An Environmental Engineering major includes coursework in environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, hazardous waste management, and hydrology and more. You build skills such as environmental sampling, regulatory compliance, engineering design, and data analysis. Typical degrees: bachelor's and master's degrees.
- Typical degreesBachelor's and master's degrees
- Colleges reporting awards157U.S. schools, IPEDS
- With online programs144Schools reporting fully online programs
About the Environmental Engineering major
Environmental engineering majors study water and wastewater treatment, air quality, hazardous waste, environmental chemistry and regulations. Graduates work for consulting firms, utilities, industry and government agencies.
Classes you take
- Environmental chemistry
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Air pollution control
- Hazardous waste management
- Hydrology
- Environmental law
Skills you build
- Environmental sampling
- Regulatory compliance
- Engineering design
- Data analysis
- Technical writing
Career paths for environmental engineering majors
Careers connected to this major. Each profile explains the work, how to get started and what the job is like day to day.
Environmental Engineering Technician
Help engineers monitor, test and clean up pollution in soil, water and air.
- Typical training: 2 years
Civil Engineer
Design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on.
- Typical training: 4 years + PE path
Environmental Health Specialist
Inspect restaurants, pools, water and housing to protect public health.
- Typical training: 4 years
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Run the plants and systems that clean drinking water and treat wastewater.
- Typical training: Months to years (on the job + certification)
Environmental Technician
Collect and test air, water and soil samples to monitor pollution and protect health.
- Typical training: About 2 years
Safety Engineer
Design systems, processes and products that prevent injuries, illness and damage.
- Typical training: 4 years
Minors that pair well with Environmental Engineering
| Minor | How it complements Environmental Engineering |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | Broadens your view of clean energy and resource use. |
| Occupational Safety | Connects environmental work to worker protection and hazardous waste. |
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | Adds mapping for environmental analysis. |
Start building practical skills now
These short online courses from Career Education Institute connect to environmental engineering careers. You can take one alongside your classes or before you choose a program.
A self-paced online course on what environmental engineering technicians do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: environmental sampling, field instrument calibration, and remediation system operation
Why it fits: Connected to careers that Environmental Engineering majors pursue, such as environmental engineering technician.
A self-paced online course on what civil engineers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: structural analysis, hydraulics, and geotechnical engineering
Why it fits: Connected to careers that Environmental Engineering majors pursue, such as civil engineer.
A self-paced online course on what environmental health specialists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: food code knowledge, inspection techniques, and water and pool testing
Why it fits: Connected to careers that Environmental Engineering majors pursue, such as environmental health specialist.
A self-paced online course on what water treatment plant operators do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: treatment processes, water chemistry and lab testing, and SCADA monitoring
Why it fits: Connected to careers that Environmental Engineering majors pursue, such as water treatment plant operator.
Where to study environmental engineering
157 U.S. colleges and universities reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field (IPEDS completions, awards conferred July 2023 to June 2024 (C2024_A)).
- Certificate: 8 schools
- Associate: 1 school
- Bachelor’s: 118 schools
- Master’s: 82 schools
- Doctoral: 42 schools
States with the most: California (15), Pennsylvania (14), New York (12), Texas (12), Florida (8).
Find colleges that offer Environmental Engineering
Why consider career training alongside college?
Your college major gives you an academic foundation. Short career training can add practical knowledge of a specific job: what the work involves day to day, its vocabulary, common tasks, tools and safety rules. You do not have to wait until graduation: many students take a short course to test a career before choosing a major, to prepare for an internship or a part-time job, or to show employers they understand the work.
Environmental Engineering major FAQ
What is an Environmental Engineering major?
An Environmental Engineering major designs systems that protect air, water and land from pollution. Environmental engineering majors study water and wastewater treatment, air quality, hazardous waste, environmental chemistry and regulations.
What does an Environmental Engineering major include?
An Environmental Engineering major includes coursework in environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, hazardous waste management, and hydrology and more. You build skills such as environmental sampling, regulatory compliance, engineering design, and data analysis. Typical degrees: bachelor's and master's degrees.
What classes do you take as an Environmental Engineering major?
Typical courses include environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, hazardous waste management, hydrology, and environmental law. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.
How long does it take to get an Environmental Engineering degree?
It depends on the level. Environmental Engineering is offered as certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.
What degree levels are available in Environmental Engineering?
Bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 8 colleges reported certificate awards, 118 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 82 colleges reported master’s awards, and 42 colleges reported doctoral awards.
What can you do with an Environmental Engineering degree?
Career paths connected to environmental engineering include environmental engineering technician, civil engineer, environmental health specialist, water treatment plant operator, environmental technician, and safety engineer. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.
What jobs can you get with an Environmental Engineering major?
Examples include environmental engineering technician (typical training: 2 years), civil engineer (typical training: 4 years + PE path), environmental health specialist (typical training: 4 years), water treatment plant operator (typical training: Months to years (on the job + certification)), environmental technician (typical training: About 2 years), and safety engineer (typical training: 4 years).
What skills do you learn in an Environmental Engineering major?
Environmental Engineering majors build skills such as environmental sampling, regulatory compliance, engineering design, data analysis, and technical writing.
What minor goes well with Environmental Engineering?
Good pairings include Sustainability (broadens your view of clean energy and resource use), Occupational Safety (connects environmental work to worker protection and hazardous waste), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (adds mapping for environmental analysis).
Is Environmental Engineering a good major?
It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as environmental engineering technician, civil engineer, and environmental health specialist, and enjoy subjects like environmental chemistry and water and wastewater treatment. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.
Is Environmental Engineering a hard major?
How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, and air pollution control; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.
How many colleges offer an Environmental Engineering major?
157 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.
Which states have the most colleges offering Environmental Engineering?
California (15), Pennsylvania (14), New York (12), Texas (12), and Florida (8), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.
Can you study Environmental Engineering online?
144 of the colleges that offer environmental engineering also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.
What is the difference between Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering?
Environmental Engineering designs systems that protect air, water and land from pollution. Mechanical Engineering designs machines, engines, tools and mechanical systems. Environmental Engineering leads to careers such as environmental engineering technician and civil engineer, while Mechanical Engineering leads to careers such as mechanical engineer and mechanical engineering technician.
What is the difference between Environmental Engineering and Electrical Engineering?
Environmental Engineering designs systems that protect air, water and land from pollution. Electrical Engineering designs electrical systems, electronics, power and communications equipment. Environmental Engineering leads to careers such as environmental engineering technician and civil engineer, while Electrical Engineering leads to careers such as electrical engineer and electronics engineer.
Can I take career training while I study environmental engineering?
Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.
Does Career Education Institute offer an Environmental Engineering degree?
No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to environmental engineering, such as Environmental Engineering Technician Training.
Related majors
- Mechanical Engineering: Designs machines, engines, tools and mechanical systems.
- Electrical Engineering: Designs electrical systems, electronics, power and communications equipment.
- Civil Engineering: Designs roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and other infrastructure.
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering: Improves how people, machines, materials and information work together.
- Chemical Engineering: Designs processes that turn raw materials into fuels, chemicals, medicines and products.
- Aerospace Engineering: Designs aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles.
- Biomedical Engineering: Applies engineering to medicine: devices, implants, imaging and diagnostics.
- Computer Engineering: Designs computer hardware and the software that runs closest to it.
- Engineering Technology: An applied, hands-on engineering degree focused on building, testing and maintaining systems.
- Architecture: Designs buildings and spaces that are useful, safe and beautiful.