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Dr. Tien Yee is an assistant professor for the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Kennesaw State University (KSU). He joined the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering in fall 2013. Before joining the department, he had several years of civil engineering experience.
Dr. Yee specializes in the area of water resources. His research background involves numerical modeling of fluid flows. He is also very familiar with the physical modeling of pump stations.
His research interests includs computer and numerical modeling of fluid flows, physical modeling, and experimental studies of fluid phenomena. He is very interested in any research collaboration, consulting studies, or the sharing of research ideas and resources.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What is something you wish the public understood about water systems engineering?
Dr. Yee: Water resources engineering, or water systems engineering, is a broad field that encompasses water supply, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, hydrology, hydraulics, environmental engineering, mechanical systems, irrigation, and water management, among others.
While this field is vast, I wish more people recognized the importance and immense potential and opportunities it offers. With an aging workforce, there is a critical need for young water professionals, including engineers, facilities operators, and managers, to step into these roles and shape the future of water systems. A flexible program with an emphasis on water resources, such as KSU’s MSCE program, can help train the next generation of water professionals.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students in water systems engineering?
Dr. Yee: Just like water, be as fluid as possible when approaching water resources and water systems engineering. This field encompasses many subareas, and students should remain open-minded to explore its diverse paths.
Water resources engineering includes various aspects, such as computational fluid dynamics, flood modeling, and scour studies, particularly within the modeling domain. Additionally, there is an abundance of hands-on and instrumentation-focused opportunities, including flow measurements, irrigation design, drinking water systems, surge analysis and troubleshooting, infrastructure maintenance, and more.
I encourage aspiring students to keep an open mind and explore the different areas within water resources and water systems engineering to find their passion and make a meaningful impact.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What does the future of the field look like to you?
Dr. Yee: I believe there are many exciting developments in the water industry, particularly with advancements in sensor applications, digital twins, and AI. These innovations will undoubtedly gain traction and serve as catalysts for further research and development, business opportunities, and job creation in the near future.
I also believe there is significant potential for further exploration in this field, especially in light of current trends in irregular weather patterns and their implications. Understanding these challenges and adapting to them will be critical as we work to engineer a better future. By leveraging knowledge in this field, we can develop solutions to protect our infrastructure—whether water-related or otherwise—against the impacts of these changes.
People passionate about water systems, resources, conservation, and solutions may find an online degree in water systems engineering a good fit. Content will vary from program to program, but the overarching goal is to equip graduates to create more sustainable solutions in water for the future. Some degrees will focus on the implementation side, such as the best water treatment plant, while others will focus on the research side, such as the best way to treat wastewater.
Completing a degree online can be an excellent option for many prospective students. Online degrees allow students to complete their coursework on their own schedule without relocating. Often, students who enroll in online degree programs are non-traditional students working full-time or have family obligations. Another advantage to some online degree programs is that, in some cases, the degree cost can be much lower because students only have to pay in-state tuition rates no matter where they are located.
The faculty that teach in online water systems engineering programs are the same faculty that teach in-person coursework. Students can rest assured that they are getting a high-quality education. Most colleges issue the same diplomas for in-person students as online ones, so there is no difference in the degree earned.
Knowing what is expected of you when applying to an online program can take some of the pressure off of what can be a stressful process. Although prospective students are advised to read carefully through the application requirements for specific programs, there are common criteria across all programs.
As a helpful strategy for finding each school’s individual requirements, remember that most online master’s programs in water systems engineering will be found in the university’s civil and environmental engineering departments. In addition, many online master’s programs for water systems engineering are extensions of traditional in-person programs and require the same requirements for admission.
Common requirements for admission to online master’s programs in water systems engineering include:
The Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET) is seen as the gold standard for programmatic accreditation for bachelor’s degree programs in engineering. As of January 2025, there were several ABET-accredited online master’s degrees in engineering, none specifically in water. As a result, those seeking online master’s degrees in water systems engineering should ensure that the university offering the online program is accredited by a regional accrediting body.
To become a licensed water systems engineer, one must have completed a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of work as an engineer to apply for the Professional Engineer (PE) license. Engineering licensure is regulated state-by-state and offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Additionally, those specializing in water systems engineering may seek professional certification through the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE).
Offering an online master's of science in engineering, UC Riverside is a conscious blend of management strategy and high-level technical skills for students interested in eventual leadership roles in the field. In the subspecialty for water systems management, entitled, “environmental engineering systems (water),” students learn the engineering principles needed to provide clean water and improve the natural environment.
Students interested in the water systems engineering specialization take 16 credits of core classes in environmental engineering and management, 16 credits of classes related specifically to water systems engineering, and four credits for capstone projects, for a total of 36 credits. Courses in the specialization include water chemistry in natural and engineered systems; biological treatment processes; physical and chemical separation processes; and advanced treatment systems.
There are no residency requirements for this program and students are not required to visit the campus to enroll. There are three start dates for the program throughout the year.
Colorado State University offers three online programs: a master's of engineering in civil engineering with a focus on water resources, a graduate certificate in water resources, and a graduate certificate in applied global stability water resources. All three programs are designed to prepare students to respond to evolving water concerns facing future generations.
The graduate certificates can be completed in one year each. The applied global stability: water resources certificate consists of 12 credits in coursework focusing on water resource management and planning, engineering hydrology, and irrigation systems. The water resources certificate is only nine credits and focuses on water resources, policy, planning, and management throughout the western US and the world.
There is no residency requirement to enroll in any of CSU’s water resources programs, students are not required to visit campus to apply, and potential students can apply for fall or spring admission.
The master of science in water resources and environmental engineering at Villanova University is a program heavily focused on teaching students water systems management through the lens of engineering. Villanova’s MS in water resources and environmental engineering is nationally recognized for cutting-edge research, collaborative opportunities, and distinguished leadership.
The online master's of science in water resources and environmental engineering requires a minimum of 30 credits, with 21 credits required in civil and environmental engineering. Students must also complete two environmental engineering courses and two water resources courses. If desired, a student may author a thesis, but a thesis is not required to complete the program. There is no residency requirement for e-learning students, and students are not required to visit campus to apply. The school offers both fall and spring admission.
The curriculum includes masonry design; wood design; forensic engineering; water resources planning & management; water quality modeling; hazardous waste management; lake, stream, & wetland ecology; modern structural analysis; and sustainable manufacturing.
The University of Florida’s engineering department has an online arm known as the University of Florida Electronic Delivery of Graduate Engineering (UF EDGE). Through UF Edge, potential students can pursue a master's of engineering and a master's of science in environmental engineering sciences. Notably, the school also has a Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering with an online master’s degree. Students specializing in water systems will learn about hydrology, potable water systems, stormwater systems, and wastewater systems.
Both online master's of engineering and master's of science programs are 30-unit programs, with a 15-unit minimum requirement of coursework in environmental engineering. Students can take a maximum of 15 credits outside the focus of study. There is no residency requirement for UF Edge, and students are not required to visit campus to apply. Students can apply for admission in the spring, summer, or fall.
Kennesaw State University offers an online master of science in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering and water resources. The online MS in civil engineering at KSU is designed to help engineers already working in the field advance their professional careers.
At KSU, there are thesis and non-thesis options for the online MS in engineering. The thesis option requires students to take a minimum of 24 credits of coursework, and six credits for the research thesis, for a total of 30 credits. The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credits of coursework and includes three core courses, a four-course concentration, and three courses in another concentration.
There is no residency requirement to apply to the online MS of civil engineering, but some online courses designated as 95 percent online may require one visit to campus per semester for orientations or exams. Prospective students can apply for fall, spring, or summer admission.
The curriculum includes courses such as probabilistic analysis and reliability in civil engineering; hydraulic analysis and design; solid waste management and engineering; advanced hazardous waste engineering; advanced hydraulics; water resources management; transportation planning; and air pollution controls, among others.
Michigan Technological University offers an online master of science program in civil engineering focusing on water resources engineering, preparing students for designing, planning, and managing advanced water resources projects. Focusing on water resources engineering, the program helps students expand their capabilities as civil engineers. Students learn about the modeling techniques in hydrology and hydraulics, and topics covered in the program include water supply reliability and affordability, climate change adaptation, ecosystem restoration, low-impact stormwater management, and flood risk reduction.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as water resources engineering; water distribution and wastewater collection; water resources system modeling & design; river and floodplain hydraulics; advanced hydrology; hydraulic structures; and stream restoration, among others.
The University of Central Florida offers an online water resources engineering track in its civil engineering master of science program for students with appropriate engineering or science baccalaureate backgrounds. This program prepares students to tackle the evolving water concerns our society faces today. It helps students deepen their knowledge on planning and designing approaches necessary for enhancing water resources modeling, hydrology, and hydraulics. Upon graduation, graduates will be ready to take up positions such as land and water asset managers, water resource specialists, planning analysts, water resources engineers, and water systems modelers.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as groundwater hydrology; hydraulic engineering; water resources engineering; numerical methods in civil and environmental engineering; water resources in a changing environment; open channel hydraulics; modeling water resources systems; and finite elements in surface water modeling.
Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate in water resources engineering to both degree and non-degree-seeking students interested in continuing their education but may not be ready to commit to a master's degree program.
This 12-credit program requires students to take two required and two elective graduate courses. Some of the courses available to students include open channel hydraulics; hydrologic analysis and modeling; hydraulic design of pressurized systems; groundwater hydraulics; stormwater management and modeling; surface water quality modeling; and water resources engineering special topics. All credits earned from this certificate may be applied toward a graduate degree.
Graduates of this program will be able to formulate persuasive and effective communication to technical and non-technical audiences, apply advanced principles and concepts related to water resources engineering, and analyze information presented in the scientific literature related to water resources engineering.
The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering offers an online master of science in an engineering program with a certificate of specialization in sustainable water engineering. Key elements covered in this degree program include hydroclimatology, surface and groundwater processes, remote sensing for hydrologic applications, watershed response to disturbance, aquatic chemistry, membrane separation in aqueous systems, environmental microbiology, and the geochemical modeling, chemical fate, and transport of contaminants in the environment.
The curriculum includes courses such as surface hydrology; aquatic chemistry; physical and chemical processes for water and wastewater treatment; green infrastructure; environmental biotechnology; remote sensing with hydrological applications; and geochemical modeling.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), the career outlook for environmental engineers (a category that includes water systems engineers), is set to grow by 7 percent in the next decade, which is faster than the average of 4 percent for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.
On average, environmental engineers earn $105,840 per year (BLS May 2023). As of February 2025, the latest percentiles for wages for environmental engineers are:
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Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
