I’ve been thinking about what to major in in college and I stumbled across environmental engineering. I’m very interested in environmental science, and fairly interested in biology/chemistry. However, I don’t have much love for math (or physics?) at all. However, I think that if I put in the work I could get better at math; I’ve never had amazing math grades, but I suspect that’s because I never put much effort towards understanding concepts that didn’t come naturally to me.
So should I major in env. engineering or should I just do environmental science? Or neither? It seems to me that most engineering students are like fish in water when it comes to math… and I wouldn’t be that way. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Not true for me (rising senior in chemical) and I’m sure it’s not true for others as well. Math geniuses may be prevalent just because they gravitate towards the subject they like most, but we mortals have a place here too.
I’m decent at math and do well with hard work. Sounds like you think that might apply to you as well, if you put the effort in. I hope you’re taking some math this upcoming school year? Try your best at it. Make this your chance to prove to yourself that you can handle the prereqs for an engineering degree. If it goes well, you have your answer.
@nasa2014 I hang out in “Latest Posts.” Of course any comment bumps a thread up to the top. And you tend to comment on posts about a) Penn State or b) engineering, both of which are completely in my wheelhouse and which I would be likely to try to answer.
My wife is an environmental engineer and she certainly isn’t the greatest at math. She did have to take some math classes and I tutored her quite a bit (some of my graduate classes were in applied math). Most of what she needs to know for her job is chemistry and the environmental regulations; neither require much math at all.
So it is possible to go into environmental engineering without great math skills but you do need to know some just to get thru your classwork.
As an engineering professor, I assure you this isn’t true. They’d certainly have an easier time of it if they were a little more comfortable with mathematics.