Degree confusion

<p>Okay, there are 2 degrees at duke that im interested in</p>

<p>Environmental engineering
Civil engineering (environmental track)</p>

<p>the issue is that the 'environmental engineering" degree isnt ABET accredited but the 'civil engineering' degree is....</p>

<p>when comparing the courses in both the degrees...</p>

<p>EnvE</a> Degree Planning (BSE) | Duke Civil and Environmental Engineering</p>

<p>CE</a> Degree Planning (BSE) | Duke Civil and Environmental Engineering</p>

<p>we find that they have literally the exact same courses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe only like 2 courses r different but other than that, its the exact same course sequence!!!!!!</p>

<p>and that right there is the confusion....</p>

<p>can any current student or anyone familiar with both the degrees comment and tell me of any differences between the 2 degrees???</p>

<p>Duke just announced that they were going to have an environmental engineering degree a few months ago. It is brand new, so that’s why it’s not ABET accredited and nobody can really comment on it at this juncture because NOBODY has ever majored in Environmental Engineering at Duke.</p>

<p>[Pratt</a> Announces New Environmental Engineering Major | Duke Pratt School of Engineering](<a href=“http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/pratt-announces-new-environmental-engineering-major]Pratt”>Archived Story | Duke Pratt School of Engineering)</p>

<p>Having said that, it’s not like they’re adding new courses - they’re just catering the curriculum and giving a name to the degree, which is probably a wise move. There were already CE’s that basically did the EnvEng path, so might as well give them the option to actually have that major. I view Environmental Engineering as a subset of CE. The background courses will be the same - it will be the upper level electives you choose as well as research you conduct that dictates EnvE vs. CE.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about it being new, though, assuming that’s what you’re interested in. It would also be incredibly easy to change from one to the other, so you can plan on being CE, take an EnvEng elective and see if you like it and want to pursue it further. If not, no harm done and the course still counts towards your CE degree.</p>

<p>Hope that helps - as I said, it is a brand new major, so you’re probably not going to get a lot of information on it, but it mirrors the existing CE major quite closely, with just different upper level electives.</p>

<p>During Freshman Orientation last week, Dean Katseolas (sp?) mentioned that the new EnvEng major is intended to pull from all four existing departments, as well as the graduate Nicholas School of the Environment. As OP noted, it will pull most heavily from the CivilEng department, which has offered most of the courses for the past few years.</p>

<p>I would also point out Duke’s SmartHouse as a focal point of Pratt’s environmental emphasis. It is the first dorm anywhere to be certified Platinum LEED and is an incubator of innovation projects open to all students.</p>