ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Courses Offered
The Env E curriculum is built around four cornerstones of understanding environmental problems: Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Transport, and Process Engineering. Other courses extend these basic themes to support research and teaching interests of the faculty and students. Students select a program of study that satisfies the Core Course Requirements as well as an individually chosen area of specialization. Programs of study that satisfy the course requirements for each degree are developed in consultation with the adviser.
Core Curriculum
Students must demonstrate competence in each of the following four core areas: Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Transport, and Process Engineering (3 credits in each core area). Suggested courses to provide this core curriculum are provided below. In addition, all students must complete CE 371 (Water & Wastewater Treatment) at Penn State, or the equivalent.
Microbiology
MICRB 400 and CE 479 or CE 579
Chemistry
CE 570 or CE 573
Chemical Transport
CE 576 or CE 580
Process Engineering
CE 571 or CE 572
Colloquium
CE 590
Environmental Engineering Electives
Environmental Engineering electives allow students to develop additional expertise in their areas of specialization. The following courses are offered in the EnvE program (all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted):
CE 475 – Water Quality Chemistry
CE 476 – Solid & Hazardous Wastes
CE 479 – Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (1)
CE 497A – Environmental Microbiology (2)
CE 497X– Eco-Innovation
CE 497X– Environmental Law
CE 570 – Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
CE 571 – Physical-Chemical Treatment Processes
CE 572 – Biological Treatment Processes
CE 573 – Environmental Organic Chemistry
CE 576 – Environmental Transport Processes
CE 578 – Groundwater Remediation
CE 579 – Environmental Pollution Microbiology
CE 580 – Surface Water Quality Modeling
CE 591 – Environmental Engineering Seminar (1)
CE 592 – Environmental Engineering & Science Topics (1)
Technical Electives
Students are encouraged to take courses outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Courses in agronomy, biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry, geohydrology, geochemistry, materials science, microbiology, and mineral processing may be of particular interest. Students should discuss options for satisfying their technical elective requirements with their academic advisors. A detailed list of technical electives can be found in the Environmental Engineering Degree Requirements handbook.
