Environmental Engineering Major (B.S.)

Environmental Engineering Major (B.S.)

environmental engineering student

What is a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering?

This program is tailored to students who want to use engineering practices to support Earth’s ecosystems, which humans rely on for natural resources, sustenance and pleasure. Environmental engineers protect these ecosystems, infrastructures and the environment from human impacts and natural disasters. They also protect environmental and public health from natural and man-made threats such as chemicals and pathogens in drinking water. Students learn to design facilities that treat water so it’s safe to drink and design green infrastructures and responses to environmental disasters and contamination. They also learn how to prepare wastes, stormwater and wastewaters for safe discharge into the environment. Students in this program work on interdisciplinary teams to deliver real-world solutions that increase the sustainability and resilience of human societies.

Why study environmental engineering at UNH?

You’ll develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a professional engineer with a productive career that contributes to sustainable societies. In this program, faculty know each student’s name, and they provide the tools to help every student succeed. Nearly half of our students secure paid research internships with faculty, and many others find well-paid summer internships with consulting engineering companies. In 2017, 90 percent of our graduates secured employment or were admitted to a graduate program.

Potential careers

  • Architecture and engineering firms
  • Cities and towns
  • Manufacturing industries
  • Nongovernmental organizations
  • State and federal agencies

Contact

Paula Mouser

Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Coordinator
PROFESSOR
Phone: (603) 862-3275
Office: Civil & Environmental Engineering, Gregg Hall, Rm 130A, Durham, NH 03824

Curriculum & Requirements

Environmental engineers graduating with a B.S. EnvE degree will plan, design, and construct public and private facilities to minimize the impact of human activity on the environment through sustainable approaches that protect human health. For example, environmental engineers design and build drinking water treatment systems, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, solid waste management facilities, air pollution control systems, contaminated ground water remediation systems, and hazardous waste remediation facilities. These facilities must meet regulatory requirements, be cost effective to build and maintain, be safe to operate, and have minimal environmental impact.

In CEE 420 Environmental Engineering Lectures I, students are introduced to the full spectrum of environmental engineering projects that they will subsequently explore in design teams during their degree program. In CEE 505 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering, students learn tools to analyze life cycles and are exposed to global actions for sustainability.   In CEE 520 Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context, students tour field sites and through junior and senior year classes and student organizations (ASCE, EWRI, EWB), they interact with engineers who talk about engineering consulting, environmental policy, and design practices applied to local and global projects. As part of these projects, students:

  1. analyze treatment alternatives;
  2. recommend a system that meets regulatory operational needs, and is sustainable; and
  3. prepare an implementation schedule and project budget.

Students choose elective courses from areas of Sustainability, Water Resources, Environmental Engineering Design, and other relevant topics. Design projects are performed in a minimum of two design electives. In the capstone design experience courses students work on a multi-disciplinary environmental engineering project and apply skills learned in other courses while working with real-world problems and clients.

The Environmental Engineering program (B Sci in Environmental Engineering) is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

The following schedule is a sample of a planned program for environmental engineering students completing the major.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
CEE 420 Environmental Engineering Lectures I 3
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
CHEM 405 Chemical Principles for Engineers 4
MATH 418 Analysis and Applications of Functions 4
*See note below.
Discovery Elective 2 4
 Credits19
Spring
CEE 402 2D Computer Aided Design 3
MATH 425 Calculus I 4
PHYS 407 General Physics I 4
Discovery Elective 2 4
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall
CEE 403 GIS for Civil and Environmental Engineering 3
or other Geospatial Elective
CEE 500 Statics for Civil Engineers 3
CEE 520 Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context 4
MATH 426 Calculus II 4
Discovery Elective 4
 Credits18
Spring
CEE 502 Project Engineering 3
CEE 505 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering 3
MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
Discovery Elective 4
Public Health Elective 4
 Credits18
Third Year
Fall
CEE 650 Fluid Mechanics 4
CEE 720 Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering 3
Sustainability Elective 3-4
Math Statistics Elective 4
Discovery 4
 Credits18-19
Spring
CEE 620 Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Engineering 4
CEE 724 Environmental Engineering Microbiology 4
ESCI 654 Fate and Transport in the Environment 4
Water Resources Elective 3-4
 Credits15-16
Fourth Year
Fall
CEE 721 Environmental Sampling and Analysis 4
CEE 723 Environmental Water Chemistry 4
CEE 797 Introduction to Project Planning and Design 2
CEE Design Elective (1) 3-4
CEE Elective (1) 3-4
 Credits16-18
Spring
CEE 731 Advanced Water Treatment Processes 4
CEE 798 Project Planning and Design 2
CEE Elective (1) 3-4
CEE Design Elective (1) 3-4
Water Resources Elective 3-4
 Credits15-18
 Total Credits134-141

The EnvE program requires a minimum of 130 total credits for graduation. 

*MATH 418 does not count toward this minimum number of credits.

1

Students who passed the ALEKS placement examination as determined by the Mathematics Department may enroll in MATH 425 Calculus I. Subsequent MATH courses (MATH 426 Calculus II, MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra Differential Equations with Linear Algebra, MATH 644 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists) will be taken one semester earlier than shown here.

2

See Discovery Program requirements. The Discovery requirements for Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Physical Science are fulfilled by ENGL 401 First-Year Writing, MATH 425 Calculus I, and PHYS 407 General Physics I, respectively. CEE 520 Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context fulfills the Environmental, Technology, and Society requirement. CEE 797 Introduction to Project Planning and Design and CEE 798 Project Planning and Design fulfill the Senior Capstone requirement. Environmental Engineering Microbiology fulfills the Biological Science requirement. Courses in the EnvE curriculum designated Discovery Electives can be selected from the University's approved Discovery Program courses in Fine and Performing Arts, Humanities, Historical Perspectives, World Cultures, and Social Science. One of these electives must have an Inquiry attribute.

 
 
3

Approved lists of sustainability, water resources, design and Environmental/Civil electives are available from the EnvE undergraduate coordinator, Paula Mouser.

 
 

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 130 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

To qualify for graduation, an EnvE major must: have satisfied all specified course requirements, have satisfied the University's Academic Requirements, have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.00, and have a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in engineering courses.

At the end of the sophomore year, students are required to have a minimum overall grade-point average of 2.00 and a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in CEE 420, MATH 425, CHEM 405, PHYS 407, MATH 426, CEE 500, CEE 520 to be permitted to enroll in junior-level courses.

EnvE students do not have to take a course in the Discovery Biological Science category since they satisfy this category with CEE 724

For a full listing of the requirements over four years of study please refer to the degree plan tab.

Required Courses
CEE 4022D Computer Aided Design3
CEE 420Environmental Engineering Lectures I3
CEE 500Statics for Civil Engineers3
CEE 502Project Engineering3
CEE 505Introduction to Sustainable Engineering3
CEE 520Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context4
CEE 620Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Engineering4
CEE 650Fluid Mechanics4
CEE 720Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering3
CEE 721Environmental Sampling and Analysis4
CEE 723Environmental Water Chemistry4
CEE 724Environmental Engineering Microbiology4
CEE 731Advanced Water Treatment Processes4
CHEM 405Chemical Principles for Engineers4
or CHEM 403
CHEM 404
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
ESCI 654Fate and Transport in the Environment4
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
MATH 527Differential Equations with Linear Algebra4
MATH 644Statistics for Engineers and Scientists4
PHYS 407General Physics I4
Capstone Design Experience
CEE 797Introduction to Project Planning and Design2
CEE 798Project Planning and Design2

Electives

  • Select four 700-level Design and Environmental/Civil Engineering Electives courses are required, two of which must be Design, with a minimum of 12 total credits.
  • Select one Sustainability Elective, one Public Health Elective, and two Water Resources Electives are required.
  • Each elective course can only be used to fulfill one category.
  • Course lists are subject to change, check with advisor.
Design Electives
CEE 729Sources, Control, and Stewardship of Air Pollution4
CEE 730Public Health Engineering for Rural and Developing Communities3
CEE 732Solid and Hazardous Waste Design4
CEE 733Public Infrastructure Asset Management4
CEE 755Design of Pressurized Water Transmission Systems4
CEE 758Stormwater Management Designs3
CEE 759Stream Restoration4
Environmental/Civil Engineering Electives
CEE 706Environmental Life Cycle Assessment3
CEE 722Introduction to Marine Pollution and Control4
CEE 729Sources, Control, and Stewardship of Air Pollution4
CEE 751Open Channel Flow3
CEE 754Engineering Hydrology3
CEE 768Geo-Environmental Engineering3
SAFS 632Urban Agriculture4
CEE Lab Electives: One course required
CEE 665Soil Mechanics4
CEE 721Environmental Sampling and Analysis4
Geospatial Electives: One course required
CEE 403GIS for Civil and Environmental Engineering3
FORT 581Applied Geospatial Techniques4
NR 658Introduction to Geographic Information Systems4
NR 757Remote Sensing of the Environment4
Sustainability Electives: One course required
CEE 706Environmental Life Cycle Assessment3
CEE 719Green Building Design3
CEE 733Public Infrastructure Asset Management4
CHBE 705Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy Sources4
ME 706Renewable Energy: Physical and Engineering Principles3
Water Resources Electives: Two courses required
CEE 751Open Channel Flow3
CEE 754Engineering Hydrology3
CEE 755Design of Pressurized Water Transmission Systems4
CEE 758Stormwater Management Designs3
CEE 759Stream Restoration4
ESCI 705Principles of Hydrology4
ESCI 710Groundwater Hydrology4
Public Health Electives: One course required
HMP 403Introduction to Public Health4
HMP #444AGlobal Public Health Issues4
HMP 501Epidemiology and Community Medicine4
HMP 715Environmental Health4
CEE 730Public Health Engineering for Rural and Developing Communities3

By the time of graduation students have attained:

  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • 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.
  • an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Explore Program Details

The Environmental Engineering program (B Sci Environmental Engineering) is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

ABET Logo

 

  • Pursue and disseminate knowledge through teaching, scholarship, outreach, and public service.
  • Provide excellent undergraduate and graduate education.
  • Advance the state-of-the-art in science and engineering by conducting research.
  • Enhance the quality of life for people in New Hampshire and beyond.

In accordance with its mission, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering seeks to attain the specific Educational Objectives and Outcomes listed herein.

Objectives & Outcomes

Students from Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island who matriculate in the UNH BSENE program are eligible for reduced tuition made available through the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP).

ENE Program
Student Code of Ethics
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

 

I understand that the work of environmental engineers impacts society in a variety of social, economic, and environmental ways and that professional negligence can result in the loss of property, widespread illness, damage to the environment, and the loss of human life. I understand that environmental engineering practice, therefore, requires high ethical standards that hold paramount the safety health, and welfare of the public. By signing below, I pledge the following:

I commit myself to be honest and to honor and respect the rights of others.
 
I will not plagiarize, cheat on exams, assist others in doing so, or tolerate such behavior in others.
 
I have received and read the ASCE Engineering Code of Ethics. I understand what is written therein, and pledge to uphold this Code of Ethics both as a student and as a practicing engineer.
 
I have received and read Section 9 on Academic Honesty of the document Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities, of the University of New Hampshire and will pursue my academic work at UNH in a straightforward and truthful manner, free from deception or fraud. Furthermore, I understand the procedures for dealing with academic misconduct and understand the consequences including the possibility of outright dismissal from UNH.
 

________________________________
Printed Name

________________________________
Signature

________________________________
Date Signed

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