William R. Knocke answers questions about the new Environmental Engineering major
The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has added an undergraduate major in Environmental Engineering (EENG). While this major retains the broad civil engineering disciplinary coverage of the degree it allows students to focus certain of their fundamental and elective courses in the areas of environmental and water resources engineering. Completion of the EENG Major helps to prepare an undergraduate student for possible graduate studies in Environmental Engineering. Also, employers looking for undergraduate hires with an emphasis towards environmental engineering would look favorably upon completion of the EENG Major.
Click here to learn more about or apply to the new Environmental Engineering major.
We sat down with Professor William R. Knocke, who has spent more than forty years teaching courses in environmental engineering, to find out more about what students can expect in the new EENG major.
If I chose this major, what topics would I be studying?
The wide variety of environmental and water resources electives allow a student to study many different topics relevant to environmental engineering – water and wastewater treatment, air pollution engineering, public health engineering, urban water sustainability, the broader topic of sustainable systems within the environment, etc. Students in the Environmental Engineering Major will also have multiple courses in Water Resources Engineering which is an important component to have in a graduate’s background who wishes to focus their career towards environmental engineering work.
What are some career opportunities with a major in Environmental Engineering?
Focusing coursework towards environmental engineering will allow graduates to pursue positions with environmental engineering and civil engineering consulting firms that are more focused on environmental issues.
What kinds of classes will I take in this major?
The Environmental Engineering major is still structured within the B.S. Civil Engineering degree program. As such most of the requirements of the major are designed to meet the broader degree requirements, including a wide breadth of courses across the civil engineering discipline. However, the major will allow students to focus a large number of their advanced elective courses within the Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Engineering disciplines, providing the opportunity to pursue interests in a variety of topics related to environmental engineering.