MEng in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering

The principal objective of the Master of Engineering Program is to prepare individuals for professional practice in a broad range of areas by enhancing the skill sets developed in an undergraduate engineering program. For the master’s degree in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering (EECE), students can choose a pathway of specialization in specific topical areas. Other goals of the professional master’s degree are to provide training in leadership skills and teamwork and experience with field and international issues.

This is a coursework-based masters program requiring 30 credits. A full-time student could complete the degree program in 12-16 months. Part-time students will require a longer duration. The curriculum is geared to enhance skill sets for practice in industry. Courses required for this program will provide a broader background in project management, business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Students can choose a set of electives to obtain certificates in specialized tracks.

Degree Logistics

We welcome all interested applicants with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, or life sciences. The program is designed to be completed in 12-16 months (potentially including summer courses), but it can be completed over a longer time period on a part-time basis.

The degree requires 30 units of coursework and includes courses from outside of engineering that are relevant to professional engineering practice. These include courses in project management, and social and policy aspects. Students who have not taken engineering-level mathematics (2-3 semesters of calculus + 1 semester of differential equations) as part of their bachelor's degree may wish to take these courses prior to taking any of the MEng program's technical core or advanced mathematics courses. Any math courses taken solely in preparation for the core courses will likely be at the undergraduate level, however, and will not count towards this graduate degree.

Up to 6 units of independent study (EECE 500) credit can be received for faculty-advised research projects, industry-directed projects, or a practicum/internship completed over the summer term. Approval by the Advisor is necessary for independent study credits. Note that the degree earned will be a Master of Engineering, even if research is done by the student.

Pathways are available in Advanced Energy Technologies; Bioengineering and Biotechnology; Energy and Environmental Nanotechnology; Energy and Environmental Management; and Environmental Engineering Science.

Curriculum Structure

• Core courses selected from a menu of options (see course listing document)
• 5 elective courses (15 total credits)
  
  • Any relevant WashU courses 400-level and higher (max of two 400-level courses)
  • Electives can be chosen to complete a pathway that will result in a certificate
• All courses comprising the required 30 credits must be taken for a grade (i.e., cannot be taken pass/fail), and a minimum GPA of 2.70 is required for graduation
• A joint MEng/MBA program is also available. See the MEng/MBA website for more details.

The list of courses is dynamic, and will change from time to time. Students have the flexibility of choosing other classes with the permission of their academic advisor. Please check the latest listing.

In addition to classes, students will have regular meetings with personnel from industry and are advised to attend EECE Seminars held on Fridays at 11 a.m. The EECE department also hosts a career fair each fall semester.