Environmental engineers
utilize engineering principles and physical, chemical, and biological science
fundamentals to devise effective solutions for current and emerging environmental
problems related to human activities. Environmental engineers practice in many areas: green infrastructure for urban stormwater and
flood management; air pollution prevention and control; safe drinking water
production and supply; sustainable treatment of wastewater and solid wastes;
remediation of contaminated sites; ensuring industry compliance with
environmental regulations; environmental health and safety in the workplace; alternative
energy technologies; design of green buildings; and analysis and modeling of big
data to guide societal responses to global environmental change.
This program prepares
students for immediate employment as practicing engineers with engineering
consulting firms; green energy and sustainable development companies; drinking water,
wastewater, solid waste, and air pollution treatment facilities; manufacturing
industries; environmental regulatory and planning agencies; industry and
academic research laboratories; international development agencies; and
public-interest groups.
The environmental engineering curriculum provides a strong
foundation in engineering and the physical, chemical, and biological
sciences during the freshman and sophomore years. In the upper-level major
courses these fundamentals are applied to multidisciplinary problem solving in
various environmental engineering fields. The faculty has extensive experience
in teaching, research, and consulting with private firms and government
agencies, and close ties to our strong alumni network.
The environmental engineering program is a unique
joint program between the School of Engineering and the School of Environmental and
Biological Sciences. Students matriculate into the environmental engineering
program through the School of Engineering. The undergraduate degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering. The program
prepares graduates for taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination
pursuant to becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE).
School of Engineering 
