<p>Next year I am planning on attending University of Illinois UC as a transfer sophomore student. I am very passionate about pursuing a degree that will be working to fix environmental problems. </p>
<p>At UIUC there is an environmental science major in the ACES (Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Science) Department. The program is pretty strong from reviewing the required courses. </p>
<p>As I am sure people on the engineering forum know, UIUC has very high regarded Engineering Majors. In the Engineering department the closest thing to an Environmental Engineering is the Civil and Environmental Engineering Major. </p>
<p>I don't know if it is too late to switch majors to this. I am currently enrolling in the ACES deptartment next fall. </p>
<p>Anyone tell me the pros cons of both and the different job opportunities and advice on which to go into. even though im skeptical about how much good information i will get haha from a college forum besides high school and college kids perceptions but those are welcome too. haha THANKS!!!</p>
<p>ES: [Environmental</a> Scientists and Specialists](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos311.htm]Environmental”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos311.htm)
EnvE: [url=<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm]Engineers[/url”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm]Engineers[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Even though “environmental scientists” have more jobs that “environmental engineers”, getting an Environmental Engineering degree is way better than an environmental science degree. The coursework is far more challenging for the EnvE degree. Don’t quote me, but you can probably get a job as an environmental scientists with an environmental engineering degree (as well as a job as an environmental engineer, obviously). This probably can’t go the other way around. Someone with an environmental science degree probably wouldn’t have the skills to be an environmental engineer. So in the end (if I’m correct and someone correct me if I’m not) you’ll have more job prospects with your EnvE degree.</p>
<p>I would definitely go with the environmental engineering degree. Many more job opportunities than environmental science and in my opinion much more exciting jobs. At my school they just added environmental engineering as a separate major. You can get these jobs several ways. Civil engineering, Chemical engineering, and Environmental Engineering. I am doing the civil route with an environmental emphasis (I’m a junior at Clemson). This will allow me to be more versatile or if I decide I enjoy fluids or structural more I can switch. Almost all engineering degrees can work on “Green Projects”. If you are wanting to do hazardous materials, air pollution, risk assessment, and water treatment environmental/civil or chemical would work. If you want to design alternate energy sources that do not have a negative impact on the environment then you should probably not do environmental. Mechanical would be better. With this you could design things like wind turbines or hyro power. Allot of people have a incorrect view of what environmental engineering actually is. Ill try and help if you have more questions. I did allot of research on this when trying to decide what engineering to do.</p>
<p>can u guys talk to me about the major of being an enviromental engineer, and the life that comes with it. It is as demanding as civil engineer, and how much free time do u have
Thank u guys soooo much for your time</p>
<p>Thank you all for the quick and detailed responses! I really appreciate it! </p>
<p>skbryan: thanks for the response. I can see your logic. It might be off only with the higher level environmental science jobs. I can agree that I could see someone with a environmental engineering degree if they had enough science to do the escience jobs. </p>
<p>Another question for cranstondjc: (This may be completely wrong) My roommate at depaul told me that mechanical engineering is a ******** engineering degree. He said that it is a fancy word for mechanic. I don’t know how much I believe him. I am going to do a bit of research, but if you could tell me a bit more about what engineering degree could get me into the alternative energy sector (like designing or improving wind turbines like you said). Thank you so much for your info and time. I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>You will want mechanical for those things. A civil engineering could be involved in the structural part of a wind turbine but a mechanical engineer will design the actual wind turbine. A mechanical engineering degree is a great engineering degree. I have allot of friends in it and they all love it. It is nothing like being a mechanic. You will be mainly be designing or overseeing the building of various mechanical devices. From what I heard it is a very very broad field. There are many things you can do with it. Go look at the website i posted below.</p>
<p>For an overview of all the different areas of engineering look here:
[url=<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm]Engineers[/url”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm]Engineers[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Go to this site and scroll down a little till you see all the descriptions of each engineering field. (Its under Nature of Work) </p>
<p>If you want more info on mechanical engineering I would make another post. I just know from friends who are in it and from when I was choosing my major. Lots of mechanical people on here who can give you more info than me.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider if you haven’t already is do you enjoy problem solving, math, and physics. I would probably say the difficulty from hardest to easiest of the three is mechanical then civil then environmental. You should still choose which ever sounds more interesting to you. Just something else to think about.</p>
<p>Also go to a schools website and look at the curriculum for each major your interested in and see which classes sound the most fun. If you can’t find any I can send you the links for Clemson’s. Will be similar.</p>
<p>Thank you so very much. I will take your advice into consideration and really look into it. :)</p>