Environmental Engineering and Science, MS

Program Description

Environmental engineering and science is concerned with the characterization, control, and/or avoidance of environmental pollution. Emphasis is placed on applying the fundamental principles of the basic sciences and engineering sciences through research and design to the solution of environmental problems in natural and engineered systems.

The MS program builds on a student’s previous engineering or science background. Students with a baccalaureate degree in any branch of engineering, as well as chemistry, physics, geology, biology, or related majors, with a strong mathematical background may be admitted to the program.

Students specialize in one of six focus areas: environmental health physics; environmental process engineering; nuclear environmental engineering and science; sustainable systems and environmental assessment; subsurface and surface processes; or environmental chemistry. Thesis and non-thesis options are available.

The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science, Environmental Health Physics program is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Health Physics and Similarly Named Programs Program Criteria. Visit the Environmental Engineering and Science, Environmental Health Physics program’s website to learn about the Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes.

BS/MS Options Associated with the MS in Environmental Engineering and Science

Clemson University undergraduate majors in Biosystems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering who have earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or above and completed 90 credit hours can begin work toward a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science while completing a Bachelor of Science degree. The undergraduate curriculum allows up to eight or nine credits of mutually acceptable graduate course credits to satisfy requirements of both degrees. Details are available at https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/eees/academics/undrgrad/bsms.html.

Summary of Degree Requirements

Thesis Option

The MS thesis option requires a minimum of 24 hours of graduate credit coursework and a minimum of six hours of  EES 8910 - Master’s Thesis Research . At least one-half of the total graduate credit hours required, exclusive of thesis research, must be selected from courses numbered 8000 or above. A final oral examination of the MS thesis is required. 

Non-Thesis Option

The MS non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit coursework, none of which may be master’s thesis research, and students must pass a final oral exam. A minimum of 21 graduate credit hours must be at the 8000 level for non-thesis MS students. Students in the non-thesis option must complete a research project supervised by a faculty member, and present the project during their final oral exam.

Core Coursework

All students pursuing the Environmental Engineering and Science MS degree are required to take three core courses (unless a similar course was previously taken and accepted by the Graduate Program Coordinator or Department Chair), constituting a total of nine credit hours:

• EES 8020 - Environmental Engineering Principles 3 Credits  
• EES 8430 - Environmental Chemistry 3 Credits  
• EES 8150 - Radiobiology 3 Credits  or EES 8510 - Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering 3 Credits  

All MS EES students must register for EES 8610 - Environmental Engineering and Science Seminar  during the fall and spring semesters. If needed, prerequisite and/or co-requisite courses may be specified to resolve deficiencies in a student’s educational background. Prerequisite and co-requisite courses do not count toward the minimum number of credit hours required for the MS degree.