BS in Environmental Engineering | Clarkson University

Engineer a More Sustainable, Safer Society

Get on the path to designing a more sustainable world. A Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Clarkson University helps you lead the charge.

Why Major in Environmental Engineering at Clarkson?

Environmental engineering began as a subdiscipline of civil engineering. Today, increasing focus on preserving our world now fuels demand for innovative professionals equipped to:

Improve air, soil and water quality.
Develop solutions for pollution control.
Consider human influence on the environment.
Create more sustainable communities, infrastructure and waste management strategies.

The program’s curriculum reflects environmental engineering’s multidisciplinary focus. Take courses in environmental engineering, earth science, chemistry, ecology, wastewater treatment, physics, mathematics, water resources, environmental quality, systems and hazards. Put elective credits toward a minor to develop a specialization.

We train our students to bring technical expertise and an innovation-driven mindset to the workforce to develop more cost-effective operations, processes and products and ensure build safety and excellence through all stages of a project. Learn to analyze problems and devise solutions prioritizing the public good using a broad yet specialized knowledge base.

At the same time, you get taught by faculty leading the field through innovation. As one example, our environmental engineering faculty have developed a prototype for PFAS mitigation and destruction.

And, our Environmental Engineering majors had a 100 percent placement rate in 2023.

Curriculum

Groundwater hydrology and geochemistry
Water resources engineering
Human exposure analysis
Sustainable development engineering
Solid waste management and landfill design
Economic principles and engineering economics
Fluid mechanics
Geographical information systems
Global climate change: science, engineering and policy
Atmospheric chemistry

Curriculum

The environmental engineering program consists of 21 credit hours in environmental engineering, 27 credit hours of first year engineering curriculum, 18 credit hours in professional electives, and 45 credit hours in other electives.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Environmental Engineering Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Environmental Engineering

CE212 Introduction to Engineering Design
CE301 Geographical Information Systems
CE330 Water Resources Engineering I
CE340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE380 Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering
CE479 Water & Wastewater Treatment Design
CE491 Senior Design (Water Resources, Environmental)

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:
ES499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

School of Engineering Common First Year

Students must complete the following courses in their first year:

CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
ES100 Introduction to Engineering Use of the Computer (2 credits)
ES110 Engineering & Society
MA131 Calculus I
MA132 Calculus II
PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
PH132 Physics II (4 credits)

Environmental Engineering Core Electives

Core Electives

Students must complete the following courses:

BY320 Microbiology
CH210 Molecular Properties
CM241 Organic Chemistry I
EC350 Economic Principles & Engineering Economics
ES220 Statics
ES330 Fluid Mechanics
ES340 Thermodynamics I
MA231 Calculus III
MA232 Elementary Differential Equations
STAT383 Probability & Statistics

Core Professional Courses

Students must complete three of the following courses:

CE482/582 Environmental Systems Analysis Design
CE486 Industrial Ecology
ES432 Risk Analysis
CE481 Hazardous Waste Management Engineering

Environmental Engineering Electives

Students must complete the following electives:

Earth Science Elective

Students must complete one of the following courses:

CE435/535 Groundwater Hydrology and Geochemistry
CE315 Geology for Engineers
ES426 Global Climate Change: Science, Engineering and Policy
CE477 Atmospheric Chemistry

Chemistry Elective

Students must complete one of the following courses:

CM241 Organic Chemistry
CM221 Spectroscopy

Professional Electives

Students majoring in environmental engineering will have approximately 18 credit hours available to use toward professional electives.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students will have at least 9 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Undergraduate Research

Apply your growing knowledge base to faculty- or Institute for a Sustainable Environment-led research projects. Opportunities are open to undergraduates during the school year and summer sessions. Explore research at Clarkson.

Co-Ops and Internships

Career preparation is at the heart of the bachelor’s in environmental engineering program. Fulfill your Professional Experience requirement with an internship or co-op assignment. Observe and learn from professionals in the field. Explore the possibilities available to environmental engineers. Learn more about co-ops and internships.

SPEED Competitive Engineering Project Teams

Learn to think quickly with SPEED (Student Projects for Engineering Experience & Design) teams. Draw from your foundation in mathematics, the sciences, design and engineering while taking advantage of the technologies available at the Student Prototyping Machine Shop and the Ignite-led Innovation Hub. Learn more about participating in SPEED competitions.

Clubs and Organizations

Find a community of creators and innovators through Clarkson’s 200-plus student groups. Explore all clubs and organizations now.

Minors

Use your elective credits to explore a subdiscipline or related area with a minor:

Environmental Engineering Minor

Grow your knowledge about responsible water and natural resources use. Learn to preserve our world through more sustainable practices. Learn more about the environmental engineering minor.

Environmental Health Science Minor

Focus on the relationship between chemicals, waste and the environment. Learn tactics to better protect our world. Learn more about the environmental health science minor.

Environmental Policy Minor

Understand what’s needed to protect the environment. This minor blends policy with environmental science. Learn more about the environmental policy minor.

Environmental Science Minor

Grow your knowledge of how the Earth operates. Explore ecology, spectroscopy, bioinformatics, microbiology and hydrology further. Learn more about the environmental science minor.

Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering Minor

Expand your knowledge of sustainable energy systems. Learn about their potential to transform society going forward. Learn more about the sustainable energy systems engineering minor.

Sustainable Solutions for the Developing World Minor

Learn to bridge the divide between economic development and preserving the environment. Focus is given to solutions for the developing world. Learn more about the sustainable solutions for the developing world minor.

Study Abroad Opportunities

The world needs environmental engineers. Start to explore those opportunities through Clarkson’s hands-on study abroad programs and professional experiences. Learn more about all available opportunities.

SPEED Team

"Being on a SPEED Team has helped me maintain a healthy work-life balance. Not only does Timber Bridge give me a chance to apply my coursework in a practical sense, but it's also a great way to spend time in nature and connect with other students. Working with students from other majors has also given me a new perspective on how to approach problem-solving and running the team."

Claudia Beltran '24, BS in Environmental Engineering

Timber Bridge IG

Career Possibilities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics points to four percent growth for environmental engineers between 2021 and 2031. Our students begin careers in public agencies, environmental organizations, the government, in education, construction, industry or project management in fields including:

Environmental research
System modeling
Environmental process design
Environmental compliance

Or, our students continue on to a master's or PhD studies, including through Clarkson's own graduate environmental science and engineering programs or at other institutions like DTU Technical University of Denmark, Duke University, the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan or the University of Washington-Seattle.

Employers

Our graduates quickly hit the ground running. Clarkson's Environmental Engineering Class of 2023 had a 100-percent placement rate. Clarkson environmental engineering majors have been recruited by companies such as:

AECOM
Arcadis
Barton & Loguidice
Brown and Caldwell
CHA Consulting
Flatiron
General Electric
KC Engineering
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Parsons Corporation

I learned about Clarkson through researching universities with reputable engineering programs. I was first drawn to Clarkson because of the advanced academic opportunities that it had to offer. I decided to attend Clarkson because I felt that it offered the best balance of academic rigor and student life. Clarkson provides many academic and career opportunities within their reputable engineering program.

Marin Hangliter '26 BS in Environmental Engineering Learn More About Marin's First Year

Clarkson Graduates Go Places!

I'm so excited to start putting my education to use and getting to work on real-world projects in my new position as a staff engineer at North Woods Engineering. My past internships were so valuable in giving me a well-rounded education and helping land the job. Employers like to see that Clarkson students have experience in the workforce and their community to give them more diverse opportunities outside of the classroom.

Clarkson IG