<p>I'm applying to colleges in the UK where you choose your major and you stick to it (in other words its hard to change once you have chosen). Anyways I know that I want to get involved with the environment once I graduate. I would like to be an environmental engineer or atleast work with preventing pollution of our environment. i would like to work with sustainability and creating more efficient energy sources or maybe preventing water pollution etc.</p>
<p>Now the schools I have applied to only have Civil engineering with environmental studies or chemical engineering with environmental studies. Which one would be better?</p>
<p>Let’s look at this a bit more objectively.
Civil Engineering is working with government and private firms to build, design, and develop structures to be used by the general public. There are many ways to branch off / concentrate on different areas. In my school, the degree is Civil and Environmental Engineering, so students get the best of both worlds. You can do Civil and have a concentration in environmental studies. Keep in mind that for most Civil Engineering jobs you will have to take a licensing exam.
Chemical Engineering is working in labs (mostly) and developing the chemical materials that will be used for projects of all sorts. I’m not entirely sure how exactly you could tie this into environmental studies, but it’s entirely possible. My school does not offer this option, so I am not familiar with it.
Someone I know is an EE major with a concentration in environmental studies and green energy. He takes many energy conservation and renewable sources classes.</p>