Degree Requirements: Environmental Engineering
![Student in the environmental teaching laboratory](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_third/public/sidebar-ug-environmental-2.jpg.webp?itok=I0i0WvK9)
The environmental engineering curriculum includes coursework in mathematics and basic sciences, mechanics, hydrology, and in the design of drinking water and municipal wastewater treatment systems. A specially-designed laboratory course provides hands-on experience.
The degree program contains a number of required design courses but also substantial flexibility, so students may tailor their education to fit their personal interests.
Course Catalog - Environmental Engineering
Courses
Courses designated with an asterisk (*) must be completed prior to admission to the major.
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Mathematics and Basic Sciences
Mathematics
- MATH 1371 – CSE Calculus I (4 cr)*
- MATH 1372 – CSE Calculus II (4 cr)*
- MATH 2374 – CSE Multivariable Calculus and Vector Analysis (4 cr)*
- MATH 2373 – CSE Linear Algebra and Differential Equations (4 cr)
Biological Sciences
Students may take any course that meets the University’s 4-credit Biological Sciences (BIOL) liberal education requirement.
Chemistry
- CHEM 1061 – Chemical Principles I (PHYS, 3 cr)*
- CHEM 1065 – Chemical Principles I Laboratory (PHYS, 1 cr)*
- CHEM 1062 – Chemical Principles II (PHYS, 3 cr)*
- CHEM 1066 – Chemical Principles II Laboratory (PHYS, 1 cr)*
- CHEM 2301 – Organic Chemistry I (PHYS, 3 cr)*
Earth Science
Students may take any ESCI course to meet this requirement (at least 3 cr).
Physics
- PHYS 1301W – Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering I (PHYS, WI, 4 cr)*
- PHYS 1302W – Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering II (PHYS, WI, 4 cr)*
Thermodynamics
Students must take of the following thermodynamics courses. CHEM 4501 is recommended.
- CHEM 4501 – Introduction to Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Statistical Mechanics (3 cr)
- ME 3331 – Thermodynamics (3 cr)
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Core Curriculum
These classes are required of all students pursuing an Environmental Engineering major.
- AEM 2011 – Statics (3 cr)*
- AEM 3031 – Deformable Body Mechanics (3 cr)
- CEGE 3101 – Computer Applications I (3 cr)
- CEGE 3102 – Uncertainty and Decision Analysis (3 cr)
- CEGE 3103 – Engineering Ethics and Professional Practice (1 cr)
- CEGE 3301 – Soil Mechanics I (3 cr)
- CEGE 3402 – Civil Engineering Materials (3 cr)
- CEGE 3501 – Introduction to Environmental Engineering (ENV, 3 cr)
- CEGE 3502 – Fluid Mechanics (4 cr)
- CEGE 3541 – Environmental Engineering Laboratory (3 cr)
- CEGE 4101W – Project Management and Engineering Economics (WI, 3 cr)
- CEGE 4103W – Capstone Design for Environmental Engineering (WI, 4 cr)
This course is taken during the final semester. It includes an extensive real world design project, mentored by professional engineers from our local community, and requiring application of knowledge learned throughout the degree program. - CEGE 4501 – Hydrologic Design (4 cr)
- CEGE 4502 – Water and Wastewater Treatment (3 cr)
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Technical Electives
Students must complete technical electives in these three areas.
Engineering Science and Design (ESD) Electives
Students must take at least 9 credits from the following list. Additional credits from this group of courses will count toward the overall technical elective requirement.
- CEGE 4351 - Groundwater Mechanics (3 cr)
- CEGE 4511 - Hydraulic Structures (3 cr)
- CEGE 4512 - Open Channel Hydraulics (4 cr)
- CEGE 4562 - Environmental Remediation Technologies (3 cr)
- CEGE 4563 - Pollutant Fate and Transport: Processes and Modeling (3 cr)
- CEGE 5511 - Urban Hydrology and Water Quality (4 cr)
- CEGE 5512 - Stochastic Ecohydrology (3 cr)
- CEGE 5541 - Environmental Water Chemistry (3 cr)
- CEGE 5543 - Introductory Environmental Fluid Mechanics (4 cr)
- CEGE 4561 - Solids and Hazardous Wastes (3 cr) or BBE 4533 - Sustainable Waste Management Engineering (3 cr)
- CEGE 5551 - Environmental Microbiology (3 cr) or BBE 4608 - Environmental and Industrial Microbiology (3 cr)
- CEGE 4513 - Energy Conversion from Wind Hydro and Solar Resources (3 cr) or CEGE 5513 - Energy Conversion from Wind, Hydro and Solar Resources (3 cr)
- CEGE 4515 - Remote Sensing of Environment and Water Resources (3 cr) or CEGE 5515 - Remote Sensing of Environment and Water Resources (3 cr)
- BBE 4523 - Ecological Engineering Design (3 cr)
- BBE 4535 - Assessment and Diagnosis of Impaired Waters (3 cr)
- BBE 4753 - Air Quality and Pollution Control Engineering (3 cr)
Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) Electives
Students must take at least 3 credits from the following list. Additional credits from this group of courses will count toward the overall technical elective requirement.
- EEB 5601 - Limnology (3 cr)
- ESCI 3303W - Geochemical Principles [WI] (4 cr)
- ESCI 3402 - Science and Politics of Global Warming [ENV] (3 cr)
- ESCI 4402 - Biogeochemical Cycles in the Ocean (3 cr)
- ESCI 4702 - General Hydrogeology (4 cr)
- ESCI 4801 - Geomicrobiology (3 cr)
- ESPM 3245 - Sustainable Land Use Planning and Policy [ENV] (3 cr)
- ESPM 3271 - Environmental Policy, Law, and Human Behavior [CIV] (3 cr)
- ESPM 3425 - Atmospheric Pollution: From Smog to Climate Change (3 cr)
- ESPM 3603 - Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (3 cr)
- ESPM 3777 - Climate Change- Physics, Myths, Mysteries, and Uncertainties (3 cr)
- GCC 3032 - Ecosystem Health: Leadership at the Intersection of Humans, Animals, and the Environment [ENV] (3 cr)
- GCC 3038 - Human Threats to Ocean Health [ENV] (3 cr)
- GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change [ENV] (3 cr)
- LAAS 5311 - Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy (3 cr)
- PA 5711 - Science, Technology & Environmental Policy (3 cr)
- SUST 3017 - Environmental Justice [DSJ] (3 cr)
- WRS 5101 - Water Policy (3 cr) or PA 5723 - Water Policy (3 cr)
- EEB 3407 - Ecology (3 cr) or EEB 3408W - Ecology [WI] (4 cr)
- GCC 3005 - Innovation for Changemakers: Design for a Disrupted World [GP] (3 cr) or
GCC 5005 - Innovation for Changemakers: Design for a Disrupted World [GP] (3 cr)
General Technical Electives
Students must take enough technical elective credits to total 21. Recommended courses are listed below. The University is constantly offering new and interesting courses. If you find a course here or through a study abroad program that you believe should count as a technical elective, talk to your faculty adviser.
- Additional ESD electives (beyond 9 credits)
- Additional ESP electives (beyond 3 credits)
- CEGE 1101 – Introduction to Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering (1 cr)
- CEGE 3111 – CADD for Civil Engineers (2 cr)
- CEGE 4121 – Computer Applications II (3 cr)
- CEGE 4352 – Groundwater Modeling (3 cr)
- CEGE 4581 – Design for Sustainable Development: India (3 cr) or CEGE 5570 – Design for Sustainable Development: India (3 cr)
- CEGE 4583 – Design for Life: Water in Tanzania (3 cr)
- CEGE 5552 – Environmental Microbiology Lab (1 cr)
- BBE 4301 – Applied Surface and Colloid Science (3 cr) or CHEM 4301 – Applied Surface and Colloid Science (3 cr)
- BBE 4733 – Renewable Energy Technologies (3 cr)
- CSCI 1113 – Introduction to C/C++ Programming for Scientists and Engineers (4 cr)
- CSCI 1133 – Introduction to Computing and Programming Concepts (4 cr)
- ESCI 4971W – Field Hydrogeology (WI, 4 cr)
- ESPM 3605 – Recycling: Extending Raw Materials (TS, 3 cr)
- ESPM 4216 – Contaminant Hydrology (3 cr)
- FNRM 3131 – Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for Natural Resources (TS, 4 cr)
- MATH 4242 – Applied Linear Algebra (4 cr)
- MATH 4428 – Mathematical Modeling (4 cr)
- MATH 4512 – Differential Equations with Applications (3 cr)
- MICB 3301 – Biology of Microorganisms (5 cr)
- STAT 5021 – Statistical Analysis (4 cr)
- Any 4000- or 5000-level course offered by the College of Science and Engineering
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Liberal Education Electives
All students are required to complete the University-wide liberal education requirements. We assume environmental engineering students will meet some of the liberal education requirements by “double-dipping” designated liberal education theme courses with either liberal education core courses or other courses required for the environmental engineering major.
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Writing Intensive Requirements
All University of Minnesota students must take WRIT 1301 – University Writing, plus two additional lower-division writing -intensive courses. It is expected that students will meet their two additional lower-division writing intensive requirements by taking PHYS 1301W and PHYS 1302W. CEGE 4101W – Project Management and Engineering Economics and CEGE 4103W – Capstone Design for Environmental Engineering meet the two upper-division writing intensive and writing within the major requirements. Liberal education courses and technical electives can also be used to meet the University’s writing intensive requirements. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to meet with their departmental adviser to make sure that their WI requirements are appropriately satisfied.