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Environmental Engineering BS

(HEGIS: 09.22 ENVIRONMENT&SANITARY ENG, CIP: 14.1401 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering)

Why study Environmental Engineering BS at UB?

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 Environmental Engineering BS program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The curriculum is designed to meet several educational objectives. These program education objectives (PEOs) are broad statements that describe the expected accomplishments of graduates within a few years after graduation. Specific PEOs are that graduates will:

  • Serve ethically with recognition of the diverse needs of society and the profession,
  • Become leaders in their profession,
  • Understand and advance the mission of their employer, and
  • Continue their professional development, including professional licensure, continuing education and/or graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

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

  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  • an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Learning Environment

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

Seven 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. BS/MS degrees are offered through the Departments of Biomedical and Electrical Engineering. A BS degree in engineering physics is offered jointly with the Department of Physics. A BS degree in bioinformatics and computational biology is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly with the College of Arts and Sciences. Minors are offered in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Robotics, Human Factors and Ergonomics Engineering, Operations Research, and Quality Engineering. Additionally, a certificate is offered in Data Intensive Computing.

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.

About Our Facilities

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences occupies six buildings on UB's north campus: Bell, Bonner, Davis, Furnas, Jarvis, and Ketter Hall.

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.

About Our Faculty

Our department has 35 full-time faculty members (all with PhD degrees) and two Professors of Practice, with 11 faculty specializing in environmental and water resources engineering. Our faculty members are actively engaged in teaching, research, and service, and have received national and international recognition from some of the most influential environmental and civil engineering organizations including the National Science Foundation and the American Society of Civil Engineers. They also have been recognized for their teaching, research, and creativity at both the SUNY and SEAS levels, including three SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching and three SUNY Distinguished Professorships, the highest rank in the SUNY system.

Faculty List Directory

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

Career Outlook

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: $64,000.

Academic Advising

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.

Students are required to meet with their faculty advisor to register for some required courses in the fall and spring semesters of the junior and senior year. The principal role of the faculty advisor is to assist students in choosing courses to complete their degree requirements in a timely fashion with a manageable workload. Faculty advisors also provide general advice concerning career specialization, employment opportunities, graduate school, and other academic and professional issues.

Academic Advising Contact Information

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 Eva McGovern

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

Departmental faculty advisor list.

Scholarships and Financial Support

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.

View School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Scholarships

All scholarships are currently offered through UB's scholarship portal

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

Associated Programs

Associated Subjects

 
Published: May 26, 2020 15:54:25