Environmental Engineering (BS)
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!
Environmental Engineering Degree
The Environmental Engineering curriculum is designed for students interested in environmental protection and sustainability. The curriculum provides students with a foundation in the science and mathematics required to observe, understand, model, and analyze environmental systems, as well as engineering skills to design critical components of society’s infrastructure. Upon graduation, students are prepared to work in such areas as water treatment, water resources management, air pollution control, solid waste management, and sustainable energy systems. The curriculum emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of environmental engineering with courses in engineering, earth, and life sciences, including specialized courses on energy and climate, pollution control, waste management, and water and sanitation in developing countries.
Specific curriculum requirements are available on the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula website.
Educational Objectives in Environmental Engineering
Within a few years of graduation alumni of the Environmental Engineering program will:
- Function successfully in a professional environment by utilizing and enhancing their technical, critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills.
- Continue learning through graduate or other professional education and obtaining licensure where appropriate.
- Function in team-oriented, multidisciplinary open-ended engineering activities considering the societal, economic, public health, and environmental impacts of engineering decisions, and the professional and ethical responsibilities of environmental engineers.
- Provide mentoring to those under their supervision, and provide leadership in their employment organizations, industry associations, and professional societies.
Plan Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics 2 | 3 |
| CE 250 | Introduction to Sustainable Infrastructure 2 | 3 |
| CHE 205 | Chemical Process Principles | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| CSC 111 | Introduction to Computing: Python | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CE 373 | Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering 2 | 3 |
| SSC 442 | Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry | 3 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| CE 282 | Hydraulics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 378 | Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology | 4 |
| TDE 220 or GIS 280 | Civil Engineering Graphics or Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CE 381 | Hydraulics Systems Measurements Lab | 1 |
| CE 383 | Hydrology and Urban Water Systems | 3 |
| CE 339 | Civil Engineering Systems | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| PS 320 or PS 336 | U.S. Environmental Law and Politics or Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 476 or CE 479 | Air Pollution Control or Air Quality | 3 |
| CE 484 | Water Supply and Waste Water Systems | 3 |
| CE 488 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| ENE Elective I | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CE 477 | Principles of Solid Waste Engineering | 3 |
| CE 481 | Environmental Engineering Project | 3 |
| ENE Elective II | 3 | |
| ENE Elective III | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 117 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 11 | ||
ENE Elective I
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE 435 | Engineering Geology | 3 | |
| CE 476 | Air Pollution Control | 3 | |
| CE 478 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| CE 479 | Air Quality | 3 | |
| CE 487 | Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 578 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| MEA 479 | Air Quality | 3 |
ENE Elective II
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE 435 | Engineering Geology | 3 | |
| CE 476 | Air Pollution Control | 3 | |
| CE 478 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| CE 479 | Air Quality | 3 | |
| CE 499 | Undergraduate Research Thesis in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering | 1-3 | |
| CE 487 | Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 578 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| MEA 479 | Air Quality | 3 |
ENE Elective III
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARC 521 | Daylighting and Passive Energy Systems for Architecture | 3 | |
| ARC 522 | Building Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy | 3 | |
| ARC 590 | Special Topics in Architecture | 1-6 | |
| CE 435 | Engineering Geology | 3 | |
| CE 476 | Air Pollution Control | 3 | |
| CE 478 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| CE 479 | Air Quality | 3 | |
| CE 487 | Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 578 | Energy and Climate | 3 | |
| MEA 479 | Air Quality | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1,2 | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1,2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1,2 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics 1 | 3 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 |
| CE 250 | Introduction to Sustainable Infrastructure | 3 |
| CHE 205 | Chemical Process Principles | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| CSC 111 | Introduction to Computing: Python | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CE 373 | Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| Earth System Chemistry Elective | 3 | |
| Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry | ||
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| CE 282 | Hydraulics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 378 | Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology | 4 |
| TDE 220 or GIS 280 | Civil Engineering Graphics or Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CE 381 | Hydraulics Systems Measurements Lab | 1 |
| CE 383 | Hydrology and Urban Water Systems | 3 |
| CE 339 | Civil Engineering Systems | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| PS 320 or PS 336 | U.S. Environmental Law and Politics or Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CE 488 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CE 476 or CE 479 | Air Pollution Control or Air Quality | 3 |
| ENE Elective I | 3 | |
| CE 484 | Water Supply and Waste Water Systems | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CE 477 | Principles of Solid Waste Engineering | 3 |
| CE 481 | Environmental Engineering Project | 3 |
| ENE Elective II | 3 | |
| ENE Elective III | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
Society will always need constructed facilities to live, work, and sustain their lives and environment, and civil, construction, and environmental engineers will always be needed to plan, design, and construct these facilities. Civil, construction, and environmental engineering comprise such diversified fields that graduates have a wide choice in types and locations of employment. Jobs range from federal, state, or municipal agencies to a variety of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms or construction companies. The work may be performed partially or wholly in an office or in the field and may be located in a small community, a big city, an industrial center, or even in a foreign country. Careers in either professional practice or teaching and research are common for many graduates who complete advanced degrees.