College of Engineering

Engineering and Public Policy

Master's: Boston
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The Master of Science in Engineering and Public Policy provides students with a background in engineering with the tools necessary to conduct robust policy analysis.

Boston
Location
Full-Time
Part-Time
Commitment
2-3 Years
Duration of Program
Yes
Meets F1 Visa Requirements
Overview

The coming decades will represent a crucial time in human history. Environmental change, urbanization, and technological progress will profoundly reshape how we live and work. From the opportunities of renewable energy and artificial intelligence to the threats of climate change and aging infrastructure, engineering professionals with both technical and policy expertise are poised to be the key decision-makers and leaders of the future. Already, public policy expertise is vital for successful planning and completion of civil and environmental engineering projects. 

Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Engineering and Public Policy provides the knowledge and tools needed to combine engineering analysis with public policy and decision-making. This program covers the core skills necessary to link engineering design and analysis research with the economic and policy contexts needed for decisions that affect society at large. You’ll study specific engineering applications within one of the concentrations, coupled with fundamental methodologies in policy analysis, economics, and statistics.

More Details

Unique Features

  • Interdisciplinary core with courses from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Public Policy
  • Option to complete a master's report, a master's thesis, or course work electives
  • Can be combined with a Gordon Engineering Leadership certificate

Looking for something different?

View more Engineering programs
Admissions

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-50 university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

$54K *
Tuition

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

  • Completed online application form
  • $75 application fee
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended
  • GRE is not required for applicants starting spring 2021
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resumé
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo for international applicants
  • Standardized test scores such as the GRE are not required for master's degree applicants to the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. However, such test scores may be helpful for applicants with little or no experience beyond undergraduate school.

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Global Engagement Learn how our teaching and research benefit from a worldwide network of students, faculty, and industry partners.

Admissions Dates

Fall 2020
Spring 2021
Funding/early action deadline for domestic and international applicants: January 15
Deadline for international applicants (outside the U.S.): May 15
Deadline for international applicants (inside the U.S.): July 1
Deadline for domestic applicants: August 1
Deadline for international applicants (outside the U.S.): September 15
Deadline for international applicants (inside the U.S.): November 1
Deadline for domestic applicants: November 15
Deadline for regional campus applicants: December 15
Curriculum

Master of Science in Engineering and Public Policy

General Requirements

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Sustainable Engineering and Systems Modeling

Complete 12 semester hours from the following

CIVE 5261 - Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Investment and Policymaking 
4.00 
CIVE 5275 - Life Cycle Assessment of Materials, Products, and Infrastructure 
4.00 
CIVE 5363 - Climate Science, Engineering Adaptation, and Policy 
4.00 
CIVE 6777 - Climate Hazards and Resilient Cities Abroad 
4.00 
CIVE 6778 - Climate Adaptation and Policy Abroad 
4.00 
CIVE 7100 - Time Series and Geospatial Data Sciences 
4.00 
CIVE 7272 - Air Quality Management 
4.00 
ENGR 5670 - Sustainable Energy: Materials, Conversion, Storage, and Usage 
4.00 
ENSY 5100 - Hydropower 
4.00 
IE 5500 - Systems Engineering in Public Programs 
4.00 
IE 5640 - Data Mining for Engineering Applications 
4.00 
IE 6200 - Engineering Probability and Statistics 
4.00 
IE 7280 - Statistical Methods in Engineering 
4.00 
ME 5645 - Environmental Issues in Manufacturing and Product Use 
4.00 
SBSY 5200 - Sustainable Engineering Systems for Buildings 
4.00 

Public Policy and Analysis

Complete 8 semester hours from the following:

ECON 7210 - Applied Microeconomic Policy Analysis 
4.00 
INSH 5301 - Introduction to Computational Statistics 
4.00 
INSH 6500 - Statistical Analysis 
4.00 
LPSC 7215 - Advanced Quantitative Techniques 
4.00 
LPSC 7311 - Strategizing Public Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 5260 - Ecological Economics 
4.00 
PPUA 6205 - Research Design and Methodology in Urban and Regional Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 6210 - Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Cost/Benefit Analysis 
2.00 
PPUA 6212 - Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Project Management 
2.00 
PPUA 6213 - Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Data Visualization 
2.00 
PPUA 6502 - Economic Analysis for Policy and Planning 
4.00 
PPUA 6506 - Techniques of Policy Analysis 
4.00 
PPUA 6509 - Techniques of Program Evaluation 
4.00 
PPUA 7237 - Advanced Spatial Analysis of Urban Systems 
4.00 

Options

Complete one of the following options:

Coursework Option

Complete 12 semester hours from the Elective Course List below.

Report Option

CIVE 8674 - Master’s Report 
2.00 - 4.00 

Complete 8 semester hours from the Elective Course List below.

Thesis Option

CIVE 7990 - Thesis 
1.00 - 8.00 

Complete 4 semester hours from the Elective Course List below:

Elective Course List

CIVE 5271 - Solid and Hazardous Waste Management 
4.00 
CIVE 5280 - Remote Sensing of the Environment 
4.00 
CIVE 5281 - Coastal Dynamics and Design 
4.00 
CIVE 5300 - Environmental Sampling and Analysis 
2.00 
CIVE 5301 - Lab for CIVE 5300 
2.00 
CIVE 7150 - Data-Driven Decision Support for Civil and Environmental Engineering 
4.00 
CIVE 7230 - Legal Aspects of Civil Engineering 
4.00 
CIVE 7252 - Water Engineering: Planning, Design, and Management 
4.00 
CIVE 7261 - Surface Water Quality Modeling 
4.00 
EMGT 6225 - Economic Decision Making 
4.00 
ENVR 5210 - Environmental Planning 
4.00 
ENVR 5260 - Geographical Information Systems 
4.00 
LPSC 7312 - Cities, Sustainability, and Climate Change 
4.00 
PHTH 5214 - Environmental Health 
3.00 
PHTH 5230 - Global Health 
3.00 
PPUA 5262 - Big Data for Cities 
4.00 
PPUA 5263 - Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Regional Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 5264 - Energy Democracy and Climate Resilience: Technology, Policy, and Social Change 
4.00 
PPUA 5270 - Food Systems and Public Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 6101 - Environmental Science and Policy Seminar 1 
4.00 

 

Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.



Experiential Learning

Northeastern combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and research to prepare students for real-world engineering challenges. The cooperative education program, also known as co-op, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world, and Northeastern is one of only a few that offers a co-op program for graduate students. Through this program, students gain professional industry experience in their field of interest as part of the academic curriculum while employed from four to eight months in a wide variety of organizations, from large companies to entrepreneurial startups.
 
In 2019, the Graduate School of Engineering placed nearly 1000 students in co-op positions. We have a team that prepares students for the cooperative education experience through resumé building, developing interview skills, and guiding professional development.

Faculty

Our Faculty

Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

Matthew J. Eckelman

Matthew J. Eckelman

Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Auroop R. Ganguly

Auroop R. Ganguly

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Director, Sustainability & Data Sciences Laboratory (SDS Lab)
Professor (by courtesy), Computer and Information Science
Professor (by courtesy), Marine and Environmental Science
Professor (by courtesy), Political Science
Andrew T. Myers

Andrew T. Myers

Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Students

By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 275,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.

Below is a look at where our Engineering alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

 

  • Where They Work

    • GE Aviation
    • Raytheon
    • CDM Smith
    • Bose Corporation
    • IBM

  • What They Do

    • Engineering
    • Operations
    • Business Development
    • Program and Project Management
    • Entrepreneurship

  • What They're Skilled At

    • Engineering
    • Project Management
    • AutoCAD
    • SolidWorks
    • Manufacturing

 

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.

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