Graduate environmental and water resource engineering programs at KU


What is environmental and water resources engineering?

Development decisions impact the environment, water quality and the lives of people in the region. Environmental engineers help balance economic and environmental needs for civil engineering projects, as well as overall sustainability. An environmental engineer working in water resource helps measure a project’s environmental impact on water resources, such as aquifers, rivers or lakes—as well as a project’s effect on local economy and public health.

An environmental engineer working in water resource might apply their knowledge in the following ways:

  • Working with civil engineers on a plan to site a new dam route
  • Overseeing the planning of an irrigation network
  • Measuring the possible environmental impact of a proposed project on a body of water and the surrounding community
  • Helping organizations make environmentally sustainable decisions regarding proposed building projects

What does an environmental engineer do with a water resource graduate degree?

Environmental engineers use a water resource specialization in a variety of fields, including air quality, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, stormwater treatment and wetlands management.

Environmental and water resource degree potential careers - Land use planning, infrastructure planning, state and local government, technical consulting services, waste management, water treatment

What graduate environmental and water resource programs are available at KU?

KU’s School of Engineering offers two online programs of study for environmental and water resources. The Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering and the Master of Science in Environmental and Water Resources Science provide further education in up-to-date theory and practical techniques in civil and environmental engineering.