The Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change (ESEC) offers three graduate-level certificates, including two joint certificates in conjunction with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois. These certificates are designed to meet the existing high demand for advanced engineering geology and environmental geology expertise to solve industry problems.
Each graduate-level certificate is 12-credits and provide an ideal bridge into the 32-credit hour online Environmental Geology Master’s degree or other stackable programs. These certificates are fully online, which precludes the need for an extended absence from a current job and/or familial responsibilities and maximizes learning flexibility.
The Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change offers a graduate-level certificate in Environmental Geology. This certificate is designed to meet the existing high demand for advanced engineering geology and environmental geology expertise to solve industry problems, including
The graduate-level certificate is a 12-credit program and provides an ideal bridge into the 32-credit hour online Environmental Geology Master’s degree should students desire to continue on for an advanced graduate degree.
The Environmental Geology graduate certificate is a highly-sought after micro-credential in a field that is ever changing. As with other micro-credentials, the Environmental Geology certificate is an excellent addition to a professional’s LinkedIn profile and resume, indicating successful completion of a number of advanced, graduate-level courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign taught by world-class faculty, researchers and industry experts.
The Environmental Geology graduate certificate also provides a route toward graduate level education and Professional Geologist (PG) licensure applications. After successful completion of the Environmental Geology online graduate certificate program, the Department of Geology will issue both electronic and paper certificates for posting and sharing with professional networks.
Students pursuing the certificate must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours offered online by the Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change, which will be three or four courses (number of courses needed varies by the credit hours granted for each course). Once admitted to the Environmental Geology Online Certificate Program, students should consult a program advisor regarding course selection/sequencing based upon their particular area of interest and desired professional goals.
Spring 2026: January 10, 2026
Summer 2026: May 1, 2026
Fall 2026: August 15, 2026
Spring 2027: January 10, 2027
This certificate is offered jointly by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Department of Earth Science and Environmental Change (ESEC).
Infrastructure development, hazard mitigation, and sustainable management projects increasingly require specialists integrating geology and engineering for accurate subsurface assessments. This certificate directly addresses workforce demands in geotechnical engineering, construction, mining, risk management, and environmental consulting sectors by providing focused training in geophysical survey techniques, rock and soil mechanics, and hazard analysis.
Certificate holders will excel in designing safe, economically viable, and resilient infrastructure projects. Practical applications include road embankments, landslide mitigation projects, tunneling, dams, and subsurface investigations. Graduates will be skilled in effectively communicating geological assessments within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Recommended Course Sequence:
GEOL 451: Environmental Geophysics (4 credits) – Fundamental seismic, electrical, and electromagnetic
methods for subsurface analysis. (Prerequisite: MATH 241 and PHYS 212; or consent of instructor.)
GEOL 593: Advanced Studies in Geology – Engineering Geology (4 credits) – Rock and soil mechanics, hazard assessments, and engineering project
integration. (Prerequisite: MATH 241 and PHYS 212; or consent of instructor.)
CEE 483: Soil Mechanics and Behavior (4 credits) – Soil properties, classification, shear strength,
consolidation processes, and foundational design.
(Prerequisite: CEE 380.)
Other courses (electives) may be substituted based on availability, student background, and professional objectives. Students may select a combination of suggested courses and electives to meet the 12-credit requirement.
This certificate is offered jointly by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Department of Earth Science and Environmental Change (ESEC).
Federal and state remediation standards (PFAS limits, updated RCRA guidance) and private-sector
liabilities are driving great demand for specialists skilled in remediation technologies and compliance management. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates faster-than-average job growth (5–7%) in environmental engineering and consulting through 2032, driven by cleanup and regulatory compliance. This 12-credit certificate addresses these needs, combining CEE coursework in treatment design and pollutant fate with ESEC’s strengths in hydrogeochemistry and bioremediation.
Certificate graduates qualify for roles like remediation engineer, compliance manager, or geochemist. All 12 credits stack directly into the online M.S. in Environmental Geology or other approved LAS graduate programs. It may also be combined with other certificates for customized skill portfolios.
Recommended Course Sequence:
CEE 437: Water Quality Engineering (4 credits) – Treatment technology design, chemical/
biological processes. (Prerequisite: CEE 330: Environmental Engineering)
CEE 440: Fate & Cleanup of Pollutants (4 credits) – Remediation methods, pollutant transformation, risk assessment. (Prerequisite: Undergraduate degree in engineering or science and a course in Environmental
Engineering, such as CEE 330)
GEOL 565: Water Chemistry & Bioremediation
(4 credits) – Microbial and geochemical
processes affecting contaminants. (Prerequisite: One year of college chemistry or equivalent.)
Other courses (electives) may be substituted based on availability, student background, and professional objectives. Students may select a combination of suggested courses and electives to meet the 12-credit requirement.
