University Catalog 2024-2025

Environmental Engineering (BS)

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

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours14
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours17
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
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
CE 378 Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology 4
TDE 220
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
 Hours17
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 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 3
PS 320
U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
or Global Environmental Politics
3
 Hours13
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CE 476
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
 Hours12
Spring Semester
CE 477 Principles of Solid Waste Engineering 3
CE 481 Environmental Engineering Project 3
ENE Elective II 3
ENE Elective III 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours117
1

A grade of C or higher is required.

2

A grade of C- or higher is required.

GEP Courses
GEP Humanities3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours11

ENE Elective I

CE 435Engineering Geology3
CE 476Air Pollution Control3
CE 478Energy and Climate3
CE 479Air Quality3
CE 487Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering3
CE 578Energy and Climate3
MEA 479Air Quality3

ENE Elective II

CE 435Engineering Geology3
CE 476Air Pollution Control3
CE 478Energy and Climate3
CE 479Air Quality3
CE 499Undergraduate Research Thesis in Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering1-3
CE 487Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering3
CE 578Energy and Climate3
MEA 479Air Quality3

ENE Elective III

ARC 521Daylighting and Passive Energy Systems for Architecture3
ARC 522Building Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy3
ARC 590Special Topics in Architecture1-6
CE 435Engineering Geology3
CE 476Air Pollution Control3
CE 478Energy and Climate3
CE 479Air Quality3
CE 487Introduction to Coastal and Ocean Engineering3
CE 578Energy and Climate3
MEA 479Air Quality3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours17
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
 Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
CE 378 Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology 4
TDE 220
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
 Hours17
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 Thermal-Fluid Sciences 3
PS 320
U.S. Environmental Law and Politics
or Global Environmental Politics
3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CE 488 Water Resources Engineering 3
CE 476
Air Pollution Control
or Air Quality
3
ENE Elective I 3
CE 484 Water Supply and Waste Water Systems 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
 Total Hours128
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.

Career Titles

  • Environmental Engineer
  • Air Quality Engineer
  • Coastal Engineer
  • Energy Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Industrial Safety and Health Engineer
  • Municipal Engineer
  • Product Safety Engineer
  • Process Enginer
  • Project Manager
  • Solar Energy Systems Designer
  • Water/Wastewater Engineer
  • Engineering Professor

Learn More About Careers

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Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
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American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists
National Association of Environmental Professionals
American Water Resources Association
National Society of Professional Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers