<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I need some advice here, would be great if you guys could share some opinions.</p>
<p>I'm just about to enter uni - haven't decided where yet - and i'm looking to major in Civil/Environmental engineering (they're closely related fields, yes?). The reason is because i have a strong passion for environmental preservation and i want to go into green building in the future. That is to say, i don't believe that development necessarily calls for immense environmental degradation, and that this degradation can be mitigated/offset with the correct mechanisms put into place.</p>
<p>With that said - i'm pretty strong in Maths - but i'm not a natural genius. In high school, i took Physics for two years (basic stuff) then dropped it for two years (advanced stuff) because i thought i didn't want to dabble in the sciences anymore. I took Maths till the end and i did pretty well. While i know how tough the required coursework is for engineering majors is, i cope well with stress and am willing to work hard to do well in the subjects.</p>
<p>What i mean to ask is -</p>
<ol>
<li><p>do you think my motivations (that to do with the environment) is correctly "matched" with my chosen major (Civil/Env. E)? I know i can still change my mind - but i just wanna be prepared. Otherwise, should i be looking at other majors (environmental studies, ..)?</p></li>
<li><p>Will i be able to achieve what i dream of doing through this profession?</p></li>
<li><p>How different are the job descriptions for a civil engineer and an environmental engineer?</p></li>
<li><p>I'm a girl -- will being an engineer in this field (construction) be a problem?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope to hear your opinions and thanks loads in advance :)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Sure. People find success with all kinds of motivation, and it seems like yours is solid. I admire it, anyway.</p></li>
<li><p>No clue. </p></li>
<li><p>No clue.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>[4]. No clue. It seems to come up enough that I doubt it’s the non-factor that a lot of men like to think it is, but I’m sure there are upsides to your gender, and it’s unlikely that people are going to be pushing into your locker and calling you names in the workforce. But I wouldn’t know even as well as you would, I guess. </p>
<p>Random warning: be careful about how entangled up your identity and your major become. It will be a while before you see enough of what these majors have to offer to where you really know what you want to do. I switched which field of engineering I wanted to go into like 12 times before I was even enrolled. It’s fun to think about, but don’t put too much crippling weight on it. Decide what you like most, proudly call it your major, but don’t get too wrapped up in it being you “dream” or anything. </p>
<p>GL, and I don’t know what I’m talking about.</p>
<p>You have to look at the programs of the schools you are applying to but in many schools environmental engineering is a specialty within the Civil Engineering department. You don’t pick the specialty until you are in your upper class years.</p>
<p>Yup yup! I know about the not deciding on my major so fast part - but at this point (i’ve taken a gap year and am pretty behind compared to my peers) i hope i have a solid direction to go towards.</p>
<p>That’s what i love about american universities anyway 
you’re not “locked in” till you’ve gotten a taste of what it’s gonna be.</p>
<p>Thanks much for the replies!</p>
<p>Sounds like you should learn a little more about engineering, try some of these resources -
The Society of Women Engineers -
[Girls</a> Intro Page - Aspire - Society of Women Engineers K-12 Educational Outreach](<a href=“http://aspire.swe.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=2]Girls”>http://aspire.swe.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=2)</p>
<p>US Dept. of Labor has very detailed info and employment projections for each job title:
[BLS</a> Search Results](<a href=“BLS Search Results”>BLS Search Results)</p>
<p>These other source of info are easier to view, less data driven:
[Engineering</a> Your Future - What is Engineering?](<a href=“http://www.futuresinengineering.com/what.php?id=2]Engineering”>http://www.futuresinengineering.com/what.php?id=2)
[Discover</a> Engineering](<a href=“http://www.discoverengineering.org/]Discover”>http://www.discoverengineering.org/)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/Engineering_Disciplines_Handout.pdf[/url]”>http://www.dedicatedengineers.org/Resources/Engineering_Disciplines_Handout.pdf</a> - good overview of eng majors.</p>
<p>lilred: Keep in mind thought that depending on where you go to school you don’t really have all the flexibility in the world to make a decision. In some schools the entry level course requirements are different for different engineering majors. At my S’s school switching between Civil and Mechanical engineering is easybecause they have exactly the same freshman requirements, but switching between those two and any other is more complicated. It probably isn’t impossible but would result in some time lost. The best thing is to be as informed as possible from the start.</p>
<p>My sister-in-law is an Environmental Engineer. She designs sewage treatment plants. Some Env. Engineers are more closely related to ChemE than to CivE.</p>
<p>For some interesting perspectives on the “green” movement, check out the Rocky Mountain Institute [url=<a href=“http://www.rmi.org/]Home[/url”>http://www.rmi.org/]Home[/url</a>] </p>
<p>To address your questions</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You have a good starting point, better than most.</p></li>
<li><p>Achieving a dream of a sustainable life? The reality of engineering, especially on big projects, is that the answer to 99% of the questions is “money.” You will have a job if you earn money for your employer. You will keep your job if you do it better than others.</p></li>
<li><p>It depends; sometimes they cross boundaries. My brother, a CivE, works mainly with foundations, something an EnvE wouldn’t be doing. Other EnvEs I know; nuclear waste containment, dealing with chemical waste at a tire plant, oil refinery issues.</p></li>
<li><p>Sexism in engineering - Yes, it exists, and can be a big issue, but it is not as bad as it was. My sister-in-law and my wife’s cousin (computer Eng) both have their stories - lack of respect, authority issues, harassment. Here in the US it is better than most places.</p></li>
</ol>