BS in Environmental Engineering

University of Illinois Chicago

Growth in the world’s population continues to put increasing pressure on resources that must be met in a sustainable way. Environmental Engineering is the field of engineering that employs biological, chemical, and physical treatment principles for the reduction of pollution in water, soil, sediment, and air to protect both human and ecological health. While great strides have been made in the last half century to improve the quality of these resources, much needs to be done to limit pollution of the environment and prevent pollution from happening in the first place. The College of Engineering offers a minor area of study in Environmental Engineering that crosses disciplinary boundaries among engineering specialties and departments. The demand for environmental engineers is expected to increase over the next several decades in Illinois and nationwide. To fill the emerging need, UIC is offering a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering, which will provide future engineers with the skill sets and competencies to succeed in the environmental remediation and pollution abatement industry as experts and as specialists in field work, as company liaisons, managers, or within government agencies. Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, chemistry, and other physical or natural sciences to develop solutions to environmental problems. They work to improve water and air pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, and public health. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Environmental engineers conduct hazardous waste management studies, in which they evaluate the significance of a hazard and advise on treating and containing it. They also design systems for municipal and industrial water supplies and for industrial wastewater treatment, and they research the environmental impact of proposed construction projects.

College of Engineering