Civil Engineering: Master's in Environmental Engineering & Construction Project Management Online

• Curriculum combines courses in civil engineering, management science, business and economics, and system dynamics.
• Highly customizable plans of study enable students to explore a wide range of topics including sustainable construction practices, fire protection, supply chain management, building information modeling, and systems thinking.
• Students learn from and work closely with expert WPI faculty members who have practical experience in construction project management and continue to be serve as consultants to leading corporations.

WPI also offers an online graduate certificate in Construction Project Management.  The Construction Project Management program is also available on-campus if you prefer a more traditional learning environment.

11 courses, 33 credit hours with 12 credits from core courses, at least 9 credits from breadth courses, and electives from engineering, science, business and/or system dynamics. You will work with a faculty advisor to develop a customized and relevant plan of study.  

Thesis option: Currently, WPI’s online graduate programs do not offer a thesis option, as theses cannot be completed online. 

View academic term start dates for online courses.

Depending on the student’s chosen plan of study, the MS in construction project management will prepare her/him to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Obtain a rich toolset of skills to effectively manage human and capital resources through all phases of the construction process, including preconstruction interface with the customer, project costing, organization, time scheduling, contracting risk mitigation and contract administration.
2. Learn the challenges of working with customers and company staff, including delivery systems, legal issues, contracts liability, dispute resolution, loss prevention, proposal development, professionalism and ethics.
3. Perform in-depth cost and schedule analyses that include unit estimates, costing databases, values engineering, productivity, cost control, etc, that provide guidance for price bidding, negotiations and claims management.
4. Develop a robust understanding of the importance and intricacy of local ordinances, laws and customs that impact a major project. This includes building codes, bylaws, zoning ordinances and labor laws. Learn the legal responsibilities along with prudent communication tones and protocols with owners, abutters and city/town officials.
5. Understand how the use of Building Information Modeling, as the latest construction management tool, improves efficiency, communication and fosters real time collaboration between owners, investors, architects, engineers, contractors and any other stakeholder involved in the project. The Building Information Model serves as the central repository and dashboard for graphic information, specifications, delivery data, responsible supplier, etc. on each element of the project. Issues or errors can be caught early with this visualization tool.
6. Identify and mitigate project risk through robust analytical methodology. A broad set of applications are covered including supply chain quality assurance, fire protection, environmental impacts and information security.
7. Apply Systems Thinking tools to better understand how the project is impacted by the larger physical, social and commercial ecosystem that surrounds it. Concepts include causal loops and feedback, system leverage points, delays and oscillations, assumptions, unintended consequences, emergent properties, patterns, self-organization and more.
8. Develop awareness and understanding on how the modern constructed facilities are designed, built and operated under sustainable practices and lean processes.

Students with bachelor’s degrees in areas such as architecture, management engineering, and civil engineering technology are normally accepted to this program. Professional exposure to design and construction activities is highly desired. Additional requirements for international applicants as imposed by the department of civil and environmental engineering apply. Work history will be considered if you include a resume in your application.

If you do not have a bachelor's degree, please view our list of undergraduate programs.

For specific application requirements, visit our admissions for online programs page.

CE 542. Geohydrology
CE 560. Advanced Principles of Water Treatment
CE 562. Biosystems in Environmental Engineering
CE 563. Industrial Waste Treatment
CE 565. Surface Water Quality Modeling
CE 570. Multiphase Contaminant Transport
CE 571. Water Chemistry
CE 572. Physical and Chemical Treatment Processes
CE 573. Treatment System Hydraulics
CE 574. Water Resources Management
CE 580. Advanced Project Management
CE 583. Contracts and Law for Civil Engineers 
CE 584 . Advanced Cost Estimating Procedures 
CE 587. Building Information Modeling 
CE 590. ST: Environmental Health and Engineering
CE 590. ST: Environmental Nanotechnology
CE 590. ST: Environmental Organic Chemistry
CE 590. ST: Green Engineering
CE 590. ST: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in the Construction Industry 
CE 590. ST:  Solid Waste Management 

To find the next offering of online Civil and Environmental Engineering courses, visit the Registrar’s site.

To view a course description, visit the Graduate Catalog.

Subject to change based on availability.  
 

The Master of Science in Environmental Engineering online completion requirements:

• 33 credit hours consisting of 11 courses, 3 credits each

You will work with a faculty advisor to develop a customized and relevant plan of study.  With your advisor’s permission, you may take up to 3 elective courses (9 elective credits) from other WPI graduate departments.

Thesis option: Currently, WPI’s online graduate programs do not offer a thesis option, as thesis cannot be completed online.

View academic term start dates for online courses.

The MS program in environmental engineering requires a BS degree in civil, chemical, or mechanical engineering. Students with a BS in other engineering disciplines, or physical and life sciences, are eligible, provided they meet the following requirements:

1. Mathematics and Science (minimum 12, three-credit courses).
   1. Mathematics must include differential and integral calculus, differential equations, and statistics (normally three courses in calculus and one course in differential equations).
   2. Science must include two chemistry  courses and a minimum of one physics course.
2. Fluid Mechanics.

For specific application requirements, visit our admissions for online programs page.

CE 542. Geohydrology
CE 560. Advanced Principles of Water Treatment
CE 562. Biosystems in Environmental Engineering
CE 563. Industrial Waste Treatment
CE 565. Surface Water Quality Modeling
CE 570. Multiphase Contaminant Transport
CE 571. Water Chemistry
CE 572. Physical and Chemical Treatment Processes
CE 573. Treatment System Hydraulics
CE 574. Water Resources Management
CE 580. Advanced Project Management
CE 583. Contracts and Law for Civil Engineers 
CE 584 . Advanced Cost Estimating Procedures 
CE 587. Building Information Modeling 
CE 590. ST: Environmental Health and Engineering
CE 590. ST: Environmental Nanotechnology
CE 590. ST: Environmental Organic Chemistry
CE 590. ST: Green Engineering
CE 590. ST: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in the Construction Industry 
CE 590. ST:  Solid Waste Management 

To find the next offering of online Civil and Environmental Engineering courses, visit the Registrar’s site.

To view a course description, visit the Graduate Catalog.

Subject to change based on availability.