Is this true? I’m looking into doing waste water, remediation, air pollution, etc. Really, I like environmental engineering. But I have heard a lot of people say that when it comes to what to major in, it is better and more marketable to get a degree in CE and then concentrate in EnvE because civil engineers can get the same jobs as environmental engineers. Any insight? What jobs could CEs not do that EnvE could? Thanks!
A civil degree is broader and an environmental degree is more specialized. A CivE studies transportation, geotechnical, structural, fluids, etc. engineering in addition to environmental. An EnvE studies mainly environmental with some fluid dynamics and other related topics. So there are no environmental jobs that a CivE could do that a EnvE could not. But a CivE would have more options to pursue non-environmental jobs.
Environmental engineering was traditionally considered a subdiscipline of civil. If you get a traditional civil degree, you would get some exposure to a variety of different civil fields, which would give you flexibility when seeking work. You could apply for environmental jobs, but also for jobs involving structures, geotech, transportation, etc.
If you get the more specialized environmental degree, then it might give you an advantage when applying for environmental jobs specifically. But it would likely put you at a disadvantage for any other type of CivE job. “More specialized” also means “less versatile”.
Here in California, the state engineering board doesn’t offer the Environmental Engineering PE exam – they only offer the more general Civil PE exam. So if you had an EnvE degree and were pursuing licensure in California, you would probably still have to learn something about the other branches of civil, if only to pass the licensing exam. I would guess that most other state boards do offer the EnvE PE exam, though.
In practice, civil engineers often get a general CivE degree as a bachelor’s, then get a more specialized degree (structural, geotechnical, environmental, etc.) at the master’s level. But obviously that takes more time and money. If you do plan on getting a master’s, then there may be no point in specializing as an undergraduate.