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WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING?
Environmental Engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to prevent environmental damage and to correct existing problems. Environmental engineers identify, design, build, and operate systems to create solutions recognizing environmental matters in a social and economic context. Often, these challenges are related to environmental contamination caused by the activities and waste products of society.
Environmental engineers work to improve the quality of our drinking water, to treat and dispose of society's wastes, to control air and water pollution, and to clean up contaminated areas like Superfund sites and hazardous materials spills. They monitor the quality of the air, water and land, and they develop new ways to protect the environment.
WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?
Environmental Engineering students can expect to combine the natural, social, and physical sciences to analyze and improve the interactions of society, technology, and the environment. Environmental Engineering programs are most often located in Departments of Civil Engineering, but are sometimes found in Departments of Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Public Health, or as an independent department.
Environmental Engineering students will take basic courses in subjects associated with engineering (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering design) and the environmental field (biology, microbiology, ecology, and geology). Specific course we've seen include:
- Water and Atmospheric Chemistry
- Public and Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Hydrology
- Soil Science
- Environmental Quality Control
- Groundwater Hydrology and Contamination
- Contaminant Transport and Remediation
- Wastewater Collection and Treatment
- Solid Waste Management
- Air Pollution
- Engineering Economics
- Biotechnology
- Fluid Mechanics
- Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Waste Management
- Inland and Coastal Environmental Hydrodynamics
CAREERS AND SALARY OUTLOOK
Environmental Engineering graduates can expect to work in many specialties, including air pollution control, hazardous waste management, industrial hygiene, solid waste management, and wastewater collection and treatment. Some of the specific job titles we've seen include:
- Engineering Consultant
- Air and Water Pollution-Control Systems Designer
- Industrial Discharge Specialist
- Municipal Drinking Water Technician
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Career Guidance
on Agricultural Engineering
 Environmental Engineer Kim Scamman says that the field of Agricultural Engineering is exploding! Get the inside scoop on the boom by reading about her career and education here. >>>
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- Hazardous Waste Disposal Specialist
- Waste Discharges Regulator / Inspector
- Pollution Prevention Officer
- Laboratory Manager
- International Technology Transfer Agent
- Conservartion Advocate
- Researcher
- Land Use Specialist
- Solid Waste Specialist
- Air / Odor Pollution Specialist
- Biosystem Designer
- Water Purification Specialist
- Stormwater Runoff Specialist
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have a specific category for environmental enginners. However, BLS does group environmental engineers in the same category as Civil Engineers, for which the median annual earnings was reported to be about $60,070 in 2002, with the middle 50 percent earning between about $48,360 and $74,700. According to a 2003 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor's degree candidates in civil engineering received starting offers averaging about $41,669 a year; master's degree candidates in civil engineering, $47,245; and Ph.D. candidates in civil engineering, $69,079. Check out full report from BLS on careers in Civil Engineering
here.
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