Biological and ecological engineering

MEng
Online
delivery
$680 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
4
start terms

Enhance your biological engineering skills and solve today’s complex challenges when you earn your Master of Engineering in Biological and Ecological Engineering online from Oregon State University. This program is designed for engineers ready to build on their bachelor’s degree and transition into sustainability-focused, ecologically grounded work.

You’ll develop a systems-level understanding of how water, materials and pollutants move through ecosystems and working landscapes, and expand your expertise through electives in areas such as agrivoltaics, wildlife crossings and post-wildfire restoration. You’ll graduate prepared to design solutions that are technically sound and environmentally resilient. And your coursework can satisfy the professional development hours required for licensed professional engineers.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online biological and ecological engineering degree program

As a student in Oregon State’s online MEng BEE degree program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from expert, experienced Oregon State faculty from one of the nation’s leading institutions in applied engineering.

  • Bioremediation
  • Pollution control
  • Spatial data analysis
  • River engineering
  • Irrigation design
  • Subsurface transport
  • Hydrologic modeling
Clear river winding through rocky banks and golden autumn trees beneath mountain peaks and a bright blue sky

Program details

The biological and ecological engineering online master’s program emphasizes applied engineering concepts, including water resources engineering, biosystems modeling and bioremediation engineering. You can tailor your degree plan through electives in subjects such as agrivoltaics, river engineering, engineering management, ecological restoration and hydrology.

The online MEng BEE program is offered through a collaboration between Oregon State’s College of Engineering and College of Agricultural Sciences — both leaders in innovative solutions to today’s complex challenges.

Degree requirements

A total of 45 quarter credits is required to graduate with your Master of Engineering in Biological and Ecological Engineering. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.

Grassy wildlife overpass crossing a highway, connecting forest and farmland to allow safe animal passage

Additional program features

Oregon State provides a pathway to your MEng BEE degree through the graduate certificate in water resources engineering delivered online. If you choose the certificate pathway, the credits you earn apply directly toward the MEng BEE program. Up to 22 graduate credits may be transferred toward a 45-credit master’s degree. Please note: Successful completion of the water resources engineering certificate does not guarantee admission to an Oregon State master’s program.

Applying credits like this, an approach known as stacking, can help you build credentials over time and advance your career. It's also a great way to test a field of study through a series of courses before committing to a full degree program. For students like Ali Lanenga, stacking can make a journey to a degree feel more manageable.

Explore the detailed admissions information for the MEng BEE program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the Oregon State Graduate School website.

Students are admitted to this program four times per year, and you can begin your studies in fall, winter, spring or summer. Visit Oregon State's academic calendar for term start dates.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Careers in biological and ecological engineering

Earning your master’s degree in biological and ecological engineering online will prepare you to work at the intersection of engineering and the natural environment. Whether that’s through irrigation optimization, designing fish and wildlife crossings that reconnect fragmented habitats, advancing post-wildfire restoration strategies, integrating agrivoltaics to colocate food and energy production or another form of applied engineering, you’ll be prepared to make a difference.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to biological and ecological engineering. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.