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Department of Environmental Resources Engineering
Graduate Studies

ERE trains graduate students to lead the development and application of knowledge in environmental resources engineering, including ecological, geospatial and water resources engineering.

ERE graduate applicants select an Option Area that guides coursework and research.

Our five Option Areas are:

Graduate application note

Prospective applicants to the ERE program may request a waiver of the GRE scores by directly emailing the one ERE faculty member whom they intend to identify as a major professor. The body of the email should provide justification for the GRE waiver, with CV, transcripts, and application statement attached. 

If the ERE faculty member decides a waiver should be granted, an applicant will be directed to submit a full, formal application for consideration.  Applicants for the MS or PhD program who have not submitted GRE scores would be expected to have their application material provide information on past scholarship and future research plans. This should entail recommendation letters that detail the applicant’s specific intellectual contributions to prior projects or publications and a research statement that demonstrates familiarity with academic literature in the intended area of study and a capacity to develop research ideas

Research Topics

For the M.S. degree, the graduate student typically tests established theory as part of a research thesis. For the Ph.D. degree, the graduate student typically tests and advances established theory as part of a research dissertation. For the M.P.S. degree, the graduate student typically completes a comprehensive project or practicum. Coursework supports the research. Research topics are selected by the student in consultation with their major professor and steering committee.

Research Environment

Facility support for graduate study and research in these areas is both internal and external. We have exceptional laboratories, instrumentation, and staff in the ERE Department and College. We have extensive properties owned and used by the College at which research may be conducted.

External support comes from several active sources, including industrial, commercial and governmental. Over the past two decades, close cooperation has developed special study and research opportunities with these sources.

ESF College Catalog Text

ERE participates in graduate education leading to the master of professional studies, master of science, and doctor of philosophy degrees in environmental resources engineering. Graduate studies and research are primarily concerned with environmental and resource-related problems. ERE graduate students apply science and engineering to the conservation, restoration, holistic development, and improved utilization of the natural environment and its related resources.

Applicants to all programs of study are required to have a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering and are expected to have completed at least one 3-credit course in physics, one 3-credit course in statistics, and two 3-credit courses in calculus. Students admitted without necessary background are required to take additional prerequisite courses required by the department.