Geology is a diverse field that can lead to many different career paths. Our program will provide you with the advanced geological knowledge and critical skills needed to lead in the field. It’s customized for working professionals, allowing you to complete your degree in less than two years if you wish without interrupting your career.
12 credit hours
32 credit hours
The Environmental Geology graduate-level certificate along with the two joint certificates offered in conjunction with the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, allow a student to gain more skills in a growing field as well as obtain micro-credential that can be added to a resume and LinkedIn! They also provide an ideal bridge into the 32-credit hour online master’s degree should students desire to continue on for an advanced graduate degree. Learn more>>
The M.S. in Environmental Geology is designed to meet the high demand for advanced geology expertise used in applied industry sectors, including modeling of groundwater flow, characterization of contaminant migration, groundwater and contaminant geochemistry, and environmental geophysics. Learn more>>
The tuition rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is $775 (USD) per credit hour for the courses taken through the Department of Earth Science and Environmental Change toward any of the three certificates as well as the master’s program courses. Rates in future academic years are subject to review by the Illinois Board of Trustees. The rate is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students.
Employment options for certificate and M.S. graduates are numerous. Depending on your area of interest, graduates can choose rewarding careers in government, private industry, non-profit organizations, and educational services. Employment opportunities may include work in environmental regulations, environmental consulting, hydrogeologic investigation, pollution abatement and hazardous waste remediation, and environmental geochemistry.
Develop and Apply Robust Numerical Models of Complex Groundwater Flow Regimes using, in part, Python
Apply State-of-the-Art Water Chemistry and Bioremediation Strategies using The Geochemist’s Workbench
Understand and Characterize Contaminant Migration Water Chemistry and Hydrogeologic Case Studies
Understand and Apply a Suite of Environmental Geophysical Methods
Develop a Strong Quantitative Foundation in Multi-scale Geodata analysis
