Environmental Engineering (BS)

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Engineering

Program Website

Program Description

The Environmental Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Environmental Engineering is the study and practice of analyzing, designing, and managing natural and engineered systems in ways consistent with the maintenance or enhancement of environmental amenities and social sustainability goals. It requires the ability to predict interactions and impacts among natural and engineered system components at various spatial and temporal scales in response to alternative projects, designs, and management policies. It requires a thorough understanding of interactions among the natural environment, the constructed environment, and human activities. Environmental engineers pursue development of sustainable systems and the mitigation of and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

Academic Standards

  • All major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
  • Only one grade below a C- but greater than an F is allowed in the major, excluding the math sequence in which students must earn a "C-" or higher, to meet major requirements.
  • Engineering distribution and major courses require a minimum of 57 credits (includes design and major approved elective credits).
  • Design courses and major approved electives require a minimum of 18 credits.

Academic Standing

Majors in Environmental Engineering are expected to meet the following standards:

  • Semester GPA ≥ 2.0
  • Cumulative GPA ≥ 2.0
  • A semester GPA ≥ 2.0 in core courses, design courses, major-approved electives, and engineering distribution courses (Tech GPA).1
  • At most one course with a grade below C- can be used to fulfill the EnvE degree requirement [in the following four categories required core courses, design courses, major-approved electives, and engineering distribution courses1].
  • 12 credit hours each semester
  • No failing grades
1

Grade(s) below C- in these courses beyond the first will require that some of the courses so graded be repeated.  (The College of Engineering also requires that each course in the required mathematics sequence - 1910, 1920, 2930, 2940 - be passed with a grade of C- or better.)

Honors Program

The environmental engineering honors program consists of at least nine credits beyond the minimum required for graduation in the environmental engineering major. These nine credits must be drawn from one or more of the following categories with at least 3 credit hours in the first category:

  • A significant research experience or honors project under the direct supervision of an Environmental Engineering faculty member using BEE 4993 Honors Thesis or CEE 4000 Senior Honors Thesis (1 to 6 credits per semester). A significant written report or senior honors thesis must be submitted to the research advisor as part of this component. Letter grade only.
  • A significant teaching experience under the direct supervision of a faculty member or as part of a regularly recognized course in the College of Engineering (i.e., Undergraduate Engineering Teaching, BEE 4980 Undergraduate Teaching or CEE 4010 Undergraduate Engineering Teaching in CEE [1 to 4 credits per semester]).
  • Advanced or graduate courses at the 4000 level or above.

No research, independent study, or teaching for which the student is paid may be counted toward the honors program.

Eligibility: students must enter with and maintain a cumulative GPA equal or greater than 3.50.

Application: students must apply no later than the beginning of the first semester of their senior year but are encouraged to apply as early as the first semester of their junior year. All honors program students must be in the program for at least two semesters before graduation.