Undergraduate Program

What do earth and environmental engineers do?

It’s now recognized throughout the world that continuing economic development must be accompanied by the intelligent use of the Earth’s resources. Moreover, the rapid pace of globalization has introduced a host of new environmental problems to be addressed in the 21st century, ranging from the search for reliable energy and water, to the impacts of global warming, to the worldwide transmission of disease through the environment.

Earth and environmental engineers can contribute much to these global efforts towards sustainable development by developing new technologies to tackle these large and complex problems. Furthermore, existing technologies that have been developed for resource (minerals, energy, water) utilization and environmental remediation can be applied to emerging challenges like resource recovery from used materials (i.e., recycling) and disease prevention.

The EEE undergraduate program encompasses these technologies and trains engineers who can provide leadership and innovation in the conscientious use of Earth’s resources. Potential employers include private companies and government agencies that deal directly with environmental problems, and also a diverse spectrum of industries that increasingly require environmental expertise, including energy supply, management consulting and financial services. Graduates are also well trained to continue with master's and doctoral studies not only in earth and environmental engineering and sciences, but also business, public policy, international studies, law, and medicine.

Program Educational Objectives

1. Graduates equipped with the necessary tools (mathematics, chemistry, physics, Earth sciences, and engineering science) will understand and implement the underlying principles used in the engineering of processes and systems.
2. Graduates will be able to pursue careers in industry, government agencies and other organizations concerned with the environment and the provision of primary and secondary materials and energy, as well as continue their education as graduate students in related disciplines.
3. Graduates will possess the basic skills needed for the practice of earth and environmental engineering, including measurement and control of material flows through the environment, assessment of environmental impact of past, present, and future industrial activities, and analysis and design of processes for remediation, recycling, and disposal of used materials.
4. Graduates will practice their profession with excellent written and communication skills and with professional ethics and responsibilities.

Student Outcomes

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Enrollment and Graduation Statistics

ABET Accreditation

The BS Earth and Environmental Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.