What do environmental-engineering students actually study?
Environmental engineering builds on mathematics, chemistry, and physics to study issues such as water quality and water or wastewater systems, waste, air quality, energy, soil, and ecosystems. Programs may cover environmental measurement and analysis, the design of treatment facilities or mitigation measures, laboratory work, field surveys, and data analysis; some also address environmental policy and social or economic considerations.
Key points
- Use mathematics, chemistry, and physics to analyze environmental problems quantitatively.
- Study areas such as water, air, waste, soil, energy, and ecosystems.
- Programs may include measurement, data analysis, facility or mitigation design, laboratory work, and field surveys.
Things to check
- The mix of subjects and the presence or amount of laboratory or fieldwork vary by university, faculty, and course, so applicants should check the target program’s official curriculum.