master of Science in Engineering

		Environmental Sciences Track

	Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

	Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

	Contact Info

Description

The Environmental Engineering program focuses on pollution control, pollution prevention, and the correction of pollution effects on natural and man-made environments. The program is noted for its strong faculty research interests, and areas of study include drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, atmospheric pollution control and modeling, community noise abatement, and stormwater management. The program's overall mission is to prepare students for careers in environmental engineering within federal, state, and local governments; higher education; consulting; and industry.

The program offers three advanced degrees: Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (M.S.Env.E.), Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering (Ph.D.).

The M.S.Env.E. degree was created for students who have an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering or any other closely related degree in engineering. The M.S. is for students with science, math, or similar background, and usually requires that students take a number of undergraduate engineering courses as articulation to become fully prepared for graduate work in environmental engineering. Applicants to the program are expected to be knowledgeable in topics including chemistry, process design, water resources, and air pollution.

The Ph.D. degree program requires applicants to have completed a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related discipline. It offers an intensive, individually tailored research program suitable for development of an academic or similar research-oriented career.

The program’s overall mission is to prepare students for Environmental Engineering careers in federal, state, and local governments; higher education; consulting; and industry.

Other key objectives include:

Producing graduates who have technical knowledge in critical areas of environmental engineering
Providing a professional engineering education that challenges our graduates to think critically
Forming and maintaining partnerships with industry, government agencies, and professional organizations
Developing awareness of the changing environmental needs of society and the global environment.

Degrees Offered

Environmental Sciences Track

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

Official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which must have been taken within the last five years
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

In addition, applicants should note the following degree-specific requirements:

For the M.S.Env.E. and M.S. programs in environmental engineering:

Students must have completed a Bachelor of Science degree. Those applying to the programs without a directly related undergraduate degree should closely check the prerequisites.
For students with non-technical undergraduate degrees, it is recommended that a second undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering be completed before applying to graduate school.
Admittance to the program requires a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and/or a GPA of 3.0 or greater in the last 60 attempted semester hours of undergraduate studies.

For the Ph.D. program in environmental engineering:

Applicants must have a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution
Admittance to the program requires a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1100 on the GRE and a GPA of about 3.0.
Prospective students should forward a detailed resume, a letter outlining research interests and goals, and three letters of recommendation with their application.

Final articulation requirements will be determined by the department after students have been admitted and after discussions with their advisers.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that you fill out a pre-application form (www.graduate.cecs.ucf.edu) before you complete the application for graduate admission. The deadlines for the pre-application form can be found on the Prospective Student Page on the College of Engineering and Computer Science website.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Master of Science in Engineering

Environmental Sciences Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

International Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

Master of Science in Engineering

Environmental Sciences Track Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Jan 15 Jan 15 Jul 1

International Transfer Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

Master of Science in Engineering

Environmental Sciences Track Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Feb 1 Mar 1 Sep 1

There are two options for the master’s degree programs: the thesis option and the non-thesis option. The thesis option is available in all master’s degree programs and requires a thesis that is equivalent to 6 credit hours out of a total of 30 credit hours. It is the required option for students supported on contracts and grants as well as any student receiving department financial support.

The non-thesis option is also available for all master’s degree programs and requires 36 credit hours of course work and a comprehensive final oral and written examination as a requirement for graduation. This option is recommended only for part-time students on a limited access basis.

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (M.S.Env.E.) degree requires either (a) 30 credit hours of acceptable graduate work, which includes a thesis (6 credit hours), or (b) 36 credit hours of acceptable graduate work, and a comprehensive final examination. The student develops an individualized program of study with a faculty adviser.

General College Requirements

Minimum Hours Required for M.S.Env.E.—30 or 36 Credit Hours

Prerequisites for all students:

Calculus through Differential Equations

Prerequisites for students with engineering undergraduate degrees in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering (note: equivalent courses may be acceptable):

CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)

Prerequisites for students with undergraduate degrees in other Engineering disciplines:

ENV 3001 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
CWR 4203C Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)

Prerequisites for students with appropriate Science or Math undergraduate degrees:

ENV 3001 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
CWR 3201 Engineering Fluid Mechanics (3 credit hours)
CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
CWR 4203C Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
EGN 3613 Engineering Economic Analysis (2 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)
Or equivalent courses

Required Courses—15 Credit Hours

CWR 5545 Water Resources Engineering (3 credit hours) or CWR 5125 Groundwater Hydrology (3 credit hours) or CWR 6235 Open Channel Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
ENV 6015 Physical/Chemical Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
ENV 6016 Biological Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
ENV 6347 Hazardous Waste Incineration (3 credit hours) or ENV 6558 Industrial Waste Treatment (3 credit hours)
ENV 6106 Theory and Practice of Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (3 credit hours) or ENV 6126 Design of Air Pollution Controls (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses—9 or 21 Credit Hours

Courses that comprise the elective part of the program are selected in accordance with the general requirements of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and often include courses taken from the following two sub-discipline areas:

Environmental Specialization—Any of the appropriate ENV graduate-level courses (5000 or 6000) with the consent of the student’s adviser
Water Resources Specialization—Any of the appropriate CWR graduate-level courses (5000 or 6000) with the consent of the student’s adviser

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

Master of Science in Engineering

Environmental Sciences Track

The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Sciences (M.S.) degree requires (a) 30 semester hours of acceptable graduate work, which includes a thesis (6 semester hours), or (b) 36 semester hours of acceptable graduate work with a comprehensive final examination. The student develops an individualized program of study with a faculty adviser.

General College Requirements

Prerequisites for all students:

Calculus through Differential Equations

Prerequisites for students with engineering undergraduate degrees in Civil, Environmental, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering:

CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)
Or equivalent courses

Prerequisites for students with undergraduate degrees in other Engineering disciplines:

ENV 3001 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
CWR 4203C Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)
Or equivalent courses

Prerequisites for students with appropriate Science or Math undergraduate degrees:

ENV 3001 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours)
CWR 3201 Engineering Fluid Mechanics (3 credit hours)
CWR 4101C Hydrology (3 credit hours)
CWR 4203C Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
EES 4111C Biological Process Control (3 credit hours)
EES 4202C Chemical Process Control (3 credit hours)
EGN 3613 Engineering Economic Analysis (2 credit hours)
ENV 4120 Air Pollution Control (3 credit hours)
ENV 4561 Environmental Engineering—Process Design (4 credit hours)
Or equivalent courses

Minimum Hours Required for M.S.—30 (Thesis Option) or 36 (Non-Thesis Option) Credit Hours

Required Courses—12 Credit Hours

CWR 5545 Water Resources Engineering (3 credit hours) or CWR 5125 Groundwater Hydrology (3 credit hours) or CWR 6235 Open Channel Hydraulics (3 credit hours)
ENV 6015 Physical/Chemical Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours) or ENV 6016 Biological Treatment Systems in Environmental Engineering (3 credit hours) or ENV 6558 Industrial Waste Treatment (3 credit hours)
ENV 6106 Theory and Practice of Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling (3 credit hours) or ENV 6126 Design of Air Pollution Controls (3 credit hours) or ENV 6347 Hazardous Waste Incineration (3 credit hours)
ENV 5071 Environmental Analysis of Transportation Systems (3 credit hours) or ENV 6519 Aquatic Chemical Processes (3 credit hours) or ENV 6616 Receiving Water Impacts (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses—12 or 24 Credit Hours

Any of the appropriate ENV or CWR or appropriate graduate-level courses (5000 or 6000) with the consent of the student’s adviser (3 credit hours each)

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 36 to 42 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, 18 of which will be dissertation credits, and 6 credit hours of which must be from courses taken outside the student’s program while at UCF. In addition, a minimum of 12 credit hours of formal classroom work is required at UCF. A program of study must be developed with an advisory committee and meet with departmental approval at the beginning of the Ph.D. program, at which time transfer credit will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis.

General College Requirements

Hours that must be taken in formal courses at UCF—12 credit hours
Hours taken at the discretion of the adviser—6 credit hours or 12 credit hours*
Dissertation—18 credit hours
Minimum hours required for Ph.D.—36-42 credit hours beyond the master’s degree

* The student must take 12 credit hours if the student completed a thesis with no additional course work past the minimum. Hours taken at the discretion of the adviser include research hours, special topics, directed studies, as well as additional formal courses.

Examinations

The student must pass three examinations. The first is the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. This examination must be taken within the first year of study beyond the master’s degree. In addition to the Qualifying Examination, the student must pass a Candidacy Examination and a Dissertation Defense Examination. The Candidacy Examination is normally taken near the end of the course work and consists of a written portion and an oral presentation of a research proposal. A copy of the written examination will be kept as part of the student’s official record. The Dissertation Defense Examination is an oral examination taken as defense of the written dissertation.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.

Contact Info

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

David Cooper, Ph.D., P.E. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2841
gradcee@mail.ucf.edu

Master of Science in Engineering

David Cooper, Ph.D., P.E. , Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-2841
gradcee@mail.ucf.edu