Environmental Engineering

environmental engineering

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING?

This major is part of the BEP Exploration Group and Math and Engineering Exploration Group

Environmental Engineering Major Website

In the Environmental Engineering undergraduate program, students acquire the technical competency, communication skills, and global awareness to assume a leadership role in the environmental management arena of the future. Students experience a holistic learning environment where they integrate principles from chemical, physical, biological, and social sciences, and engineering disciplines. Field investigation, hypothesis testing by analytical and numerical experimentation, recognition of societal and economic constraints, and synthesis through mathematical modeling are integrated in the analysis of environmental problems and the creation of appropriate solutions. This knowledge base will be tested in the evaluation of real-world natural and engineered processes that impact environmental quality.

Environmental engineers contribute to solving environmental problems. They assess how human activity impacts the environment and work to minimize such impacts, as well as tend to the natural environment as the earth’s life support system. The major areas of work include: air pollution control, wastewater treatment, household and hazardous waste management, environmental remediation, and hydrology and water resources management.

Declaration, Major Requirements, and Courses

HOW TO DECLARE:

APPLICATION REQUIRED. As of July 2025, minimum admissions requirements for all College of Engineering majors has been updated. Internal Admission Process and Criteria can be found HERE.

To be considered for Spring admissions, application must be received by December 25th. To be considered for Fall admission, application must be received by May 25th. Apply HERE.

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MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

Major Requirements Overview

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HELPFUL INTRO COURSES:

ENVE 1000 - Environmental Sustainability

ENGR 1166 - Foundations of Engineering  (Major Requirement)

MATH 1131Q - Calculus 1 (Major Requirement)

CHEM 1127Q - General Chemistry (Major Requirement)

CHEM 1128Q - General Chemistry 2 (Major Requirement)

Click here for full course description

Possible Career Opportunities

COMMON CAREER PATHS:

UConn students who major in Environmental Engineering often pursue careers with a focus on the analysis of environmental problems and the creation of appropriate solutions. Common examples include but are not limited to careers in: 

- Air and water quality management
- Climate analysis
- Energy
- Environmental consulting
- Environmental health and safety
- Hydrology and hydraulics
- Project engineering
- Public health
- Systems engineering
- Transportation
- Urban planning
- Waste management 

                    COMMON AREAS OF GRADUATE STUDY:

                    Environmental Engineering majors who go on to pursue graduate studies pursue a wide variety of master’s, doctoral, and/or professional degrees based on their interests. Common examples include but are not limited to degrees in: 

                    - Civil engineering
                    - Environmental engineering
                    - Public health 

                    ADDITIONAL CAREER RESOURCES:

                    For additional examples of careers and graduate studies that UConn alumni have pursued, visit the UConn alumni search on LinkedIn. 

                    For further insight beyond the journeys of UConn alumni, visit Zippia or “What Can I do with this Major?”