Department's Official Description 

Environmental engineering is the application of science and technology to prevent or correct environmental hazards. These hazards include hydrologic conditions of sea storms, floods, and droughts; chemical contamination of air, water, and land resources; human diseases caused by microbial pathogens; and risks to ecosystems from local, regional, and global human activities. Technical solutions to environmental problems require the integration of fluid transport processes, chemical transformations and partitioning, human and ecosystem risk assessment, quantitative tools of mathematical analysis, and an awareness of institutions that set environmental policies. As human populations and the demands on environmental resources increase, environmental engineers will have ever-increasing challenges in devising and implementing acceptable solutions. 
 

Environmental Engineering has become so important that in 1996 the name of the department changed from Civil Engineering to the current Civil and Environmental Engineering. This reflects a trend that has been taking place across the nation: the concern for the environment has increased so much that virtually any civil engineering project requires some type of environmental analysis. Environmental Engineering used to be known by the uninspiring name of Sanitary Engineering. Sanitary Engineering dealt with water and wastewater (AKA sewage) supply, treatment, and disposal. Environmental Engineering now includes much more than just sanitary engineering. 

Some of the work that is currently performed by Environmental Engineers includes: water and wastewater supply, treatment, and disposal; controlling the movement of water through the environment by designing dams, canals, and other control structures; cleaning up and repairing polluted or damaged ecosystems; disposing of hazardous waste; improving air quality; and generally increasing the quality of our environment. Environmental Engineers use both technical and non-technical methods to improve the environment. For example, engineers may design a treatment process to remove particular contaminants from water, or they may develop plans and policies to prevent the contaminants from entering the water in the first place. 

The undergraduate course work relies heavily on chemistry--far more than any other CEE emphasis--so if you enjoy chemistry, this emphasis may be best for you.