The Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering (BSEE)
Managing our limited natural resources and finding solutions to the planet's environmental challenges are the critical concerns of environmental engineers. Their work confronts an extensive array of local and global issues, from air pollution, access to clean water and remediation of contaminated sites to improving public health and mitigating ecological risks.
At Lehigh, readiness for the real world starts with a rich undergraduate experience. Our BSEE program delivers by bringing a multidisciplinary approach to the causes, control and prevention of actual environmental problems. Students receive rigorous training in the fundamentals of the natural sciences, mathematics, and scientific methods, coupled with complementary studies in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, the program offers four focus areas through which students can explore their interests in depth:
- Water supply and resources management
- Environmental biotechnology
- Environmental chemistry
- Waste management and environmental remediation
Lehigh's environmental engineering program is housed in the brand-new STEPS building, which opened in Fall 2010. This state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom facility provides unprecedented opportunities for undergraduate education and research.
Our ABET-accredited program readies students to enter practice immediately after graduation, apply for state licensure and other professional certifications, and enhances their prospects for employment or graduate school acceptance.
Environmental engineers are expected to have employment growth of 31 percent over the next decade.
-Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition
About the curriculum
It takes approximately 132 credit hours of coursework to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering (BSEE) at Lehigh. Students gain a broad knowledge of environmental issues and learn how to develop engineering solutions that address them by applying principles of chemistry, biology, hydrology, reactor design and risk assessment to projects with real-world impact.
In addition to the science and engineering courses, built into the undergraduate curriculum are many opportunities to widen your worldview through studies in the humanities and social sciences (HSS). Civil and environmental engineering students have leveraged these courses to prepare for a complementary career track or simply to pursue their personal passions, and many have used these HSS courses to explore environmental policy and the societal impacts of environmental issues.
Most first-year engineering majors take the same course load (typically 28-30 credits). To view a typical freshman course lineup, visit pages 46-7 of the University Course Catalog. Students enter the Environmental Engineering program their sophomore year.
Once you declare environmental engineering as your major, your course of study could look something like this:
A Sample Curriculum
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Sophomore year, first semester |
Sophomore year, second semester |
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Junior year, first semester |
Junior year, second semester |
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Senior year, first semester |
Senior year, second semester |
Your academic adviser in the department of civil and environmental engineering will help you best match the curriculum to your personal interests. For current course descriptions and specific credit-hour requirements of the environmental engineering program, consult pp. 170-176 of the University Course Catalog.
CEE STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: B.S. IN EVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Kristen Falotico is a senior pursuing a dual degree in environmental and chemical engineering at Lehigh. The Dean’s List student is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success as well as Phi Eta Sigma, a national honorary society. As a Rossin Junior Fellow, Kristen mentors first-year engineering students and supports Lehigh recruiting efforts.
In 2009, Kristen worked as an intern for Church & Dwight Co., Inc. in the Environmental & Safety Operations and Corporate Engineering Department, where she performed a carbon footprint analysis on two of the company’s plants. She represented the environmental engineering department in the 2010 David and Lorraine Freed Undergraduate Research Symposium, and joined Professor Arup SenGupta’s research team over the summer
Kristen expects to graduate in 2012 and hopes to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. In Fall 2011, she also plans to apply to the graduate research fellowship program sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
For Transfer Students
Study Abroad
IBE Honors Program
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Office of the Registrar
Career Services
STEPS
Environmental Initiative
Engineers Without Borders
P. C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
