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What is Environmental Engineering?

Environmental engineers apply science and engineering principles to develop solutions to protect human health and welfare and minimize the adverse effects of human activities on the environment. Environmental engineers provide safe water supplies for societal and environmental needs; reduce emissions of pollutants by developing engineered systems for treating air, water and hazardous wastes; predict the transport and effects of contaminants in natural environments; manage and remediate sites contaminated by improper disposal of hazardous materials and protect public health through the application of engineering principles.

The civil engineering degree plan with a specialty in environmental engineering provides civil engineering students with the knowledge to provide solutions to practical challenges in both the civil and environmental engineering discipline.

What is the Difference Between a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and a B.S. in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering Specialty?

Our B.S. undergraduate degree in civil engineering with a specialty in environmental engineering provides students the opportunity to increase their skills in solving environmental problems as they prepare for a career focused primarily in civil engineering.

By contrast, our environmental engineering specialty undergraduate plan provides students a well-rounded education in civil engineering with an opportunity to increase their skills in solving environmental problems as they prepare for a career focused primarily in civil engineering.

Undergraduate Requirements for a Specialty in Environmental Engineering

To fulfill the common civil engineering program degree plan, undergraduate students declaring a specialty in environmental engineering are required to complete a technical elective plan. See the undergraduate advising page for more information.