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

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Curriculum & Requirements

The Environmental Engineering program is accredited by the:

Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
111 Market Place
Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202-4012,
(410) 347-7700
http://www.abet.org

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 and to protect human health. For example, environmental engineers design and build drinking water treatment systems, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, solid waste management facilities, 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. EnvE students can also focus on sustainable engineering with a required course (CEE 705 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering) in junior year and two or three senior year electives, including design electives.

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 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, SWB), they interact with engineers who talk about engineering consulting and design practices applied to local 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.

Design projects are performed in CEE 731 Advanced Water Treatment Processes and a minimum of two design electives. CEE 797 Introduction to Project Planning and Design/ and CEE 798 Project Planning and Design/ serve as a capstone design experience where students work on a multi-disciplinary environmental engineering project and apply skills learned in other courses while working with real-world problems/clients. EnvE students do not have to take a course in the Discovery Biological Science category since they satisfy this category with CEE 724 Environmental Engineering Microbiology.

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 the following to be permitted to enroll in junior-level courses:

CEE 420Environmental Engineering Lectures I3
MATH 425Calculus I4
CHEM 405Chemical Principles for Engineers4
PHYS 407General Physics I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
CEE 500Statics for Civil Engineers3
CEE 520Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context4

To qualify for graduation, an EnvE major must: have satisfied the previously 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.

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
MATH 425 Calculus I 1 4
CHEM 405 Chemical Principles for Engineers 4
Discovery Electives 2 4
 Credits19
Spring
ENGL 502 Professional and Technical Writing 4
MATH 426 Calculus II 1 4
PHYS 407 General Physics I 4
Discovery Electives 2 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
CEE 402 2D Computer Aided Design 3
CEE 500 Statics for Civil Engineers 3
CEE 520 Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context 4
MATH 527 Differential Equations with Linear Algebra 4
Discovery Elective 4
 Credits18
Spring
MATH 644 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists 4
CEE 502 Project Engineering 3
Discovery Elective 4
Public Health Elective 4
Discovery or Geospatial Course 4
 Credits19
Third Year
Fall
CEE 650 Fluid Mechanics 4
CEE 705 Introduction to Sustainable Engineering 3
CEE 720 Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering 3
ESCI 654 Fate and Transport in the Environment 4
 Credits14
Spring
CEE 620 Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Engineering 4
CEE 724 Environmental Engineering Microbiology 4
Hydrology Elective 4 3-4
Discovery 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 Electives (2) 6-8
 Credits16-18
Spring
CEE 731 Advanced Water Treatment Processes 4
CEE 798 Project Planning and Design 2
CEE Electives (2) 6-8
Hydraulics Elective 3-4
 Credits15-18
 Total Credits132-138

The EnvE program requires a minimum of 132 total credits for graduation.

These are the required major courses.  For a full listing of the requirements within the four years of study please refer to the degree plan tab.

CEE 4022D Computer Aided Design3
CEE 420Environmental Engineering Lectures I3
CEE 500Statics for Civil Engineers3
CEE 502Project Engineering3
CEE 520Environmental Pollution and Protection: A Global Context4
CEE 620Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Engineering4
CEE 650Fluid Mechanics4
CEE 705Introduction to Sustainable Engineering3
CEE 720Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering3
CEE 721Environmental Sampling and Analysis4
CEE 723Environmental Water Chemistry4
CEE 724Environmental Engineering Microbiology4
CEE 731Advanced Water Treatment Processes4
CEE 797Introduction to Project Planning and Design2
CEE 798Project Planning and Design2
CHEM 405Chemical Principles for Engineers4
ENGL 502Professional and Technical Writing4
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

CEE Electives (lists are subject to change, check with advisor)

1. For Design and Non-Design, four courses are required, two of which must be Design, and total credits at least 12. 

2. One course is required from each of the other sections.

3. Hydraulics, hydrology and public health electives cannot be used to cover more than one category.

Design Electives: 

CEE 719Green Building Design3
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

Non-Design Electives:

CEE 706Environmental Life Cycle Assessment3
CEE 722Introduction to Marine Pollution and Control4
CEE #750Ecohydrology3
CEE 751Open Channel Flow3
CEE 754Engineering Hydrology3
CEE #757Coastal Engineering and Processes3
CEE 768Geo-Environmental Engineering3
SAFS 632Urban Agriculture4
SAFS 740Aquaponics4
CHE 709Fundamentals of Air Pollution and Its Control4

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

Hydraulics Electives: One course required

CEE 755Design of Pressurized Water Transmission Systems4
CEE 758Stormwater Management Designs3
CEE 759Stream Restoration4
CEE 751Open Channel Flow3
CEE 754Engineering Hydrology3
CEE #757Coastal Engineering and Processes3

Hydrology Electives: One course required

CEE #750Ecohydrology3
CEE 754Engineering Hydrology3
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

Explore Program Details

The UNH Environmental Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, 415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD  21201 – telephone:  (410) 347-7700.  It is important that the engineering program from which you graduate is ABET-accredited because that is one of the requirements in the process of obtaining a Professional Engineering (PE) license.  An ABET-accredited engineering program is defined by its educational objectives and outcomes and its curriculum.  Program Educational Objectives describe the accomplishments a program's graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. The educational objectives are unique to the program and determined by the faculty and stakeholders (e.g., employers of graduates). Student Outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation (e.g., skills, knowledge, behaviours. The Curriculum outlines the academic path that students in the program take to meet the outcomes by the time of graduation and ultimately, the objectives they accomplish after graduation.

Objectives & Outcomes

The Environmental Engineering (EnvE) Program in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire offers an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering that prepares students for productive careers in the public and private sectors and graduate studies.  The Program emphasizes fundamental principles in environmental engineering and design, built upon a strong base of chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering science.  The Program prepares its students to work in multi-disciplinary teams that analyze, formulate and communicate sustainable solutions to complex environmental problems.  The importance of developing sustainable solutions that provide economic, social and environmental benefits to society is emphasized.  The Program instills in its students an appreciation of the responsibilities of engineers to society and teaches them the skills necessary to continue learning and improving their professional expertise throughout their careers.  The curricula prepare students to plan and design safe systems to minimize the impact of human activity on the environment and protect human health.

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

Tool Introductory Courses Teaching Method Application Courses
Spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) CEE 420 HW Assignments

CEE 650, CEE 720, CEE 620, CEE 731, CEE 723, CEE 724, CEE 797/798, Hydraulics Elective, ESCI 654
Graphing (e.g. Excel) CEE 420 HW Assignments CEE 650, CEE 720, CEE 620, CEE 731, CEE 723, CEE 724, CEE 797/798, Hydraulics Elective, ESCI 654 (CEE 721 Lab Elective)
Life Cycle Analysis CEE 705 HW Assignments CEE 705
Word Processing (e.g., Word) CEE 420 Papers

CEE 650, Hydraulics Elective, CEE 620, CEE 731,  CEE 797/798, CHE 709, CEE 520
Presentation Graphics (e.g., PowerPoint) CEE 420 Presentations CEE 650, CEE 620, CEE 724, CEE 705
Computer-Aided Drawing (CAD) Tech 564 Lecture/Lab CEE 620,  CEE 797/798
Project Scheduler (e.g., MS Project, Quest) CEE 502 Lecture/Lab CEE 620,  CEE 797/798
Cost Estimating (e.g., R.S. Means Cost Works) CEE 502 Lecture/Lab CEE 620,  CEE 797/798
Information Sources and Retrieval CEE 620 Presentation CEE 620, CEE 724,  CEE 797/798, CEE 705
Modeling  (e.g.,LCA, Minteq WaterPro) CEE 705 Lecture/Lab/Projects/Homework Assignments CEE 723,  ESCI 654, CEE 731
GIS GIS Elective Lecture/Lab/Projects/Homework Assignments  
Statistics (e.g., JMP) MATH 644 Statistics Course CEE 731, ESCI 654

 

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