TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study
Environmental engineers solve complex problems, supporting human and environmental needs while mitigating adverse environmental, health, and economic impacts associated with human activities. The degree is an interdisciplinary engineering program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied aspects of environmental engineering. It emphasizes traditional areas of transport, fate, and treatment of chemical, physical, and microbial pollutants in water, air, and soil along with important 21st-century themes of infrastructure, sustainability, health, data science, community engagement, and global citizenship. Coursework covers fundamental science and engineering concepts applied to environmental processes, natural and built environments, and engineering design, as well as applied learning experiences including community-engaged laboratory projects and a capstone design course that partners with stakeholders to solve local environmental problems.
Graduates are trained to integrate considerations of risk, uncertainty, sustainability, life-cycle principles, and environmental impacts into their problem solving, to apply concepts of professional practice and project management, and to understand the roles and responsibilities of public institutions and private organizations pertaining to environmental policy and regulations. The world needs environmental engineers to provide economic and social opportunities for: an increasing population, reliable water and wastewater systems, improved air quality and transportation systems, protection of public and environmental health, management of nutrient pollution that adversely impacts water bodies, ecosystem and brownfield restoration, other infrastructure improvements, advancing global health and food systems, managing wastes in a more sustainable manner, and developing strategies to mitigate global climate change. Graduates have local and global employment opportunities with industry, engineering design firms, local/state/federal governments, and nongovernmental organizations, along with numerous opportunities to advance their education at the Master’s or Ph.D. levels.
Certified Global Pathway
This program has been certified as a Global Pathway, which has significant global content. Students in Global Pathway programs are well positioned to earn the Global Citizen Award. For more information, visit the Office of High-Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research website.
Mission Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida will provide undergraduate students with strong, broad-based, engineering education which gives them the basic intellectual and organization skills that allow them to work with complex systems with technological, social and environmental components.
As many of the major’s graduates begin work upon graduation in industry or with governmental organizations, the curriculum is designed to prepare students for these roles by requiring a number of courses in the various fields of environmental engineering and by providing limited specialization in one given area. The curriculum is designed to encourage lifelong learning and to prepare students for undertaking advanced studies in engineering or in other professional areas.
Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes
The Environmental Engineering major and curriculum of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are designed to meet the needs of all students within the context of the Major’s Mission Statement. The Major Educational Objectives associated with the Major’s Mission Statement are:
- Graduates apply their technical and civic knowledge and a systems approach in developing smart, sustainable, and inclusive solutions for critical infrastructures that protect public health and well-being and the environment while promoting safety.
- Graduates engage meaningfully and effectively with diverse local, state, and global stakeholders and communities to develop environmental engineering solutions.
- Graduates behave ethically and responsibly, continue their professional development, and participate fully in their profession and society.
The following list defines the Student Outcomes of the Civil and Environmental Engineering program:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics (critical thinking skill)
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors (critical thinking skill).
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences (communication skill).
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts (critical thinking skill).
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives (communication skill).
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions (critical thinking skill).
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies (critical thinking skill).
ABET accreditation program criteria also require that graduates of the program have the ability to design environmental engineering systems that include considerations of risk, uncertainty, sustainability, life-cycle principles, and environmental impacts, to apply concepts of professional practice and project management, and to understand the roles and responsibilities of public institutions and private organizations pertaining to environmental policy and regulations. A cumulating capstone design experiences allows students to use modern engineering techniques, skills and tools to design appropriate environmental systems to meet the needs of a local community.
Assessment of student learning outcomes will be performed through a variety of mechanisms that include core task assessments, examinations, assignments, and capstone experiences. Also, students’ achievement of the identified core learning outcomes will be measured. The results of the assessments will be used to improve student achievement and program effectiveness.