Earn An Online Resilient Water Infrastructure Certificate. Develop Best Practices for Managing Water Infrastructure.
Urbanization, environmental factors, and climate change have made infrastructure issues both more prevalent and more serious. For instance, warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are causing higher water demand, which can strain existing infrastructure. And rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events are increasing both the risk of flooding and damage to water infrastructure, such as pipes, dams, and wastewater treatment plants.
The world, then, needs engineers trained not only to address the impact of climate change and other factors but also to create and maintain resilient water infrastructure.
Resilient water infrastructure refers to infrastructure that is devised and managed to withstand, resist, and recover from extreme weather events, such as flooding and drought; as well as other natural disasters. It may also be designed with the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions, such as population growth, higher demand, and possible water contamination.
Progress Quickly With Our Compact Curriculum.
The online resilient water infrastructure program equips students with skills and strategies for designing best management practices for infrastructure related to water, which includes dams, embankments, diversions, and cross drainage, levees, water distribution systems, and sewer systems.
They will formulate plans for low-impact development and for restoring rivers to a more natural state. They will also analyze the environmental and economic issues related to dams, embankments, diversions, and cross drainage; and put their skills to work assessing levees and flood risk management strategies.
To enroll in the Online Resilient Water Infrastructure Certificate, students must first have one of these prerequisites: CEE 3620 Water Resources Engineering (CEE 3620: 4 credits including the lab or equivalent) or Hydraulics and Hydrology (CEE 3650).
This online certificate, comprised of only 9 credits, is flexible enough to fit around the demands of your life, your job, and your other responsibilities. In this program, you will choose three of the four courses below.
- Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection (CEE 5507)
- Stormwater Management and LID (CEE 5640)
- Hydraulic Structures (CEE 5650)
- Stream Restoration (CEE 5665)
Why Study Water Infrastructure at Michigan Tech?
When you earn your online certificate from MTU, you'll receive a quality education. In fact, Michigan Tech is ranked the #3 best accredited online college in Michigan. You'll also get the following:
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A Rigorous, But Flexible Online Experience
You'll take the same, robust classes as do students in our in-person programs. However, you get to learn on your own terms, fitting this compact 9-credit certificate into your schedule.
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Possibilities for New Career Pathways
When you earn this certificate, you will add value and specialized skills to your undergraduate degree. Use your education to open up new opportunities in your current job. Alternatively, this certificate might peak your interest in earning an online MS in Civil Engineering, with a Water Resources focus.
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The Expertise of Esteemed Faculty
You'll take courses from respected professors and professional engineers (Brian A. Barkdoll, David E. Watkins, and Veronica Webster) who have advanced expertise in water resources, hydraulics, hydraulic structures, hydrology, probability analysis, field research, and other important areas.
Learn more about current projects from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.
What Are Some Careers for Engineers With Water Infrastructure Expertise?
Depending on the depth and level of their education, engineers with water infrastructure expertise may be responsible for planning, designing, and constructing water infrastructure systems such as dams, water treatment plants, piping systems, and distribution networks.
They may also assess the safety and efficiency of existing water infrastructure as well as develop plans for improvement. Some, too, may be involved in monitoring water quality, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing technical advice for water conservation efforts.
Possible Career Paths
- Civil Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Hydraulic Engineer
- Hydrologist
- Irrigation Engineer
- Wastewater Engineer
- Water Resources Engineer
- Water Systems Engineer
- Water Treatment Engineer
Get Started on Your Online Water Infrastructure Certificate.
Take the next steps on your educational journey. We are here to answer your questions and to help you succeed in your online program.
