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Environmental Engineering, B.S.

Program Educational Objectives

The Program Educational Objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. The objectives of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering program are to develop graduates who embody the following definitions:

  • Contribute and collaborate on development of sustainable solutions to a wide range of conventional, cutting-edge, and emerging professional challenges on local and global scales.
  • Are innovative, proactive, and adaptive professionals and leaders, in their organizations and professional communities. 
  • Cross geographic, cultural, and traditional discipline boundaries to develop just and equitable solutions.

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Environmental and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

By the end of the B.S. program, students should have achieved the following student outcomes: 

  1.  an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. 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
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Curriculum

Minimum units required for B.S. in Environmental Engineering384

Students entering the College of Engineering declare a major near the end of the first year. First-year students take two introductory engineering courses as well as some restricted technical electives within the common foundation specified for first-year engineering students. By the end of the sophomore year, an Environmental Engineering major is expected to have completed the Restricted Technical Electives in the following list and 12-100 Exploring CEE: Infrastructure and Environment in a Changing World.

Restricted Technical Electives Units
09-101Introduction to Experimental Chemistry3
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I10
or 09-111 Chemical Building Blocks
15-110Principles of Computing10
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
21-122Integration and Approximation10
21-254Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus for Engineers11
21-260Differential Equations9
33-141Physics I for Engineering Students12
33-142Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students12
Notes on Math Requirements

1. All mathematics (21-xxx) courses required for the engineering degree taken at Carnegie Mellon must have a minimum grade of C in order to be counted toward the graduation requirement for the BS engineering degree.
2. A minimum grade of C must be achieved in any required mathematics (21-xxx) course that is a pre-requisite for the next higher level required mathematics (21-xxx) course.

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

This section shows the recommended four-year program of study for the BS in Environmental Engineering following a typical path. The curriculum for transfer students, students with advanced placement credit, and students planning to study abroad will not follow the same path. Students need to consult the department for appropriate advising and formulation of a plan to complete the degree within eight semesters.

First Year
Fall Units
12-100Exploring CEE: Infrastructure and Environment in a Changing World12
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
33-141Physics I for Engineering Students12
99-101Core@CMU3
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 46
Spring Units
xx-xxxIntroduction to Engineering (other than CEE)12
21-122Integration and Approximation10
33-142Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students12
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I10
or 09-111 Chemical Building Blocks
09-101Introduction to Experimental Chemistry3
 47
Sophomore Year
Fall Units
12-200CEE Challenges: Design in a Changing World9
12-351Environmental Engineering9
15-110Principles of Computing10
21-254Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus for Engineers11
39-210Experiential Learning I0
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 48
Spring Units
12-221Environmental Chemistry and Thermodynamics9
12-222Environmental Chemistry Laboratory3
12-271Computation and Data Science for Civil & Environmental Engineering9
12-352Environmental Engineering Lab3
21-260Differential Equations9
39-220Experiential Learning II0
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
xx-xxxElective 19
 51
Junior Year
Fall Units
12-301CEE Projects: Integrating the Built, Natural and Information Environments9
12-355Fluid Mechanics9
12-356Fluid Mechanics Lab2
03-121Modern Biology9
36-220Engineering Statistics and Quality Control9
39-310Experiential Learning III0
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 47
Spring Units
12-353Environmental Biology and Ecology9
12-371Advanced Computing and Problem Solving in Civil and Environmental Engineering9
12-201Geology9
xx-xxxElective 26
xx-xxxElective 39
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 51
Senior Year
Fall Units
12-401CEE Design12
12-411Project Management for Engineering and Construction9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 48
Spring Units
12-451Advanced Environmental Engineering9
12-471Applied Data Analytics for Civil and Environmental Systems9
xx-xxxUpper Level Environmental Engineering Elective9
xx-xxxElective 49
xx-xxxElective 510
 46
Notes on Electives

Students are encouraged to take multiple upper level courses to provide them with specific environmental engineering domain depth in their field(s) of interest.

Elective Courses

Students may select a set of environmental engineering and other electives in the junior and senior years. Some examples for grouping electives are indicated below. Students can create other groupings to meet their academic and career interests; discussion with a faculty mentor is encouraged. 

Environmental Engineering - Water Quality

Units
12-612Intro to Sustainable Engineering9
12-657Water Resource Systems Engineering9
12-722Advanced Chemistry and Thermodynamics for Environmental Systems12
12-724Biotechnology and Wastewater Bioprocess Modeling12

Engineering and Society

Units
12-645Smart Cities: Growth and Intelligent Transportation Systems6
12-657Water Resource Systems Engineering9
24-291Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet9
48-371City & Suburb: American House and Housing Since 18509
79-303Pittsburgh and the Transformation of Modern Urban America9
79-315The Politics of Water in Global Perspective9
19-429Climate Change Science and Solutions9

Environmental Engineering - Energy

Units
12-612Intro to Sustainable Engineering9
24-424Energy and the Environment9
24-292Renewable Energy Engineering9
24-628Energy Transport and Conversion at the Nanoscale12

Environmental Engineering - Air Quality

Units
12-612Intro to Sustainable Engineering9
12-651Air Quality Engineering9
24-425Combustion and Air Pollution Control9
19-429Climate Change Science and Solutions9
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