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Program Description
The Environmental Engineering major at Penn State prepares students to plan, design, operate, and renew the built systems that protect public health and the environment. The program emphasizes infrastructure design and operation, with technical coursework focusing on municipal drinking-water and wastewater treatment systems, stormwater and urban hydrology management, air quality and emissions controls relevant to public health, solid and hazardous waste management, site remediation, and the adaptation of communities to climate change. Students develop strong quantitative skills in mathematical modeling, computational methods, and engineering design to deliver sustainable, resilient, and equitable solutions.
During the first two years, the curriculum shares a common foundation with other engineering disciplines in mathematics, chemistry, physics, computing, and mechanics, and geology. Upper-division coursework provides an integrated sequence in environmental engineering (introductory principles); chemical, biological, and physical processes related to drinking-water and wastewater treatment systems; fluid mechanics and water-resources engineering, water-quality chemistry; solid and hazardous waste management; computing methods for civil and environmental engineering; thermodynamics; and professionalism/economics and project delivery. Design concepts are threaded across classroom, laboratory, and field experiences (including technical writing and surveying) and culminate in the Environmental Engineering Capstone Design course. Through technical electives, students can deepen expertise in areas such as water and wastewater treatment, environmental microbiology, ecological and regenerative aquatic systems, air-pollution control, hydrologic and hydraulic systems and stormwater design, energy and climate impacts on infrastructure, GIS and policy/legal frameworks, and the resilience and adaptation of built environmental systems.
The program is broadened by coursework in communication, arts, humanities, and the social and behavioral sciences, as well as complementary engineering disciplines. Students gain experience working in teams, communicating with both technical and public audiences, and using interdisciplinary, data-informed approaches to define problems and evaluate alternatives within economic, ethical, and regulatory contexts. These experiences, delivered through classroom, laboratory, and field activities, build leadership, project management, and professional judgment, and culminate in a capstone design course where students apply their knowledge and skills to real-world infrastructure challenges. The program prepares graduates for lifelong learning and evolving careers in consulting, public utilities, industry, and government.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, students must satisfy the following requirements by the end of the semester during which the admission to major process is carried out.
- 29-55 graded Penn State credits (excludes transfer and AP credits)
- Completed with a C or better the following courses: EDSGN 100, CHEM 110, MATH 140, MATH 141, PHYS 211
- Attained at least a 2.6 cumulative grade point average
- *
In the event that the major is under enrollment control, a higher minimum cumulative grade-point average is likely to be needed and students must be enrolled in the College of Engineering or Division of Undergraduate Studies at the time of confirming their major choice.
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering, a minimum of 128 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Requirements for the Major | 110 |
27 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GS courses; 9 credits of GWS courses. The remaining 18 General Education credits must be distinct from the Requirements for the Major.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| CE 402 | Computing Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 472W | Environmental Engineering Capstone Design | 3 |
| CE 475 | Water Quality Chemistry | 4 |
| EGEE 470 | Air Pollutants from Combustion Sources | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CE 310 | Surveying | 3 |
| CE 332 | Professionalism, Economics & Construction Project Delivery | 3 |
| CE 335 | Engineering Mechanics of Soils | 3 |
| CE 370 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 403 | Energy Use, Climate Change, and Our Engineered Infrastructure | 3 |
| CE 461 | Water-resource Engineering | 3 |
| CE 476 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CHEM 110 | Chemical Principles I  | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | Experimental Chemistry I | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | Chemical Principles II | 3 |
| CHEM 113 | Experimental Chemistry II | 1 |
| EDSGN 100 | Cornerstone Engineering Design | 3 |
| EMCH 211 | Statics | 3 |
| EMCH 212 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ENGL 202C | Effective Writing: Technical Writing | 3 |
| GEOSC 1 | Physical Geology | 3 |
| MATH 140 | Calculus With Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 141 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 211 | General Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select 1 credit of First-Year Seminar | 1 | |
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Programming Techniques | ||
| Programming and Computation I: Fundamentals | ||
| Programming for Engineers with MATLAB | ||
| Programming for Engineers with C++ | ||
| Introduction to Computational Sciences Programming | ||
| Computational Methods in Engineering | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy | ||
| Mapping Our Changing World | ||
| Geographic Information in a Changing World: Introduction to GIScience | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Sampling and Monitoring of the Geo-Environment | ||
| Process Quality Engineering | ||
| Experimental Methods | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| MATH 251 | Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations | 4 |
| or MATH 250 & MATH 252 | Ordinary Differential Equations and Partial Differential Equations | |
| CE 360 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| or EME 303 | Fluid Mechanics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | |
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Speech | ||
| Effective Speech | ||
| Rhetoric and Civic Life II | ||
| Earth and Mineral Sciences First-Year Seminar | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Rhetoric and Composition | ||
| Rhetoric and Composition | ||
| Rhetoric and Composition Enhanced | ||
| Honors Freshman Composition First-Year Seminar | ||
| Honors Rhetoric and Composition | ||
| Rhetoric and Civic Life I | ||
| ESL Composition for American Academic Communication II | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | ||
| Thermodynamics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Thermal Science | ||
| Engineering Thermodynamics I | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select at least 6 credits of ENVE Technical Electives from the following: | 6 | |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment | ||
| Ecological Design of Regenerative Aquatic Systems | ||
| Environmental Microbiology for Engineers | ||
| Surface and Interfacial Phenomena in Environmental Systems | ||
| Pollution Control in the Process Industries | ||
| Select at least 9 credits of Technical Electives within or outside of ENVE from the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment | ||
| Bioenergy Systems Engineering | ||
| Design of Stormwater and Erosion Control Facilities | ||
| Land-Based Waste Disposal | ||
| Simulation Modeling for Water Resources Management | ||
| Open Channel Hydraulics | ||
| Ecological Design of Regenerative Aquatic Systems | ||
| Environmental Microbiology for Engineers | ||
| Bioremediation/Green Chemistry | ||
| Projects in Humanitarian Engineering | ||
| Design for Developing Communities | ||
| Hydrogen and Fuel Cells | ||
| Design of Solar Energy Conversion Systems | ||
| Wind and Hydropower Energy Conversion | ||
| Alternative Fuels from Biomass Sources | ||
| Geo-resource Evaluation and Investment Analysis | ||
| Product Innovation Entrepreneurship | ||
| Leadership Principles | ||
| Coaching Skills and Practice for Engineering Leaders | ||
| New Venture Creation | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship | ||
| Safety Engineering | ||
| Surface and Interfacial Phenomena in Environmental Systems | ||
| Environmental Systems Engineering Laboratory | ||
| Pollution Control in the Process Industries | ||
| Environmental Economics and Policy | ||
| Legal Aspects of Resource Management | ||
| The Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Issues and Careers in Complex Environmental Problem Solving | ||
| Air Pollution Impacts to Terrestrial Ecosystems | ||
| Chemistry of the Environment: Air, Water, and Soil | ||
| Rural Road Ecology and Maintenance | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Natural Resources: Origins, Economics and Environmental Impact | ||
| From Meteorology to Mitigation: Understanding Global Warming | ||
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.