Environmental Engineering

To become a CBEE graduate student you must be admitted to Oregon State University through both the Office of Graduate Education and the CBEE. The faculty in CBEE examine the material submitted to determine adequacy of academic background and to decide whether facilities in the School are adequate for the expressed aims of the student. The Office of Graduate Education will determine whether the general university conditions for admission have been met. Applicants will be notified by the Office of Graduate Education as to the action taken. A critical consideration in the decision is whether the applicant's academic objectives can be satisfactorily fulfilled. CBEE does not have the capacity to accommodate all applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements. Applicants to the CBEE graduate program must meet the OSU Office of Graduate Education's CBEE minimum admission requirements and submit a complete application package in order to be considered for admission at the Graduate Admissions Process site. 

International students interested in the Master of Engineering (MEng) program should apply through Master's International Direct.

Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered for admission.

Grade Point Average
The CBEE requires a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent), a professional degree, or an appropriate U.S./Canadian alternative degree, from a regionally accredited (US) or recognized (International) college or university, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree or any subsequent graduate degree from a regionally accredited (US) or recognized (International) college or university, plus all work completed thereafter.

GRE
The GRE is not required for application/admission into our programs.

Language Proficiency
The CBEE minimum TOEFL is 580 (237 computer, 92-93 iBT with a minimum score of 18 on each section). TOEFL must be less than two years old. The IELTS is accepted as well. The minimum score is 6.5. Language Proficiency tests are not required for US citizens or those who received their undergraduate degree from an English speaking country institution.

Applying for Admission

Materials that must be submitted electronically:

1. Application for Graduate Admission: online application form Graduate Application. (International students interested in the Master of Engineering (MEng) program should apply through Master's International Direct.)
2. Application Fee by credit card (part of online application)
3. Statement of Objectives: (part of online application)
4. Resume/CV
5. Recommendation Letters: You must provide the names and email addresses of three professional references as part of the degree-specific portion of the online application. The references will be sent instructions on how to submit their letters and you will receive an email with a link to manage those reference requests after submitting the application.
6. TOEFL: You must self-report your scores as part of the online application. You must also request that TOEFL send your scores to OSU. Scores must be no older than 2 years at the time when your graduate studies start.

Send the following to the Office of Graduate Education:

1. Certification of Finances (International Students only)
2. Transcripts: Upload or mail a photocopy of all official transcripts to Graduate Admissions for application review (grade slips, kiosk and web printable transcripts or reports will not be accepted for use in evaluation) of all previous academic work, undergraduate and graduate. One official copy of your final transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Education in order to complete the acceptance process. International applicants must provide a certified English translation of their academic transcripts.

Deadline for Applications

January 5

Applicants with a very strong record and particular aptitude for graduate research may be offered a term-by-term assistantship which provides a stipend and tuition remission. The CBEE application process is highly competitive. We cannot guarantee that you will always be awarded funding. These are offered the first of April for the upcoming school year and are chosen from the accepted applicants.

Graduate assistants may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. If you are not awarded funding you should be prepared to be a self-supporting student. Also, due to the limited number of assistantships available, MEng students are not funded in this manner. Applicants to the CBEE do not need to complete a separate application in order to be considered for assistantships. A complete application consists of all the materials listed on the Graduate Application.

The student’s M.S. program of study shall be designed to develop a degree of competence in the major area significantly higher than the customary baccalaureate education, and shall include background and adjunct knowledge normally expected of a person entering the professional practice of that specialty. 

Strengthen your technical credentials with a Master of Engineering

The Master of Engineering (MEng) is a professional, coursework-only degree designed for individuals seeking practical skills and leadership roles in industry. The program does not require a thesis or research project, allowing students to focus on advanced coursework aligned with their professional goals and job-related skill development.

MEng vs. M.S. Degrees

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is research-oriented and suited for students interested in advanced technical research or pursuing a Ph.D., typically requiring a thesis or research project. In contrast, the MEng is a course-based degree intended for students who want to apply advanced engineering knowledge in industry without completing a thesis. Read more about the difference between an MEng and an MS degree.

Learn about MEng vs M.S.

MEng Degree Requirements

Oregon State’s MEng program requires 45 credits of advanced coursework, which may include core engineering courses, ethics, technical writing, and elective courses relevant to professional interests. Students typically develop a Program of Study with an advisor during their first term and complete a final portfolio in place of a final oral exam.

View detailed MEng requirements

Paying for your MEng

MEng students are generally self-funded. While all students may apply for graduate research or teaching assistantships, these opportunities are highly competitive and more commonly awarded to Ph.D. and M.S. students. Additional funding options include scholarships, grants, fellowships, loans, and employer tuition reimbursement programs. Learn more about paying for your MEng degree.

Explore MEng payment options

How to Apply

Apply to a Master of Engineering program online through the Office of Graduate Education. MEng degree admission requirements basically align with the minimum academic requirements for admission into all Oregon State graduate programs. This typically looks like having a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative B average. The GRE is not required for admission to an MEng degree.

Deadlines

The environmental engineering MEng program admits students for a fall term start date.
Application deadline: May 1

The purpose of the courses in the Ph.D. program of study is to develop exceptional expertise in the major area. It should also provide the background and adjunct knowledge required to practice and/or teach this specialty at the highest professional level and to conduct significant research in this field. The Ph.D. thesis shall make an original and significant contribution to engineering knowledge.

The Graduate Minor in Environmental Engineering is for masters and doctoral level students who seek additional formal training and mentoring in environmental engineering. Students pursuing a Minor in Environmental Engineering must include at least one Environmental Engineering faculty member on their committee. This faculty member must be engaged in the development of the student’s Program of Study and in the case of Doctoral students, their dissertation research; therefore, it is recommended that this faculty member be identified early in the doctoral program.