<p>I am going to be a senior next year, and I am unsure on what major I want to complete. I know it will be in the Environmental area, but I am unsure between Environmental Studies, Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Engineering. </p>
<p>I am interested in bioremediation, containment of pollutants, and waste management. When I looked up the previous three majors, I found no indications on which one would best suit me. In addition, I have been unable to figure out the differences between these 3 majors.</p>
<p>Can someone explain to me the difference between the 3 majors(/fields?), and how that effects career possibilities? Also, which one would best suit my interest?</p>
<p>Thanks for your time.</p>
<p>The difference between Studies and Science is that Science typically requires more hard science classes, and Studies often requires more policy-oriented courses. But this can vary significantly with program - it is important to read a program catalog carefully.</p>
<p>Engineering allows one to perform design. Earning a PE license is very helpful with respect to this branch of engineering.</p>
<p>Gotta head to work right now - I can post more later and will try to answer questions as time permits.</p>
<p>Thanks for that info.
If I were to be interested in, say, working on waste management and biodegradation, which major would best reflect that interest? Also, what is a PE license? </p>
<p>Thanks for your time!</p>
<p>My wife is an environmental engineer. A good way to think about environmental engineering is that it is very closely related to Civil Engineering (her degree is actually an M.S. in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering) and most of her classes were in the C.E. program. In fact, the divisions in the engineering school were: Civil & Environmental; Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Eng.; Mechanical Eng.; Mining & Geological Eng.; Petroleum Engineering.
Google Civil engineering environmental engineering and you’ll get lots of hits.
She is fully qualified to do regular Civil Engineering, but the she was specifically involved with pollution remediation and control, wastewater, sewage and water plant design.
A PE is the Professional Engineer certification, it involves working several years post graduation as an engineer (under the mentorship of a PE) and a couple of intensive exams. PE are able to sign off on plans and thus have more responsibility than not PE.</p>
<p>[NSPE</a> Licensure - What is a PE?](<a href=“http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/WhatisaPE/index.html]NSPE”>What is a PE?)</p>
<p>I think it would be best to be in the Environmental Studies. You can learn about environmental remediation which is a very good way to heal nature. I saw this site once about the importance of healing the environment - [Environmental</a> Contractors, Environmental Remediation Specialist, A Hubzone Certified Small Business](<a href=“http://www.micahgroup.com/]Environmental”>http://www.micahgroup.com/) - hope this would be informative.</p>