Environmental Engineering
Use engineering to protect the planet and public health
What You'll Study
Environmental Engineers design systems to clean water, reduce pollution, and manage waste. They apply science and engineering principles to improve the environment and ensure human activity is sustainable.
- Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Air Pollution Control
- Solid Waste Management
- Hydrology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Fluid Mechanics
- Sustainability Design
- Environmental Law
Example Classes
How to Know If You'll Like It
You'll probably enjoy this if...
- ✓You are passionate about saving the environment
- ✓You are good at math/science but want to help the planet
- ✓You enjoy working outdoors and indoors
- ✓You care about public health (clean water)
- ✓You want a stable career (pollution needs fixing)
- ✓You like biology and chemistry applied to big systems
You might not enjoy this if...
- ✕You don't believe in climate change science
- ✕You dislike chemistry or biology
- ✕You want to design consumer gadgets
- ✕You dislike regulations/policy
Self-Check Quiz
Answer these questions honestly to see if this major might be a good fit for you.
Do you worry about where your trash goes?
Career Outcomes
Featured In-Demand Careers
Environmental Engineer
Develop solutions to environmental problems including pollution control, waste management, and sustainability.
Civil Engineer
Design, build, and maintain infrastructure including roads, bridges, buildings, and water systems.
Management Consultant
Advise organizations on strategy, operations, and transformation to improve performance and solve complex problems.
Other Common Career Paths
- •Water Resource Engineer
- •Sustainability Consultant
- •Air Quality Engineer
- •Remediation Engineer
Industries
Try It First
Test if you like this field before committing to a major:
Calculate your own Carbon Footprint using an online calculator.
Build a DIY water filter with a bottle, sand, charcoal and test it with muddy water.
Do a trash audit of your home for a week and propose a reduction plan.
Related Majors
Frequently Asked Questions
It used to be a sub-discipline, but is now its own major. It focuses more on chemistry/biology than structures.
Yes, very important for signing off on public works.
Yes, frequent site visits to test water/soil.
It can be to see pollution, but rewarding to fix it.
Governments (EPA/City), Consulting Firms, Industry (compliance).
Ready to Explore This Major?
Get personalized guidance on whether Environmental Engineering is right for you and how to build a competitive profile.