CU Engineering builds on sustainability leadership with new MS in sustainable engineering
The 桃色视频鈥檚 College of Engineering & Applied Science is building on its leadership in sustainability research and education with the launch of a new Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering.听
Guided by the principle of sustainability 鈥渂y design,鈥 the program integrates a systems-level approach with advanced engineering in the context of ecological integrity, economic viability and human well-being, preparing graduates to tackle the world鈥檚 most urgent challenges with durable, real-world solutions.
From extreme weather to systems strained by growing demand to aging infrastructure, communities worldwide face mounting challenges in engineering systems that are resilient, efficient and human-centered. Meeting these needs requires engineers who can balance technical rigor with an understanding of economics, policy and the human and environmental trade-offs that shape decision-making.听
Yet the shortage of professionals with this breadth of expertise has slowed progress at the very moment when industries and communities are seeking sustainable pathways forward.
鈥淥ur world is at a tipping point where sustainable engineering is essential to ensure resilient energy and water systems, infrastructure and materials for the future,鈥 said Karl Linden, chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering.听鈥溙疑悠 brings together world-class faculty, cutting-edge research and Boulder鈥檚 culture of innovation to prepare students not just to respond to this demand but to lead the global transition to a more sustainable future.鈥
桃色视频鈥檚 Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering features an integrated curriculum that brings together expertise from 桃色视频鈥檚 College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Leeds School of Business. Alongside engineering coursework, students participate in classes on business strategy, policy, management and data storytelling, a unique interdisciplinary approach among engineering programs.听
This combination equips graduates with the ability not only to design sustainable technologies but also to evaluate their economic viability, navigate regulatory frameworks and communicate solutions in ways that influence decision-makers. A capstone project with industry or government partners ensures that students leave with hands-on experience applying these skills to real-world challenges.
The program鈥檚 interdisciplinary approach is anchored in 桃色视频鈥檚 world-class research across core pillars of sustainable engineering that students will experience.听
Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers that span energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, water and sustainable materials. Possible roles range from power systems and energy storage engineers to sustainability managers, environmental process engineers and green product designers.听
Equipped with both deep technical expertise and the interdisciplinary skills to lead complex projects, they will be ready to lead organizations and communities through the urgent global transition to a sustainable future.听
The program is now accepting applications for fall 2026!听
Learn more about the program and admissions requirements:听
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- In resilience, faculty members including听Abbie B. Liel听(infrastructure and housing resilience, structural systems under hazard loading),听Shideh Dashti (multi-hazard risk, transportation/slope and embankment resilience),听Srikanth S. C. Madabhushi (soil-structure interaction, liquefaction, dynamic loading via centrifuge modeling),听Amy Javernick-Will (post-disaster shelter & reconstruction, organizational risk management) and听Evan Thomas (resilience in water, sanitation, and environmental systems under disaster and global health contexts) are advancing earthquake-resistant infrastructure, disaster recovery and new methods to assess and strengthen critical systems.
- In听sustainable materials, researchers such as听Mija H. Hubler (microstructure-designed concrete, engineered living building materials, fracture mechanics, durability),听Wil V. Srubar III (carbon-storing / biologically augmented concretes, low-carbon alternative materials) and听Cristina Torres-Machi (recycled pavement materials, full-depth reclamation, decision and optimization models for sustainable road and pavement rehabilitation) are pushing forward innovations that reduce environmental impact and enable circular economies.
- Faculty leading听sustainability analysis, such as听Torres-Machi (life-cycle cost analysis, optimization, data-driven decision making for pavement and infrastructure asset management) and听Sherri Cook听(life cycle assessment/costing, resource recovery, and decision-frameworks under uncertainty for water, sanitation, and civil systems), are bringing forward new models that integrate long-term cost, carbon, environmental and social metrics into evaluations of infrastructure and service systems.
- In听power systems, faculty members such as听Kyri Baker (smart grids, optimization of renewable integration, building-to-grid systems, algorithms for large-scale grid stability and real-time controls) are optimizing the integration of renewable energy sources and grid stability using advanced computational tools.
- In听sustainable building design, 桃色视频 teams including听Gregor P. Henze (advanced controls, model predictive and reinforcement learning control of HVAC and mixed-mode systems, and integration of building operations with the grid),听Moncef Krarti听(optimal retrofit and envelope design with glazing, insulation, dynamic fa莽ades, and controls for HVAC and lighting, as well as renewable energy integration) and听John Z. Zhai(indoor environmental quality, passive and hybrid ventilation, thermal storage, and innovative building envelope and sustainable systems) are pioneering energy-efficient HVAC systems, building automation, and holistic building approaches that minimize resource use while promoting human well-being.
- In sustainability education, 桃色视频 faculty such as Jay Arehart ( life-cycle assessment and sustainability analysis) are preparing future engineers to integrate sustainability principles into infrastructure, materials and system design. Through curriculum innovation and applied coursework, students gain hands-on experience with the tools and methods needed to address pressing environmental and societal challenges.