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Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers develop creative solutions to globally relevant challenges like safe drinking water, hazardous waste treatment, the fate and transport of environmental pollutants, and climate change. Traditionally taught as a branch of civil engineering, the field has recently expanded to include many new areas such the design of systems for remediation of sites contaminated with hazardous wastes. The field continues to grow into new directions such as sustainability and green engineering.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering degree begins by introducing students to the scientific foundations that are the basis of all engineering disciplines. Specialized environmental-focused courses follow, providing depth in many related issues, including microbiology, ecology, toxicology, physiochemistry, and more. In addition to environmental engineering courses, students can draw upon technical elective courses in other disciplines to develop the skills appropriate for their career objectives. In the senior year, students participate in an engineering design project, often working directly with industry partners to contribute to a current commercial application.

The Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Concentrations

Currently, no concentrations are offered for the Environmental Engineering undergraduate program.

Minors

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The environmental engineering program introduces students to cutting-edge research in state-of-the-art facilities and offers opportunities to work with several local government agencies. In doing so, it provides a broad-based education that prepares students in the technical and social fundamentals that will enable them to have a wide impact in the improvement of interactions between humans and their environment.

To achieve its mission, the environmental engineering program has established the following program educational objectives:

  • Graduates of our program will be recognized as being among “the best in the business” by their peers by leveraging their strong technical basis to continuously increase their skills and knowledge in their area of expertise and will develop the qualifications for licensure

  • Graduates of the program will have a positive impact on their workplace through multidisciplinary collaboration, teamwork, communication skills, and leadership

  • Graduates of our program effectively navigate important contextual factors in their careers, including the historical, regulatory, political, policy, economic, ethical, and public relations aspects of sustainability and environmental issues.

Many graduates pursue advanced study in civil engineering, systems engineering, consulting, business, law, and other fields.

Student Objectives and Outcomes

By the time of graduation, students majoring in environmental engineering will have the ability to:

  1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
  8. Understand the steps involved in taking a technology from conception to market, and can demonstrate these steps by an actual or hypothetical example.

Environmental Engineering Curriculum

Term I

CAL 103Writing and Communications Colloquium

3
CH 115General Chemistry I

3
CH 117General Chemistry Laboratory I

1
ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Systems Thinking

4
ENGR 116Intro to Programming & Algorithmic Thinking

3
MA 121Differential Calculus

2
MA 122Integral Calculus

2

Term II

CAL 105CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture

3
CH 116General Chemistry II

3
CH 118General Chemistry Laboratory II

1
ENGR 122Field Sustainable Systems with Sensors

2
MA 125Vectors and Matrices

2
MA 126Multivariable Calculus I

2
MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2
PEP 111Mechanics

3

Term III

ENGR 211Statics and Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

4
ENGR 245Circuits and Systems

3
MA 221Differential Equations

4
EN 275Environmental Biology

3
PEP 112Electricity and Magnetism

3

Term IV

CHE 233Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I

3
EN 377Introduction to Environmental Engineering Systems

3
EN 379Environmental Engineering Laboratory

1
ENGR 212Design of Dynamical Systems

4
ENGR 241Probability and Statistics with Data Science Applications

4
HUM
Humanities

3

Term V

CE 342Fluid Mechanics

4
EN 570Environmental Chemistry

3
ENGR 311Design with Materials

4
MA 225Infinite Series

2
MA 231Nonlinear Optimization

2

Term VI

CE 304Water Resources Engineering

3
CE 399Civil Engineering Project Management

2
EN 322Engineering Design VI

2
EN 541Fate and Transport of Environmental Contaminants

3
EN 571Physicochemical Processes for Environmental Control

3
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VII

EN 423Engineering Design VII

3

EN 506Air Pollution Principles and Control

3
Or
EN 553Groundwater Engineering

3
Or
EN 573Biological Processes for Environmental Control

3

EN 551Environmental Chemistry of Soils and Natural Surfaces

3
G.E.
General Elective

3
IDE 401Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition

1
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VIII

EN 424Engineering Design VIII

3

CE 546Machine Learning and Analytics in Civil Engineering Applications

3
Or
EN 365Numerical Modeling in Civil and Environmental Engineering

3
Or
EN 580Modeling of Environmental Systems

3

EN 510Perspectives in Environmental Management

3
Or
EN 517Environmental Assessment

3
Or
EN 530Introduction to Sustainable Engineering

3
Or
SM 535Innovation for Sustainable Business

3

G.E.
General Elective

3
HUM
Humanities

3
IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1

Notes:

(1) General Electives can be selected from available courses offered by programs in SES, SSE, SOB and HASS (including EN courses). Approval from the student’s advisor and the course instructor may be required.

(2) Humanities electives: Please see Humanities Requirements for specific requirements.