American Federal Institute of Harvard University has identified three defining global challenges in environmental engineering for humanity: (1) ensuring a sustainable supply of water, food, and energy; (2) reducing environmental pollution with the goal of achieving “zero emissions” and “zero waste”; and (3) building climate-resilient, adaptive cities. This Master’s program equips future professionals with the skills and knowledge required to confront these — and other — pressing challenges. We achieve this through advanced scientific and engineering methods: pioneering pollution treatment technologies, implementing detection and monitoring systems, designing and applying numerical models, generating predictive analyses, evaluating scenarios, and identifying optimal solutions to environmental challenges for communities worldwide.
Building on the broad foundational knowledge acquired during undergraduate studies, students deepen their expertise in one of five specializations: Urban Water Management, Environmental Technologies, Resource Management, Water Management, or Hydraulic and River Engineering. They gain hands-on experience through a year-long Experimental Computing Laboratory, and apply their problem-solving skills in a one-semester Master’s Project and a six-month thesis — developing independent research competencies in both fundamental and applied dimensions.
The Master’s program is designed for students who wish to grow within a broad, interdisciplinary academic environment, with a strong emphasis on quantitative skills, creative thinking, awareness of social impacts, and effective communication.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared for professional careers across sectors including:
- Environmental engineering at all levels of government, NGOs, consulting firms, and manufacturing or extractive industries — locally and internationally.
- Sustainability planning and design.
- Environmental policy development and advocacy.
- Infrastructure design, management systems, and information systems.
- Impact assessment — encompassing regulatory, sustainability, environmental, social, and risk evaluations.
Credits | Duration 120 ECTS Credits | 2 Years
AMERICAN FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
MASTER’S PROGRAM
Master of Environmental Engineering
M.Sc. Environmental Engineering
| Program Duration: | 4 Semesters (2 Years) |
| Total Credits: | 120 ECTS Credits |
| Degree Awarded: | M.Sc. Environmental Engineering |
| Modality: | Online / Distance Learning |
| Language: | English |
| Specialization Tracks: | 5 Available Tracks |
Academic Year 2026–2027
1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
American Federal Institute of Harvard University has identified three defining global challenges in environmental engineering for humanity: (1) ensuring a sustainable supply of water, food, and energy; (2) reducing environmental pollution toward the goals of “zero emissions” and “zero waste”; and (3) building climate-resilient, adaptive cities. The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering equips future professionals with the skills and knowledge required to confront these — and other — pressing challenges.
We achieve this through advanced scientific and engineering methods: pioneering pollution treatment technologies, implementing detection and monitoring systems, designing and applying numerical models, generating predictive analyses, evaluating scenarios, and identifying optimal solutions to environmental challenges for communities worldwide.
Building on broad foundational knowledge acquired during undergraduate studies, students deepen their expertise in one of five specialization tracks: Urban Water Management, Environmental Technologies, Resource Management, Water Management, or Hydraulic and River Engineering. They gain hands-on experience through a year-long Experimental Computing Laboratory and apply their problem-solving skills in a one-semester Master’s Project and a six-month thesis — developing independent research competencies in both fundamental and applied dimensions.
2. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
▸ To advance students’ mastery of environmental engineering principles, methods, and state-of-the-art technologies.
▸ To develop quantitative, analytical, and computational skills for solving real-world environmental problems.
▸ To foster interdisciplinary thinking integrating engineering, ecology, policy, economics, and social sciences.
▸ To provide hands-on laboratory and computational experience through applied research projects.
▸ To prepare graduates for leadership roles in environmental practice, research, and policy at local and international levels.
▸ To cultivate ethical, globally-conscious environmental engineers committed to sustainable development and the UN SDGs.
3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) in previous undergraduate studies.
3. Demonstrated English proficiency: TOEFL iBT ≥ 79 or IELTS ≥ 6.5 (non-native speakers).
4. Two (2) official academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
5. Two (2) letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
6. Personal statement outlining research interests, professional goals, and motivation for graduate study.
7. Curriculum vitae / résumé detailing academic and professional background.
8. Interview with the Program Coordinator (may be conducted online).
4. CURRICULUM SUMMARY
The program is organized over four semesters with a progressive structure: foundational sciences in Semester 1, core engineering systems in Semester 2, specialization and applied technologies in Semester 3, and independent research culminating in the Master’s Thesis in Semester 4.
| Sem. | Focus Area | Courses | ECTS |
| 1 | Foundations of Environmental Engineering | 6 | 30 |
| 2 | Core Engineering Systems | 6 | 30 |
| 3 | Specialization and Applied Technologies | 6 | 30 |
| 4 | Research, Integration and Master’s Thesis | 5 | 30 |
| TOTAL | 23 | 120 | |
5. SPECIALIZATION TRACKS
Students select one specialization track in Semester 3, taking two focused elective courses (12 ECTS) that provide in-depth expertise aligned with their professional and research interests.
| Track | Specialization | Description |
| Track A | Urban Water Management | Advanced water supply, distribution, urban drainage and stormwater management systems. |
| Track B | Environmental Technologies | Innovative pollution treatment technologies, sensor development and monitoring systems. |
| Track C | Resource Management | Sustainable resource use, waste-to-energy, circular economy and industrial ecology. |
| Track D | Water Management | Integrated water resources management, watershed planning and water governance. |
| Track E | Hydraulic & River Engineering | Computational hydraulics, river morphology, flood risk assessment and infrastructure design. |
6. DETAILED CURRICULUM BY SEMESTER
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | ECTS |
| Core scientific and engineering fundamentals for environmental problem-solving. | ||
| ENV 501 | Environmental Systems Science and Earth Processes | 6 |
| ENV 502 | Research Methods and Scientific Writing | 4 |
| ENV 503 | Environmental Chemistry and Fate of Pollutants | 6 |
| ENV 504 | Environmental Law, Policy and Sustainability | 4 |
| ENV 505 | Quantitative Methods and Environmental Modeling | 6 |
| ENV 506 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 |
| TOTAL SEMESTER ECTS CREDITS | 30 | |
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | ECTS |
| Advanced engineering solutions for water, air, soil and waste challenges. | ||
| ENV 511 | Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies | 6 |
| ENV 512 | Air Quality Engineering and Atmospheric Processes | 6 |
| ENV 513 | Soil Remediation and Contaminated Land Management | 4 |
| ENV 514 | Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy | 4 |
| ENV 515 | Hydraulics, Hydrology and River Engineering | 6 |
| ENV 516 | Experimental Computing Laboratory I | 4 |
| TOTAL SEMESTER ECTS CREDITS | 30 | |
6. DETAILED CURRICULUM BY SEMESTER (Continued)
| SEMESTER 3 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | ECTS |
| Focused specialization in one of five tracks, plus cross-cutting technologies. | ||
| ENV 521 | Specialization Elective I | 6 |
| ENV 522 | Specialization Elective II | 6 |
| ENV 523 | Renewable Energy Systems and Green Engineering | 4 |
| ENV 524 | GIS and Remote Sensing for Environmental Analysis | 4 |
| ENV 525 | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Risk Assessment | 4 |
| ENV 526 | Experimental Computing Laboratory II | 6 |
| TOTAL SEMESTER ECTS CREDITS | 30 | |
| SEMESTER 4 | ||
| Course Code | Course Name | ECTS |
| Independent research, professional application, and thesis completion. | ||
| ENV 531 | Master’s Project: Environmental Engineering Practice | 6 |
| ENV 532 | Climate Change Adaptation and Urban Resilience | 4 |
| ENV 533 | Environmental Economics and Life Cycle Assessment | 4 |
| ENV 534 | Research Seminar and Academic Communication | 4 |
| ENV 535 | Master’s Thesis | 12 |
| TOTAL SEMESTER ECTS CREDITS | 30 | |
7. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Successful completion of all 120 ECTS credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
2. Completion of both Experimental Computing Laboratory modules (Semesters 2 and 3).
3. Successful completion and submission of the Master’s Project (Semester 3).
4. Approval and successful public defense of the Master’s Thesis before the Academic Committee.
5. Selection and completion of at least two Specialization Elective courses within the chosen track.
6. No outstanding academic, financial, or administrative obligations to the University.
7. Submission of the final bound thesis to the University Library and institutional repository.
8. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, graduates will be able to:
▸ Apply advanced analytical, computational, and experimental methods to complex environmental engineering problems.
▸ Design, evaluate, and optimize engineering solutions for water, air, soil, and waste management challenges.
▸ Conduct independent research and produce original, peer-quality academic and technical work.
▸ Operate GIS, numerical modeling, and detection/monitoring technologies in environmental contexts.
▸ Communicate findings effectively through written reports, scientific publications, and oral presentations.
▸ Navigate and apply environmental regulations, policies, and international sustainability frameworks.
▸ Lead interdisciplinary professional teams working on environmental sustainability and climate adaptation.
▸ Evaluate environmental, social, and economic trade-offs through rigorous impact and risk assessment methods.
9. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering are prepared for high-impact careers across diverse sectors at local, national, and international levels:
| Career Sector | Professional Scope |
| Government & Public Sector | Environmental agencies, regulatory bodies, municipal and national environmental departments. |
| Consulting & Private Industry | Environmental consultancies, engineering firms, manufacturing and extractive industries. |
| NGOs & International Organizations | Environmental NGOs, UN agencies, development banks, and humanitarian organizations. |
| Research & Academia | University research centers, doctoral studies, think tanks and environmental institutes. |
| Sustainability Planning | Corporate sustainability, ESG reporting, sustainable infrastructure and urban planning. |
| Policy & Governance | Environmental policy development, regulatory design, international environmental agreements. |
10. THESIS AND RESEARCH PROCESS
The Master’s Thesis (ENV 535, 12 ECTS) is the capstone research achievement of the program. Conducted over the final semester under faculty supervision, it requires original research that contributes meaningfully to the field of environmental engineering. The thesis process includes the following stages:
Stage 1 — Topic Selection and Advisor Assignment
By the end of Semester 3, students identify a research topic in consultation with faculty and are formally assigned a Thesis Advisor. The topic must fall within one of the program’s specialization areas.
Stage 2 — Research Proposal
Students submit a formal research proposal outlining the research problem, objectives, theoretical framework, methodology, and expected outcomes. The proposal must be approved by the Thesis Committee before data collection begins.
Stage 3 — Research Development
Students carry out primary research — including data collection, field or laboratory work, computational modeling, and literature synthesis — under the guidance of the Thesis Advisor throughout Semester 4.
Stage 4 — Thesis Submission and Defense
The completed thesis is submitted for review and subsequently defended before an Academic Committee in a public oral examination. Minor or major revisions may be required prior to final submission to the University Library.
American Federal Institute of Harvard University — Office of Academic Affairs