Environmental Engineering, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers apply basic principles of science, supported by mathematical and computational tools, to address an important issue facing society: ensuring clean air, safe drinking water, and sanitation; evaluating opportunities and designing systems for sustainable environmental resource management; designing infrastructure and developing technologies to enable climate change mitigation and adaptation; protecting people from natural and man-made hazards; and designing sustainable infrastructure that benefits society.
The environmental engineering program comprises five focus areas (Public Health Engineering; One Water; Energy and Environmental Sustainability; Climate and Environmental Sustainability; and Water Systems and Sustainability). Although each area and program has its own special body of knowledge and engineering tools, environmental engineering projects often use knowledge and data from many of these topical areas together in order to address societal challenges. Brief descriptions of each focus area are provided below:
Public Health Engineering (PHE). Students in the PHE primary will gain skills in monitoring and modeling air pollution, air quality management, air, and water pollution control technologies, and physicochemical and toxicological analysis of environmental contaminants. Students will also learn the skills to analyze and evaluate the interconnections between environmental factors and the progression of human diseases through various designs of epidemiological studies and apply the principles of engineering control for the protection of public health.
One Water (OneW). The OneW primary centers on the safe and reliable provision of drinking water, sanitation, and stormwater management for communities and households. Students in this primary will learn physical, chemical, and biological principles and how to apply them to design and develop innovative water quality control processes and systems. Students will also learn how to design resource (water, nutrient, energy) recovery systems to support circular economies. The term “One Water” stems from an international trend toward holistic water planning by municipalities (e.g., “One Water LA” for the City of Los Angeles).
Energy and Environmental Sustainability (E2S). The E2S primary focuses on understanding, quantifying, and modeling the interdependencies between energy, water, and the environment. Students will gain fundamental and applied knowledge in thermodynamics and chemical principles, and expertise in water policy, renewable energy systems, and sustainable design.
Climate and Environmental Sustainability (CES). CES students will develop skills to quantify and manage the dynamic interactions among society and the built and natural environments, with an emphasis on environmental and water resources engineering to adapt to a changing global climate. Coursework will focus on atmospheric sciences (including physical climate and physical meteorology), natural resource economics, environmental systems analyses, decision and risk analysis, and data science to generate insight from large and complex datasets.
Water Systems and Sustainability (WS2). The WS2 primary focuses on understanding, designing, and managing natural and engineered water systems. Students learn foundational knowledge of environmental hydrology and hydraulic engineering, and gain skills to develop sustainable solutions to urban water challenges such as flooding, to manage surface water and groundwater transport and pollution, and to design novel nature-based solutions and green and hybrid infrastructure to overcome the challenges imposed by a changing environment.
Across all focus areas, CEE’s Program Education Objectives are to educate EnvE students to:
- Successfully enter the environmental engineering profession as practicing engineers and consultants with prominent companies and organizations in diverse areas that include public health engineering, one water, energy and environmental sustainability, climate and environmental sustainability, and water systems and sustainability.
- Pursue graduate education and research at major research universities in environmental engineering, and related fields.
- Pursue professional licensure.
- Advance to leadership positions in their profession.
- Engage in continued learning through professional development.
- Participate in and contribute to professional societies and community service.
Program Review and Approval
To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, each student's academic program plan must be reviewed by a standing committee of the faculty (the Program Review Committee) and approved by the Associate Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering in charge of undergraduate programs. This review and approval process ensures that individual programs satisfy the educational objectives and all of the requirements of the environmental engineering program, that those programs do not abuse the substantial degree of flexibility that is present in the curriculum, and that the career interests of each student are cultivated and served.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.0
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement. ECE 316 will satisfy an an Orientation and Professional Development requirement, a Campus General Education Humanities requirement, and the Campus General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
Orientation and Professional Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 190 | Project-Based Introduction to CEE | 4 |
| CEE 495 | Professional Practice | 0 |
| ECE 316 | Ethics and Engineering | 3 |
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar (External transfer students take ENG 300.) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ATMS 202 | General Physical Climate | 3 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus I (MATH 220 may be substituted. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. 4 of 5 credit hours count towards degree.) | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 3 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Environmental Engineering Technical Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 201 | Systems Engrg & Economics | 3 |
| CEE 202 | Engineering Risk & Uncertainty | 3 |
| CEE 330 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 331 | Fluid Dynamics in the Natural and Built Environment (Fluid Dynamics in the Environment) | 4 |
| CEE 350 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 449 | Environmental Engineering Lab | 3 |
| CEE 453 | Urban Hydrology and Hydraulics | 4 |
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci | 3 |
| SE 101 | Engineering Graphics & Design | 3 |
| TAM 211 | Statics | 3 |
| TAM 212 | Introductory Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Primary Fields (Students choose one of five (5) Primary Fields)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Energy & Environmental Sustainability Primary Field | 30 | |
| ABE 436 | Renewable Energy Systems | 4 |
| CEE 340 | Energy and Global Environment | 3 |
| CEE 433 | Water Technology and Policy | 3 |
| CEE 493 | Sustainable Design Eng Tech | 4 |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 360 | Chemistry of the Environment | 3 |
| ENSU 301 | Soc Impacts Weather & Climate | 3 |
| ME 200 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| Climate & Environmental Sustainability Primary Field | 31 | |
| ACE 310 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ATMS 201 | General Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| CEE 340 | Energy and Global Environment | 3 |
| CEE 434 | Environmental Systems I | 3 |
| CEE 458 | Water Resources Field Methods | 4 |
| CEE 491 | Decision and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| CEE 492 | Data Science for Civil and Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| or ACE 100 | Introduction to Applied Microeconomics | |
| GGIS 379 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
| Water Systems & Sustainability Primary Field | 32 | |
| ACE 310 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ATMS 201 | General Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| CEE 433 | Water Technology and Policy | 3 |
| CEE 434 | Environmental Systems I | 3 |
| CEE 450 | Surface Hydrology | 3 |
| or CEE 457 | Groundwater | |
| CEE 451 | Environmental Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 360 | Chemistry of the Environment | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| or ACE 100 | Introduction to Applied Microeconomics | |
| ENSU 301 | Soc Impacts Weather & Climate | 3 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
| Public Health Engineering Primary Field | 30 | |
| ATMS 305 | Computing and Data Analysis | 3 |
| CEE 435 | Public Health Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 437 | Water Quality Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 438 | Science & Environmental Policy | 3 |
| CEE 441 | Air Pollution Sources, Transport and Control | 4 |
| CHLH 201 | ||
| CHLH 274 | 3 | |
| CHLH 469 | 3 | |
| MCB 300 | Microbiology | 3 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
| One Water Primary Field | 29-30 | |
| CEE 437 | Water Quality Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 440 | Fate Cleanup Environ Pollutant | 3 or 4 |
| or CEE 452 | Hydraulic Analysis and Design | |
| CEE 442 | Environmental Engineering Principles, Physical | 4 |
| CEE 444 | Env Eng Principles, Biological | 4 |
| CHBE 221 | Principles of CHE | 3 |
| CHBE 321 | Thermodynamics | 4 |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 360 | Chemistry of the Environment | 3 |
| PHYS 213 | Univ Physics: Thermal Physics | 2 |
Free Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. | 10-14 | |
| Total Hours of Curriculum to Graduate | 128 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. This sample curriculum plan makes the assumption that the foreign language graduation requirement has been satisfied by completing three years of study of a single foreign language in high school.
Free Electives: Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CEE 190 | 4 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 1 | CHEM 104 | 3 |
| MATH 221 (MATH 220 may be substituted) | 4 | CHEM 105 | 1 |
| CHEM 102 | 3 | PHYS 211 | 4 |
| CHEM 103 | 1 | CS 101 | 3 |
| Composition I or SE 101 | 4-3 | SE 101 or Composition I course | 3-4 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CEE 201 | 3 | CEE 202 | 3 |
| MATH 241 | 4 | TAM 211 | 3 |
| MATH 257 | 3 | Primary field course | 3 |
| ATMS 202 | 3 | Primary field course | 2 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | Language Other Than English (3rd level) course | 4 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CEE 331 | 4 | MATH 285 | 3 |
| TAM 212 | 3 | ECE 316 (Fulfils Humanities and Advanced Composition general education requirements) | 3 |
| CEE 330 | 3 | CEE 350 | 3 |
| Primary field course | 3 | Primary field course | 3 |
| Primary field course | 3 | General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CEE 495 | 0 | CEE 449 | 3 |
| Primary field course | 3 | CEE 453 | 4 |
| Primary field course | 3 | Primary field course | 3 |
| Primary field course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Primary field course | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| General Education course (choose a Humanities or Social/Behavioral Science course with Cultural Studies designation) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 128 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Educational objectives for the environmental engineering program reflect the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the importance placed on successful professional practice, the ability to pursue advanced degrees, the assumption of professional and societal leadership roles, and a commitment to lifelong learning. University of Illinois B.S. in Environmental Engineering graduates will:
1. Successfully enter the environmental engineering profession as practicing engineers and consultants with prominent companies and organizations in diverse areas that include public health engineering, one water, energy and environmental sustainability, climate and environmental sustainability, and water systems and sustainability.
2. Pursue graduate education and research at major research universities in environmental engineering and related fields.
3. Pursue professional licensure.
4. Advance to leadership positions in their profession.
5. Engage in continued learning through professional development.
6. Participate in and contribute to professional societies and community service.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Civil & Environmental Engineering Website
Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty
The Grainger College of Engineering Admissions
The Grainger College of Engineering