Master of Engineering in Environmental Quality Management
The Master of Engineering program in Environmental Quality Management (EQM) is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary program which trains students in such areas as project management, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, decision making, regulatory compliance, financial planning, and communication.
The program is intended to bridge the gap between hard-core environmental engineering skills and project management by adopting pro-active environmental engineering and management strategies. These strategies are more oriented toward "pollution prevention at source" vis-a-vis "end-of-the-pipe-treatment" approaches; a concept that has gained wide acceptance by major corporations and small businesses alike.
Successful implementation of pro-active strategies will not only help avoid high remediation costs and consequential liabilities, but will also enhance the overall economic performance of businesses. The program integrates various elements of project planning and execution, including environmental compatibility, risk assessment and reduction, process modification, and cost saving.
Distinctive Features
One distinctive feature of the program is the professional practice experience, which is composed of a required project leading to an industry-oriented thesis. The subject should make use of actual or ongoing projects. A second distinctive feature is the concept of a creative environment that highlights and motivates enhanced human interactions and supportive relationships. A third feature is partnership with industry and government, which encourages their participation in educational activities and provides students with a wide range of professional opportunities.
Role of Graduates
This EQM program is useful for many practicing engineers and scientists in the environmental and other related fields, who need to strengthen their background in such areas as project management, entrepreneurship and venture management, effective communication, and strategic planning. It is anticipated that graduates from this program will be instrumental in helping business and industry to reduce environmental costs and liabilities, prevent catastrophes, and improve market competitiveness.
Focus of the Program
This two-semester program has a different professional focus than the research-based Master of Science degree program. The primary intent of this program is to provide the students with a cutting edge education in the art and science of environmental management. The program focuses on teaching and training students to integrate environmental considerations in the early planning of projects to improve environmental compatibility, reduce risks, and incur financial savings. The program offers students professional opportunities in the management of engineering projects in such areas as manufacturing industries, public utilities, private businesses, and government agencies. It includes courses in environmental engineering and management, multimedia systems, business administration and entrepreneurship, business management and organization, and professional technical writing.
External Advisory Committee
We are currently in the process of assembling an external advisory committee to provide us with critical appraisal of the program on a continual basis, and to suggest directions for the future. The committee represents an outstanding cross section of highly talented and accomplished individuals from academia, business, and industry.
Requirements
The program is designed for two semesters (24 units) of course work and requires approved research work (6 units) during the summer period. The research project will be conducted under the supervision of a full-time faculty member, with the collaboration of leading professionals from private industries and government agencies.
- Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, natural sciences or related fields.
Required Courses (core courses, 13 units)
- ENE 510 Water Quality Management and Practice (3 units)
- ENE 518 Environmental Systems Engineering and Management (3 units)
- ENE 535 Applied Air Quality Management (3 units)
- MPW 950 Technical Writing (3 units)
- ENE 495 Environmental Engineering Seminars (1 unit)
Engineering Elective Option (technical elective courses, 3 units)
- ENE 502 Environmental and Regulatory Compliance (3 units)
- CE 504 Solid Waste Management (3 units)
- ENE 505 Energy and the Environment (3 units)
- ENE 506 Ecology for Environmental Engineers (3 units)
- ENE 516 Hazardous Waste Management (3 units)
- ENE 526 Environmental Pollutants: Monitoring and Risk Assessment (3 units)
- CSCI 576 Multimedia Systems Design (3 units)
Business Communication / Management and Organization Elective (4 units)
- BUCO 445 Oral Communication in Business (4 units) or
- BUCO 485 Business Communication Management (4 units) or
- MOR 469 Negotiation and Persuasion (4 units)
Business Administration and Entrepreneurship Program / Management and Organization Elective (4 units)
- BAEP 451 The Management of the New Enterprises (4 units) or
- MOR 462 Management Consulting (4 units)
Project Courses (6 units)
- ENE 590 Directed Research (6 units)
Course Descriptions
The total number of units in the program is 30. It should be noted that some courses have prerequisites, and these prerequisite courses must be taken by the enrolled student.
- BAEP 451 Management of New Enterprises (4). Development of analytical and conceptual skills in entrepreneurship and venture management.
- BUCO 445 Oral Communication in Business (4). Oral reporting; management briefings; listening; interviewing; conference and committee leadership; employee training in communication; laboratory cases and simulations.
- MOR 462 Management Consulting (4). Role of professional consultants; data gathering methods; consulting approaches from strategy, finance, operations, information systems, marketing, and human resources; action planning; ethical and career issues. Recommended preparation: BUAD 304.
- MOR 469 Negotiation and Persuasion (4). Theories, strategies, and ethics underlying negotiation and persuasion in contemporary organizations and societies. Emphasizes the knowledge and skills needed for effective negotiation and persuasion.
- BUCO 485 Business Communication Management (4). Communication environment; managing communication activities; communication through intrafirm publications; research methods; report and proposal preparation; communicating institutional policy.
- CE 504 Solid Waste Management (3). Characterization, production, storage, collection, and transport of solid wastes; alternative disposal methods; design principles and environmental impact; management of radiological solid wastes.
- ENE 495 Environmental Engineering Seminars (1). Hazardous waste management, biodegradation of environmental pollutants, groundwater problems, waste minimization, energy resources, and air pollution control.
- ENE 502 Environmental and Regulatory Compliance (3). Federal and state environmental laws; environmental impact assessment techniques; permitting for industrial facility construction and operation. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
- ENE 505 Energy and the Environment (3). Environmental effects of energy development using fossil and fissile fuels, geothermics, photosynthesis, and other sources. Relationship of elemental cycles to the life supporting systems.
- ENE 506 Ecology for Environmental Engineers (3). The role of environmental engineering in maintaining stability of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems; macroscopic plant and animal forms as indicators of water quality.
- ENE 510 Water Quality Management and Practice (3). Surface and groundwater quality and resource management; water pollution in aquatic environments; water/wastewater infrastructure systems management.
- ENE 516 Hazardous Waste Management (3). Standards and regulations for the management of hazardous waste: identification, transportation, monitoring, storage, treatment, and disposal practices. Prerequisite: departmental approval.
- ENE 518 Environmental Systems Engineering and Management (3). Evaluating, implementing and managing effective environmental systems to prevent pollution, conserve energy and resources, reduce risks and achieve sustainability in business and industries.
- ENE 526 Environmental Pollutants (3). Gaseous and particulate air pollutants, their measurements and instrumentation methods, and their effects on the environment and human health; studies on toxicity and risk assessment of selected pollutants.
- ENE 535 Applied Air Quality Management (3). Pollutant sampling; occupational, community, and personal exposures; receptor modeling; data analysis; health effects of air pollutants. Prerequisite: departmental approval
- CSCI 576 Multimedia Systems Design (3). State-of-the-art technology for networked multimedia systems such as: system design, I/O technologies, data management, data compression, networking and telecommunications. Design of real-world multimedia solutions. Recommended preparation: familiarity with C or C++.
- ENE 590 Directed Research (6). The directed research project will be designed for a period of 3-4 months during the summer semester. Students will conduct research under the direction and supervision of a full-time faculty member. Students will work in areas of primary interest and importance to private industries and government agencies.
- MPW 950 Technical Writing (3). Preparation of technical material and reports for management; detailed descriptions of processes, equipment, and systems.
