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M.Eng. in Earth Science and Engineering

The Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Earth Science and Engineering is a flexible one-year program designed for students to deepen their expertise or explore interdisciplinary research, catering to diverse career aspirations and enhancing analytical skills in the field.

Format

In-Person

Page Contents

Note: This page provides a general overview. For complete and accurate information, please consult the M.Eng. Student Services Coordinator. For current course offerings and information, refer to the Cornell University Registrar: Courses of Study.

Degree Requirements

The Earth Science and Engineering M.Eng. program is intended to extend and broaden your background and to develop competence in a defined number of subject categories. Students typically take about 4 courses a semester, with the remaining credit hours involving their research project.

  • The curriculum must include a minimum of 30 credit hours in technical coursework at the 5000 level or higher. No more than two credits may be graded on an S/U basis. At least 21 of the credits must be from Cornell.
  • Students must take at least 15 credit hours from engineering programs outside of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS). The students may petition to take less than 15 engineering credits outside of EAS, but 10 credits must be taken from engineering programs outside of EAS to satisfy the design requirement of the M.Eng. program. The petition requests are assessed by the M.Eng. Director.
  • It is required to take a minimum of six credit hours of EAS 5000, which is a project design class offered by the student’s M.Eng. advisor. Work done under EAS 5000 must furthermore involve a distinct design component. The topic of the M.Eng. project is at the discretion of the M.Eng. advisor, but it is often discussed between the student and the advisor before the student starts their degree.
  • A minimum of 12 credit hours must be taken from the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, including coursework, M.Eng. project, and seminar classes.

Additional rules apply, and students are encouraged to meet with the M.Eng. director to review them.

Concentration Areas

  • Atmospheric Science

    Meteorology, applied climatology, air quality, aerosols, and climate change.

  • Remote Sensing

    Remote sensing involves utilization of satellite- and airborne-based remote sensing approaches for time series analysis, land-use change, and understanding of subsurface phenomena. Use of large datasets and GIS technology.

  • Subsurface Resources and Energy Systems

    Energy reservoirs and subsurface energy engineering, including geomechanics, flow in porous media, geology, geochemistry, numerical modeling, and Artificial Intelligence.

  • Applied and Environmental Geophysics

    Geophysics, seismology, geology, porous media flow, and computer methods. Methods include field work, laboratory testing, numerical modeling, and AI.

Note: Our M.Eng. degree includes a range of concentrations, with the goal of matching research areas that interest students with the core competencies of our faculty. These concentration areas cover many of the focus areas explored by our students, but we have the flexibility to accommodate other concentrations within the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences as well.

Sample Relevant Courses

  • AEP 5100

    Introductory mathematical physics

  • BEE 5270

    Water measurement and analysis methods

  • BEE 6310

    Multivariate statistics for environmental applications

  • CEE 5795

    Sensors for the built and natural environments

  • CEE 6000

    Numerical Methods for Engineers

  • CEE/EAS/MAE 6755

    Finite Element Method: Theory and Applications in Mechanics and Multiphysics

  • CHEME 6440

    Aerosols and Colloids

  • CHEME 6780

    Global Food, Energy, and Water Nexus

  • EAS 5010

    Fundamentals of Energy and Mineral Resources

  • EAS 5052

    Climate Dynamics

  • EAS 5720

    Fundamentals of Glaciology

  • EAS 5850

    Global Geophysics

  • EAS 5870

    Introduction to Radar Remote Sensing

  • EAS 6370

    Field Geophysics

  • EAS 6540

    Ocean Satellite Remote Sensing

  • EAS 6710

    Introduction to Groundwater

  • EAS 6800

    Atmospheric Chemistry: From Air Pollution to Global Change

  • EAS 6820

    Seismology

  • EAS 6920

    Energy geomechanics and rock mechanics

  • MAE 5010

    Future energy systems

  • MAE 5230

    Intermediate fluid dynamics with CFD

  • MSE 5810

    Materials Chemistry