Online Environmental Engineering Schools and Colleges: How to Choose

Environmental engineering degree programs may be available online, but usually only as continuing education requirements for professionals who already work in the field. Students should choose a program based on what is available to meet their needs.

How to Choose an Online College for Environmental Engineering

Program Availability and Degree Levels

Degree programs in environmental engineering that are available online are normally only graduate-level programs. Both master's degree and graduate certificate programs in environmental engineering are available online, and while undergraduate degrees in environmental engineering may exist, they are normally traditional programs with no specific hybrid or online components.
Students seeking entry-level training in environmental engineering must normally complete a traditional education or find a similar field to study, such as civil engineering, which may at times be offered online.

Student Time Requirements and Constraints

Normally, online environmental engineering education programs are designed for working adults, and offer flexible schedules, which may go so far as to only have a single due date for assignments and tests at the end of the class time. In this sort of course, students work entirely at their own pace, communicating with the class asynchronously using discussion forums or unified education software that provides a message board for students to post class-related discussions on.
A few programs may be available that are designed for accelerated study and follow a more traditional schedule and even require students to be present at certain times for class discussion via video or voice conference. Students should choose a program that is suited to their scheduling needs.

Online Program Options for Environmental Engineering

Online Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

An online master's degree program in environmental engineering is normally designed for working professionals who wish to advance their careers through continuing education. Normally, these programs take between two and four years to complete and include courses focusing on such topics as advanced mathematics, science and fluid mechanics.

Online Graduate Certificate in Environmental Engineering

Graduate certificates in environmental engineering, like master's degrees, are normally designed to fulfill continuing education requirements, though these programs may be used more by professionals in other fields than those working specifically in environmental engineering. Air quality, groundwater, advanced water treatment and urban hydrology are all common subjects covered by a graduate-level certificate program in environmental engineering.