Environmental Engineering BS

Environmental engineers work at the interface of society and the environment, striving to protect both human and ecosystem health. Among the top priorities of the profession are the delivery of safe water to drink and clean air to breathe, and the restoration of water quality in the Great Lakes, the Hudson River, and natural water systems throughout the world. Today, environmental engineers face issues that are changing the globe. With their unique combination of environmental science and engineering, environmental engineers are the linchpins in developing solutions to global climate change. From preventing waterborne diseases in the most remote village to protecting air, water and soil at home, environmental engineers defend the global public health and ecosystem viability.

The curriculum is designed to meet several educational objectives. These broad statements describe what we expect our graduates to achieve within a few years of graduation. Our program educational objectives are:

• Satisfy the requirements of their employers for professional practice in environmental engineering
• Continue their professional development in environmental engineering, including professional licensure, continuing education, and/or graduate study

In addition, the curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop the following knowledge, skills, and behaviors by the time of graduation:

1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
2. an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
3. an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
4. an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
7. an ability to communicate effectively
8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
10. a knowledge of contemporary issues
11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offers nine engineering programs leading to the degree of bachelor of science (BS) degree: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, industrial and mechanical engineering.

Five combined BS/MBA programs are offered in conjunction with the School of Management. BA, BS, and BS/MS degrees in computer science are offered through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. A BS degree in engineering physics is offered jointly with the Department of Physics.

The curricula allow students flexibility in their programs of study and encourages interaction between students and faculty. The undergraduate educational experience prepares students for professional practice and advanced study. Special programs including our experiential learning program, undergraduate research, and internship opportunities provide professional development skills and experiences and facilitate placement of our graduates in high-quality engineering positions.

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences occupies six buildings on UB's north campus: Bell, Bonner, Davis, Furnas, Jarvis and Ketter Halls. Barbara and Jack Davis Hall is the newest building, which opened in 2011 and features an environmentally friendly design and construction.

Together, these buildings form an outstanding educational and research facility, comprising 275,000 square feet of laboratory and office space.

The Environmental Engineering BS program has dedicated teaching laboratories for lab experiences in wet chemistry, environmental microbiology, fluid mechanics, hydraulics and soil mechanics. In addition, the program has dedicated computing space with software specific to environmental engineering.

We have 34 full-time faculty members (all with PhD degrees) and approximately 5 adjunct faculty members. The faculty are actively engaged in teaching, research and service and have won many honors and awards, including:

• Three SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching
• One National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award
• Two National Science Foundation CAREER Awards
• One Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Career Award
• One IBM Smarter Planet Industry Skills Innovation Award
• One SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity
• Two SUNY Distinguished Professorships
• One ASCE Newmark Medals

Please visit the Environmental Engineering department website for additional information about our faculty.

Environmental engineers choose from a broad spectrum of employment opportunities in private consulting firms, industry, governmental agencies, and research/development. BS graduates also have the skills and most prerequisites to pursue further education in law, management, public health or other professional fields.

Environmental engineering jobs are diverse and include consulting engineering firms, government, and industry. Here is a partial list of companies and agencies who recruit students from this program: ALCOA, Buffalo Sewer Authority, CH2M Hill, DuPont, Ecology and Environment, Inc., Erie County Water Authority, GHD, Arcadis, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Parsons Engineering Science, URS Corp., and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Degree level required: A significant number of employers require or reward an MS degree for environmental engineering jobs. Thus, some students continue their studies at the graduate level.

Average starting salary: $55,000.

Students obtain academic advice and guidance from the academic advisors in the SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education (410 Bonner Hall) and from faculty advisors in their program of study. The Office of Undergraduate Education advises all students throughout their first two years of study. In the junior and senior years, students seek advisement primarily from departmental faculty advisors.

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor upon acceptance into any of the programs offered by the department. New and transfer students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors as soon as possible. Continuing students are required to meet with their advisors at least once each semester. The principal role of the faculty advisor is to assist students in choosing courses to complete their degree requirements in a timely fashion. Faculty advisors also provide general advice concerning career specialization, employment opportunities, graduate school and other academic and professional issues.

SEAS Office of Undergraduate Education
410 Bonner Hall
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-1900
Phone: 716-645-2774
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences website

Eva McGovern, Undergraduate Academic Coordinator, 212 Ketter Hall, Phone: 716-645-4352, email: meva@buffalo.edu

James N. Jensen, Director of Undergraduate Studies, 207 Jarvis Hall, Phone: 716-645-4007, email: jjensen@buffalo.edu

Departmental faculty advisor list.

There are many scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities available for students accepted into the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. These include recruitment scholarships and annual scholarships/awards for current students. There are both merit and need-based scholarships.

The department offers several merit- and needs-based scholarships. Funding for undergraduate research is at the discretion of individual faculty.