Environmental Engineering
Engineering solutions for clean water, air, and waste systems.
Environmental engineering applies engineering and science to problems like water treatment, air quality, waste management, and pollution control. Core courses combine civil-engineering fundamentals with chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
Projects often center on designing real systems, a water treatment process, a remediation plan for contaminated soil, using both lab analysis and modeling software, with an eye toward regulatory standards and public health.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Environmental Chemistry
- ✓Fluid Mechanics
- ✓Water & Wastewater Treatment
- ✓Air Quality Engineering
- ✓Solid & Hazardous Waste Management
- ✓Environmental Microbiology
- ✓Environmental Regulations & Policy
- ✓Senior Design Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Environmental Chemistry
- +General education requirement
- ✓Fluid Mechanics
- +General education requirement
- ✓Water & Wastewater Treatment
- +General education requirement
- ✓Air Quality Engineering
- +Free elective
- ✓Solid & Hazardous Waste Management
- +Free elective
- ✓Environmental Microbiology
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Environmental Regulations & Policy
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Design Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Cares about environmental and public health problems
- ★Strong in chemistry and applied math
- ★Interested in both science and hands-on engineering design
- ★Motivated by systems that protect communities
Common minors & double-major pairings
Environmental Science · Public Policy · Chemistry
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Civil Engineer
Designs infrastructure like roads, bridges, and water systems.
Chemical Engineer
Designs industrial processes that turn raw materials into products.
Environmental Engineer
Designs systems for clean water, air, and waste management.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Environmental Engineering major?
Engineering solutions for clean water, air, and waste systems.
What courses do Environmental Engineering majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Environmental Chemistry, Fluid Mechanics, Water & Wastewater Treatment, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Environmental Engineering program?
Environmental Engineering coursework typically builds skills like Designing water and waste treatment systems, Environmental sampling and lab analysis, Applying environmental regulations, Modeling pollutant transport.
Is Environmental Engineering a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Cares about environmental and public health problems" or "Strong in chemistry and applied math" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Environmental Engineering degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Civil Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Environmental Engineer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Environmental Engineering?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Environmental Science, Public Policy, Chemistry.
How is Environmental Engineering different from Civil Engineering?
They're related but distinct. Environmental Engineering: Engineering solutions for clean water, air, and waste systems. Civil Engineering: Designing the infrastructure that cities and communities run on. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Environmental Engineering degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/environmental-engineering