Considering Environmental Engineering...

<p>Hi! I've recently learned about environmental engineering as a major. I've always been interested in the environment, specifically renewable energy. I never wanted to be an engineer; math is not my best subject, though I can do it so long as I put my mind to it. Right now, I'm majoring in Business/Accounting. I enjoy the classes, but I'm not nearly as passionate about accounting and business as I am about the environment and renewable energy resources. </p>

<p>I've been reading recently about environmental engineering, and it really sounds like something that I would love to do. However, I really am not a math or science-oriented person, and I haven't taken any math courses higher than bus. calc (currently taking and is definitely one of my hardest classes), and the highest science I've had was principles of bio and anatomy I. </p>

<p>Basically, I want to know more about environmental engineering. Is it heavily math/science involved? When I hear the word "engineering," I just think of calculus, chemistry, and physics, and I've never taken physics, wasn't a fan of chemistry, and I've never taken a normal calculus class. I enjoy challenges, but I'm unsure on how hard an environmental engineering major would be because, from what I understand, engineering is a very demanding major. But I love the environment and feel very passionate about it and really do want to make a difference. Anyone majoring in environmental engineering/know about it that would like to tell me about it?</p>

<p>Apologize for the long post--just having a "major" dilemma, aha! Thank you so much!</p>

<p>I thought environmental engineering was more about managing our waste, measuring ph levels and maintaining them, etc…</p>

<p>You can answer the coursework-related questions by examining the catalogs or department websites for the schools you are considering.</p>

<p>Any ABET-accredited environmental engineering program will include: “mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, general chemistry” as well as other science and engineering courses.</p>

<p>Based on your comments regarding renewable energy, I think you need to do some more research on this field. Check out these pages:
[Environmental</a> Engineers : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm]Environmental”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm)
[Career</a> Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine](<a href=“http://www.careercornerstone.org/environmental/environmental.htm]Career”>Career Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine)</p>

<p>Environmental engineers work on projects to manage water, soil, and air quality.</p>

<p>Thank you both!
I’m very interested in what an environmental engineer would be doing, as that’s something I think I would actually enjoy; it’s the math/science part that I’m unsure about. I’ve never been weak in these subjects, but they have always been harder for me and I don’t always find solutions for problems easily. </p>

<p>Thank you so much for those links–I will be looking through them now! I’ve been researching environmental engineering courses offered at the colleges I’ve applied to/am applying to and the classes are things like “intro to engineering,” “structural anaylsis,” and things of that nature. They also don’t have an undergrad enviro. engineering degree (but have it at the grad level) and have civil engineering for undergrad instead; are they very similar?</p>

<p>Civil is more general. Environmental is a class of civil engineering in the sense that a civil major with the right coursework is generally qualified for environmental positions, but an environmental major is not necessarily qualified for transportation, structural, etc.</p>

<p>It’s impossible for us to guess how you personally will fare, but I can give you some examples of the kind of material you need to be interested in working with:
[Lecture</a> Notes | Transport Processes in the Environment | Civil and Environmental Engineering | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/civil-and-environmental-engineering/1-061-transport-processes-in-the-environment-fall-2008/lecture-notes/]Lecture”>Lecture Notes | Transport Processes in the Environment | Civil and Environmental Engineering | MIT OpenCourseWare)
[Fluids</a> eBook: Gradually Varied Flow](<a href=“Fluids eBook: Gradually Varied Flow”>Fluids eBook: Gradually Varied Flow)</p>

<p>I think it would be a poor idea to attempt an engineering major if you dislike math and fundamental engineering science, whether you are generally interested in “the environment” or not.</p>

<p>Be aware that changing majors from business will be almost like starting over as a freshman if you have not taken calculus yet.</p>

<p>All engineer programs involve a lot of math/science and problem solving. You may or may not use much math in an engineering job, but you will use it in almost every course for 4 years of college.</p>