Humanitarian engineering

Undergraduate Certificate
Online
delivery
$480 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

Knowing how to develop and implement solutions that give historically underserved populations the resources and services they need to improve their quality of life is increasingly vital. As a student in Oregon State University’s online Undergraduate Certificate in Humanitarian Engineering, you’ll acquire the knowledge needed to make a genuine impact on the people who need it most.

This program uses a proactive approach to cultivating science- and engineering-based solutions that provide access to basic human needs, enhance life quality and increase community resilience. While gaining technical engineering skills, you’ll also learn how to analyze the related social, environmental and economic contexts to help people everywhere gain safe access to resources such as clean water and clean energy.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online humanitarian engineering certificate program

As a student in Oregon State’s online humanitarian engineering certificate 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 Oregon State faculty who have real-world industry experience.

  • Co-design
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Interdisciplinary teamwork
  • Community engagement
  • Sustainability
  • Social Impact
A close up of someone filling a 3-gallon jug with clean drinking water. Several people in the background are doing the same.
Best Online Bachelor's Programs 2026 - U.S. News & World Report

Program details

The rigorous and practical online courses in this program emphasize learning related to systems thinking, co-design, cross-cultural communication and community engagement. You’ll study innovation and social entrepreneurship for local and global development while gaining professional practice in a globally connected economy.

The online humanitarian engineering certificate program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Engineering.

Certificate requirements

A total of 27 quarter credits are required to earn your humanitarian engineering certificate. Curriculum details and certificate requirements are available on Oregon State’s academic catalog.

Additional program features

The humanitarian engineering certificate program features three optional tracks. You can select elective credits from one track or mix and match from two or all three:

  • Sustainability
  • Project management
  • Public health

You’ll be required to engage in an experiential learning opportunity of at least 2 credits. As an example, you could set up a project with an organization in your community or work on a project-based capstone project with your fellow engineering students.

Depending on your educational background, you may need to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in this program and taking the required certificate courses. We recommend that you evaluate this prior to applying for admission.

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 microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large and growing collection of these short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.