Can you do environmental engineering degree

Associates in civil environmental engineering generally require 60 credit hours — which takes many students about two years to complete. Many programs are transfer programs, that allow students who successfully complete the program automatic entry into the last two years of a four year program at a partner institution.

Students within associates degrees are required to start their study with general education requirements. General education requirements are meant to ensure that students within 2-year degree programs are exposed to a wide range of college-level disciplines, are well rounded thinkers, and hold the basic skills that employers expect of college graduates.

As students progress through their general education courses, they will begin to take major courses in civil environmental engineering. Some of the most common courses within this academic discipline at the associates level include:.

Once students have worked through some of their general education requirements, they may then being major courses. While programs and specializations will provide varying course options, a typical selection of courses may include:. At the doctoral level there are two primary degree paths available to environmental engineering students:. While these courses of study can be quite similar depending on the program , typically a Ph.

The key difference between these degree types is that research doctorates tend to focus more on two elements:. A dissertation is a several hundred page document of original research by a doctoral candidate. In theory a dissertation should be of high enough quality to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Though it does not have to be published in order for a doctoral candidate to graduate.

Professional doctorates, on the other hand, often require less years of study and are more centered around skills that directly translate to a role in industry or governmental positions. This is not to say that original research does not occur in D. As with most doctorates, students have the ability to specialize in more ways than any other degree level. Doctorates in environmental engineering are no different.

With students focusing on a wide range of issues including:. While many doctoral programs are offered in a hybrid format that require some in-person visits. While millions of students have excelled online, there are definite trade offs, and students should evaluate what type of learner they are, and personal restrictions that may make in-person or online a solidly better choice. In these arrangements, the main requirement for entry into a program is that a student is in-district or in-state and that they hold a high school diploma or equivalent.

Students then preserve their open enrollment status by keeping their associates-level course grades above a certain level. If you are considering embarking on a career dedicated to environmental engineering, there are many facets of your education that will come into play, and the more you know now, the better engineer you will be. Your role as an environmental engineer will involve providing safe and plentiful water supplies, developing systems for reducing pollutants in air, water and hazardous wastes; anticipating the effects of contaminants' transport, and correcting improper disposal situations where hazardous materials are concerned.

As an environmental engineer, you will seek solutions to public health threats, improvements in and adherence to the law surrounding sanitation and construction, waste disposal, recycling, industrial hygiene, and environmental sustainability. Environmental engineers are most concerned with the effects of technological advances on the environment. Hazardous-waste treatment is a significant issue needing regulation which these engineers can design and help implement through laboratory and legal avenues.

Worldwide issues in the environmental engineer's expertise include everything from farm runoff to ozone depletion, and all of the water sources in between. Today's engineers often further their education with specialized training in law and use legal paths to access routes to improvement.

The study and practice of environmental engineering is as broad as the elements that make up the Earth. Schools of engineering can vary in their requirements, but are also quite similar. Typically, a university offers the CEE civil and environmental engineering degree, and a B. The curriculum provides students with the fundamentals to address emerging issues with air and land resources, human health, water, and environmental restoration.

All prerequisites must be satisfied before graduating with a B. The B. EnvE degree requires acceptable letter grades in math, physics, chemistry, and COE. Students seeking specialized graduate degrees in environmental engineering have four basic choices.

Those wanting a career that does not require research can get a master of engineering M. The Council advises candidates to check licensing requirements in the state where they intend to work. The FE exam verifies candidates have the foundational safety and engineering knowledge necessary to work in the field.

Undergraduate environmental engineering curricula are often designed with FE exam requirements in mind. Students can usually find this information online or by contacting the academic department overseeing the program. Environmental engineering graduates who meet state practice requirements—including those related to EIT or EI licensing—are free to enter the field, but only under the direction of Professional Engineers PEs , who are discussed below.

Most board and professional certifications also require a certain number of years in the field. Professional Engineers typically enjoy higher earnings and advancement potential than non-credentialed peers. They can also practice independently and complete a wider variety of tasks. Among them:. Board and professional certifications are additional voluntary, yet highly beneficial credentials.

These certifications demonstrate that an environmental engineer is truly an expert in the field, whether at large or within one specialized area. The following are the most common types of advanced certifications. Because environmental engineering is considered a subfield of civil engineering , the ASCE offers board certification in many concentrations relevant to them. Environmental engineering is a very diverse field, however, so one typically becomes board-certified in one of the following concentrations:.

A BCEE-designated environmental engineer is considered a true expert in whatever area in which he or she is certified. Such an advanced credential is only available to those with the education and experience necessary to sustain that role. Eligibility requirements include:. Several environmental engineering organizations offer professional certifications, which usually target a particular skill or specialty. These certifications can give one an edge when competing for jobs or advancements.

Examples of other relevant professional certifications and associated organizations include:. Aspiring environmental engineers may be curious about potential earnings and projected growth of openings into the future.

Fortunately for people seeking careers in this field , environmental engineering is both relatively lucrative and secure concerning future job opportunities.

The U. Wages were highest for professionals working for the federal government followed by engineering services and local governments. Also, data from PayScale —a site for self-reported salaries—suggests that environmental engineers with project management, regulatory compliance, environmental compliance, and engineering design experience also tend to earn more. Among the environmental engineers reporting their annual salaries, Payscale found the following percentiles:.

Government efforts to improve water quality and efficiency, clean contaminated sites, and enforce environmental regulations drive demand for environmental engineers.