ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, B.S. at University of Wisconsin

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a B.S. Environmental Engineering (BSEnvE) degree program, an excellent degree choice for students who are interested in the sustainable design, construction, and operation of systems and facilities that:

• Treat and distribute safe and reliable drinking water
• Recover material, nutrient, and energy resources from wastewater and solid waste
• Protect and restore wetlands, streams, lakes, and groundwater
• Allocate water resources for urban, rural, and recreational use
• Protect and develop coastal shorelines and stream banks
• Manage stormwater and minimize risk of flood events
• Reduce, reuse, and recycle solid wastes
• Minimize the production of and provide treatment of industrial and agricultural wastes
• Minimize the production of and provide treatment of industrial air emissions
• Prepare society for the impacts of climate change
• Slow down or reverse climate change via
  • Alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels
  • Recovery of carbon and other greenhouse gases from industrial air emissions

The operation of these facilities is being rapidly integrated into the Internet of Things with real-time “big data” collection systems for automated control. This makes it possible for society to rely on smart infrastructure, including systems that will reduce water consumption, save energy, and improve community resiliency in the wake of natural and human-caused disasters.

All of the above items require a core knowledge in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, computer science and computer design tools, as well as breadth in different environmental engineering disciplines. Environmental engineers perform their work in a multidisciplinary setting requiring strong written and verbal communication skills, understanding of professional and ethical obligations coupled with risk management and decision-making, and commitment to lifelong learning and professional licensure. Their daily work also requires a commitment to sustainability – the need to meet today’s needs while also allowing future generations to meet their environmental health, public health, and society’s economic health needs.

To meet accreditation policies, eligibility for the program is limited to those students who

• matriculated into UW-Madison’s College of Engineering in the Fall 2020 semester or later, and
• expect to graduate no sooner than December 2023.

Students not meeting the above criteria are encouraged to consider the Environmental Engineering Option of the BS Civil Engineering degree program. Additional options for these students include the BS Geological Engineering degree program and the Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering Option of the BS Biological Systems Engineering degree program.