Is minoring in environmental engineering as a CE a good idea?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

I am currently a freshman majoring in civil engineering. My school offers a minor in environmental engineering and in order to get that I would only need to take 2 extra classes because the rest of the requirements for the minor fit in with the civil engineering curriculum. So I was just wondering if minoring in environmental engineering would look good on a resume and increase the chances of getting a job. I would also be interested in getting a job on the environmental side of engineering, focusing on environmental issues. I would have majored in environmental engineering but I found that most schools at least in my area only offered civil with either a concentration on environmental or a minor in environmental.

So I guess this is a two part question. 1. Will a minor in environmental engineering boost my resume and increase the chances on finding a job? 2. Will a minor in environmental engineering open up more opportunities to get a job on the environmental side of engineering, or would they mostly only want someone who is majoring in environmental engineering?

2

If environmental engineering is your preferred career choice, then taking those classes would be most helpful. Having the minor listed on your degree would also be a minor help. But, it is the knowledge that you would gain that would be the most beneficial.

3

My son was in a school where he had to pick a concentration and his was environmental. When looking for internships he sought out getting environmental experience. Building your resume around your interest is important, not just to look good on paper but to be good at what you want to do. Many schools don’t have environmental engineering as a separate major, having a degree in civil with a concentration in environmental was a good route to environmentally related engineering jobs for him. I expect the minor would a comparable path.