Choosing a major starts with understanding the kinds of problems you want to solve.
Environmental engineering focuses on systems that support human health and community well-being, including clean drinking water, wastewater treatment, air quality, pollution prevention, pathogen transport, infrastructure resilience and adaptation, environmental restoration, and sustainable resource management.
It is a rigorous yet flexible field that combines scientific understanding, engineering fundamentals, systems thinking, and hands-on application. Here is what to expect if you choose to major in environmental engineering.
What Is Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineering applies engineering principles to protect public health, improve environmental quality, and support community well-being. This includes designing, improving, and managing systems related to: This includes designing and improving systems such as:
Clean drinking water and water distribution
Wastewater treatment and resource recovery
Air quality and pollution prevention
Pathogen transport and public-health protection
Water resources, stormwater, and coastal systems
Waste, recycling, and sustainable resource management
Environmental restoration
Infrastructure resilience and adaptation
It is a field that connects science with engineering design and infrastructure, focusing on how natural and built systems function together over time.
What Will You Study as a Major?
The environmental engineering major is built around a progression from foundational science and core engineering principles to specialized environmental applications.
Foundational Coursework
Students begin with core subjects that support environmental engineering and the broader engineering profession, including:
Calculus and differential equations
Probability, statistics, and data analysis
Physics and mechanics
General chemistry
Biology
Thermodynamics and energy principles
These courses build the analytical skills needed for more advanced topics.
Core Engineering Topics
As students progress, they move into engineering-specific coursework such as:
Fluid mechanics and hydraulics
Environmental systems
Transport processes
Computing, modeling, and simulation
Engineering design and problem solving
These areas form the technical foundation of the field.
Environmental Specialization
Upper-level courses focus on environmental applications, including:
Physicochemical / Biological processes for environmental control
Environmental chemistry
Environmental management and assessment
Sustainability and resource management
Oceanography
Groundwater engineering, hydrology and pollution
Energy
Air Pollution
Technical communication and teamwork
The environmental engineering degree program at Stevens integrates these topics into a cohesive curriculum that prepares students for real-world challenges.
What Is the Learning Experience Like?
Environmental engineering is highly applied. Students participate in:
Laboratory experiments
Team-based design projects
Scenario-based problem solving
This learning environment reflects how engineers work in practice, where collaboration and iteration are essential. The structure of the program aligns with the broader approach outlined by the Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering department, emphasizing practical experience and interdisciplinary learning.
What Skills Will You Develop?
Over the course of the major, students build a range of technical and transferable skills:
Analytical thinking and problem solving
Data interpretation and modeling
Systems-level design
Communication and collaboration
These skills are valuable across engineering, environmental, and problem-solving roles.
What Can You Do with an Environmental Engineering Degree?
Graduates pursue a wide range of opportunities depending on their interests. Common paths include:
Environmental engineering and consulting
Infrastructure, water, and wastewater systems
Sustainability and environmental planning
Public-sector and regulatory roles
Graduate study and research in environmental engineering, water resources, public health, sustainability, or related fields
Public health, environmental health, or medical school pathways for students interested in the connection between the environment and human health
Because environmental engineering intersects with many industries and disciplines, it offers flexibility over time and can serve as a strong foundation for both professional practice and advanced study.
Is Environmental Engineering the Right Fit for You?
This major may be a strong fit if you:
Enjoy science, math, and engineering design
Are motivated by real-world problems
Like thinking about systems rather than isolated components
Are interested in protecting human health, environmental quality, and community well-being
Want to understand how water, air, infrastructure, pollution control, and resource management systems work
Are drawn to solutions with practical and lasting impact
Choosing environmental engineering is less about having a single career path in mind and more about being interested in how complex systems function, how they affect people and the environment, and how they can be improved.
Exploring the Program at Stevens
Environmental engineering is part of a broader, interdisciplinary engineering atmosphere at the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science at Stevens. Students can explore program structure, coursework, and academic pathways through the environmental engineering program page and department resources, which provide a clear picture of how the major develops over time.
Looking Ahead
Majoring in environmental engineering builds both strong technical skills and a broader understanding of complex systems. It prepares students to approach challenges with rigor, creativity, and adaptability, recognizing that effective solutions must be technically sound, environmentally responsible, and responsive to community needs. For students interested in connecting engineering with real-world impact, environmental engineering offers a meaningful path that continues to evolve with the public-health, environmental, and infrastructure challenges it is designed to address.
Learn more about academic programs and research in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering:
