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Earn a merit-scholarship Online Graduate Certificate in Global Engineering for $250/credit, then matriculate into the Professional MS at CU Boulder with a paid research or industry project.
The Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience at the University of Colorado Boulder trains engineers to solve the hardest problems on the planet — clean water access, climate adaptation, food security, disaster resilience, and sustainable infrastructure.
Global Engineering is the practice of applying engineering skills to improve quality of life worldwide — particularly for communities facing poverty, climate stress, and infrastructure gaps. It's interdisciplinary by nature: technical design meets public health, economics, policy, and community engagement. Graduates work across consulting (Tetra Tech, AECOM, Jacobs), international development (World Bank, UNICEF, CARE), government (EPA, USGS, NASA), carbon markets, and social enterprise.
Since 2006, the Mortenson Center has trained 300+ graduate students, supported 5M+ people with clean water across 30+ countries, and built a network of 80+ international practicum partners. Our faculty have pioneered carbon credits for water treatment, continuous water quality sensors, and drought resilience platforms used across East Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
A structured pathway from online certificate to on-campus master's — designed so cost is never the barrier.
Four graduate courses. Fully online. Scholarship covers tuition. Build the foundation for your MS while working from anywhere.
The Mortenson Center is the only program that combines sustainability engineering education, a global practicum network, and real-world impact at scale. Our graduates work at Tetra Tech, AECOM, Jacobs, Water for People, EPA, NASA, and 200+ organizations worldwide.
Transition to campus in Boulder, Colorado. Your certificate credits transfer in — you're already one-third done.
All 12 transfer from your certificate. 18 on campus — including your 3-credit paid MS project. Complete in 2 additional semesters.
2–3 month international placement with one of 80+ partner organizations across 30+ countries. Partial funding provided.
Carbon markets, climate adaptation, WASH systems, GIS, data analytics, AI tools, project management — the skills employers are hiring for now.
Direct relationships with Tetra Tech, AECOM, Jacobs, Arcadis, WSP, Deloitte, and government agencies. Our alumni network opens doors.
Live and study in one of America's top college towns. 300 days of sunshine. World-class outdoor recreation. 140+ sustainability jobs posted locally.
$1,699/credit (in-state) or $2,068/credit (out-of-state). 15 on-campus credits = $25,485–$31,020. Paid MS project + assistantships offset costs.
Your capstone project is a real engineering engagement — with real pay. Work on problems that matter while completing your degree.
Engineer and evaluate fog collection systems providing drinking water to rural communities in the Anti-Atlas mountains. Field deployment, monitoring, and community engagement.
Design and build pedestrian bridges connecting isolated communities to schools, clinics, and markets. Structural engineering, community-led construction, impact assessment.
Design and implement water, sanitation, and hygiene systems for rural communities. Water quality monitoring, treatment system design, and behavior change evaluation.
Support sustainable water service models across Latin America and Africa. Data analytics, service level monitoring, and financial sustainability assessment.
Design and improve infrastructure for displaced populations. Energy access, sanitation systems, shelter engineering, and community-centered design.
Address domestic water access gaps in tribal and underserved US communities. System design, water quality assessment, and climate resilience planning.
| CU Boulder Certificate → MS |
Typical Online MS | Traditional On-Campus MS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Cost | $3,000 (with merit scholarship) | $20,000–$50,000 | $25,000–$60,000 |
| Start Online | Yes — from anywhere | Yes | No |
| Credits Transfer to MS | All 12 credits | Varies (often 0) | N/A |
| Paid Project / Stipend | Yes | No | Sometimes (RA/TA) |
| International Practicum | 80+ partners, 30+ countries | No | Rare |
| Carbon Markets Training | Embedded in curriculum | No | Rare |
| Time to MS Degree | 2–3 years total | 2–3 years (no MS option) | 1.5–2 years |
| Employer Network | Tetra Tech, AECOM, Jacobs, EPA, NASA, 200+ | Limited | University-specific |
A CU Boulder graduate engineering degree for a fraction of the typical cost — with earning opportunities built in.
| Stage | Credits | Cost (In-State) | Cost (Out-of-State) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate (online, with merit scholarship) | 12 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| MS Coursework (on campus) | 15 | $25,485 | $31,020 |
| Paid MS Project (3 credits of the 18) | 3 | $5,097 | $6,204 |
| Total Tuition | 30 | $33,582 | $40,224 |
| Less: MS Project Stipend (typical range) | -$5,000 to -$15,000 | -$5,000 to -$15,000 | |
| Estimated Net Cost | $18,582 – $28,582 | $25,224 – $35,224 | |
Tuition rates are 2025–26 and subject to Board of Regents approval. Additional fees of ~$445/semester apply. Graduate assistantships and government scholarships may further reduce costs. The 3-credit paid MS project is included within the 18 on-campus credits.
Our curriculum is built around the competencies identified in published research on what employers need from sustainability engineers.
Systems thinking for complex socio-technical challenges. Design for resource-constrained contexts. Community-centered approaches.
Treatment system design, water quality monitoring, service delivery models, regulatory compliance (CWA, SDWA).
Carbon accounting, GHG inventories, Gold Standard & Verra methodologies, MRV systems, credit generation and trading.
Python, R, GIS, remote sensing, machine learning for environmental data. Using AI tools (Claude, etc.) for research and analysis.
Climate risk assessment, drought resilience, disaster response, nature-based solutions, infrastructure planning under uncertainty.
Study design, M&E frameworks, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder engagement, program management for development.
Summer: begin 1-credit modules
Fall: Global Development for Engineers (synchronous)
Spring: continue modules
Summer: Global Development Practicum
Matriculate into Professional MS
9 credits on campus
Begin identifying MS project
6 credits on campus
Begin paid MS project (3 credits)
International practicum option
Complete MS project
Professional MS conferred
Join the alumni network
Start your career
The scholarship is open to all admitted students, with priority given to applicants from government scholarship programs (DAAD, JJ/WBGSP, UAE MoHESR, IsDB), applicants from low- and middle-income countries, and working professionals in engineering, sustainability, or related fields.
No. The certificate is a standalone credential. You can stop after 12 credits and have a CU Boulder Graduate Certificate on your resume. But if you choose to continue, all 12 credits transfer directly into the Professional MS — you’re already 40% done.
Your capstone MS project is a real-world engineering engagement with an industry partner, research lab, or NGO. Many projects come with a stipend ($5,000–$15,000) and/or tuition offset. You work on a real problem, produce a deliverable, and earn your degree.
Yes. The online certificate can be completed from anywhere with no visa required. For the on-campus MS, international students apply through CU Boulder's standard admissions process. Government-sponsored students (DAAD, JJ/WBGSP, etc.) typically have streamlined visa processes.
Graduates work at engineering consulting firms (Tetra Tech, AECOM, Jacobs, WSP), international organizations (World Bank, UNICEF), government agencies (EPA, USGS), NGOs (Water for People, EWB), social enterprises, and in carbon markets / climate finance. Median starting salary for environmental engineers: $104,170 (BLS).
Most online MS programs are endpoint credentials — you finish online and that's it. Ours is a launchpad: $3,000 entry with merit scholarship, all credits transfer, on-campus transition, global practicum, and a paid project. No other program offers this combination.