Cross-Disciplinary Program
The Environmental Engineering program is a cooperative effort between the departments of Civil and Chemical Engineering. Faculty and students from both departments collaborate on research and coursework that draws upon the fundamentals of science in chemistry, microbiology and other fields, and applies them to developing solutions to environmental problems. With special emphasis on aqueous systems & microbial processes, environmental engineering students develop expertise in analysis and design of systems for water purification and wastewater treatment, hazardous waste treatment, and solutions to industrial systems problems.
In the Department of Civil Engineering, environmental engineering students supplement environmental engineering work with courses and further study in subjects such as hydraulics, hydrology, groundwater and soil mechanics, and often cross over to material in biochemical engineering, mass transfer and reactor design. In the Department of Chemical Engineering, ENVE students supplement their environmental engineering courses with thermodynamics, reactor analysis and transport phenomena, and cross over to hydraulics and groundwater contamination in civil engineering. Both sets of students have found supplementary coursework in microbiology and biochemistry to be of value.
In addition to the traditional research-oriented programs (Plan A MS and the PhD), the Civil Engineering Department offers two paths to a professional practice degree in Environmental Engineering. For those students interested in the MS ENVE as a terminal degree, whether returning to school after professional experience or joining the program from another university, the Plan B option provides a rigorous and thorough preparation in the fundamentals and applications of environmental engineering to the practicing engineer. For those currently pursuing a BS in Civil Engineering at Montana State, the Concurrent Master's program allows for flexibility in scheduling during the senior and graduate years, so that with due diligence, a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering can be obtained a year after the bachelor's degree.
Degree Options
Plan A: Research-Based
- Thesis Required
- 21 Credits Coursework
- MS ENVE, MS ChE or MSCE
- Typical Length of Study: 2 Years
Plan B: Professional Practice
- Professional Paper
- 31 Credits Coursework
- MS ENVE or MSCE
- Typical Length of Study: 1 – 1.5 Years
Plan B: Concurrent Approach
- Coordinated Pursuit of BSCE and MS degrees
- Professional Paper
- 31 Credits Coursework
- MS ENVE or MSCE
- As little as 2 semesters past BSC
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A wide variety of cutting-edge research is carried out in environmental engineering, from fundamental studies to highly applied feasibility studies. Recent and ongoing research topics include biofilms in drinking water treatment and distribution systems, biological pre-treatment for industrial water systems, nitrogen, heavy metal and hazardous organic removal in constructed wetlands, aerobic sludge treatment for septage and a "green building", bioremediation of munitions wastes, biobarriers for groundwater remediation, biofilm structure and biocorrosion, CO2 sequestration by phototrophic biofilms, and photocatalytic degradation of hazardous organics.
The Center for Biofilm Engineering
A cornerstone for research in environmental engineering is the Center for Biofilm Engineering. The CBE was established in 1990 as an Engineering Research Center by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Throughout its 11 years of funding from NSF, the CBE established an international reputation for excellence not only in science, but also in interdisciplinary education. A key measure of its success is the strong Industrial Associates Program: over 20 companies are subscribing members of the CBE's IA program and, more than just supplying funds, are integrated team members on a variety of research projects. The center promotes interdisciplinary research with teams of faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students from the departments of Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics, Microbiology and several other departments across campus. Graduate students play key roles not just in the laboratory but with the industrial associates program and in connection with government and other granting agencies.
The Civil Engineering Department operates several bench- and pilot-scale facilities for process research, and the Chemical Engineering Department also operates well-equipped laboratories for photocatalysis and related activities. The Center for Biofilm Engineering laboratories occupy over 10,000 sq. ft. and include chromatography and other analytical equipment, microbiology laboratories, radionuclide facilities, and bench- and pilot-scale systems. Of particular interest to those focused on fundamental research are state-of-the-art microscopy labs, two confocal scanning laser microscopes, and close access to the Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratories, equipped with SEM, EDAX, TOF-SIMS, XPS and other surface analytical equipment.
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