Environmental engineers design and build wastewater treatment facilities, monitor treatment processing, devise strategies to deliver water during droughts, and work internationally building sanitation facilities in impoverished countries and refugee camps. They design and build treatment processes to control air pollution, work with industries to comply with air pollution laws, and use computer simulations to help solve metropolitan air pollution problems. These engineers also work with government agencies responsible for maintaining clean air and water standards. Environmental engineering is one of the fastest-growing subfields in the engineering sciences, and a large number of these engineers are being called upon to help solve some of the nation's most pressing environmental problems.
Environmental engineers often use computers to solve mathematical equations to determine how a structure or system operates. They also use computer-aided design systems (CAD) to produce and analyze designs.
RELATED PROFESSIONS
- Biologist
- Biochemist
- Waste Manager
- Agricultural Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Hydrologist
- Chemical Engineer
- Risk Manager
- Petroleum Engineer
- Sanitary Engineer
- Air Quality Engineer
- Radioactive Waste Engineer
- Toxicologist
- Hydrologist
The minimal requirement for a career in environmental engineering is a bachelor of science (BS) degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or a related engineering field. Presently more than 390 schools offer engineering degrees. A large number of these institutions offer a specialty degree in civil engineering, and more than 25 schools offer a specific degree in environmental engineering. In addition, five universities offer a graduate degree in environmental engineering. High school students interested in becoming environmental engineers should take mathematics, chemistry, physics, computer sciences, and English.
In a typical four-year curriculum, students spend the first two years studying the basics, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, introduction to engineering, English, the social sciences, and humanities. During the last two years, students take courses in the environmental engineering concentration. Some schools offer a general engineering curriculum where students are not able to choose a concentration until reaching graduate school. In addition, some institutions offer a five-year master's degree program.
Graduate training is essential for engineering faculty positions but is not required for the majority of entry-level engineering positions. Many engineers do obtain a masters degree to learn new technologies, to broaden their education, or to enhance promotion opportunities. Many engineers are obtaining MBA degrees to advance to management and sales positions.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require registration for engineers whose work affects life, health, or property, or who offer their services to the public. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) offers the Professional Engineer (PE) license. Attainment of the license is based upon the acquisition of a engineering degree from an ABET-approved institution, successful completion of the Engineering-in-Training examination, four years of relevant work experience, and the passage of a state examination. Licenses are generally transferable between states. Contact the ABET, listed at the end of this chapter, for further information.
The American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) has established the designation of Diplomat Environmental Engineer (DEE) to establish a criteria for those who have excelled in the area of environmental engineering. A number of criteria must be met before taking a qualifying examination: All candidates must possess an AAEE recognized bachelor's degree in engineering or a closely related field; candidates must already hold a valid PE license; they must have eight years of experience prior to taking the acceptance exam, and they must be of high moral character. Applicant must then take an examination that concentrates in one of the following eight areas: air pollution, water supply and wastewater, general environmental engineering, solid waste management, hazardous waste management, industrial hygiene, radiation protection, or sanitary engineering.
SETTING
While members of many branches of engineering spend all or most of their time indoors working in laboratories, industrial plants, or offices, environmental engineers often spend a good amount of time outdoors on construction or work sites. However, a good number of environmental engineers work almost exclusively in offices. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week, but at times deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to the job. When this happens, engineers may be required to work long hours and sometimes experience considerable job stress.
