METU Department of Environmental Engineering
The Department of Environmental Engineering was established in January 1973 to respond to growing concerns about environmental problems and to train qualified engineers who can undertake the professional responsibilities needed to develop and manage water, air and soil resources best. The department, which provided postgraduate education in the early years, accepted its first undergraduate students in 1978 and had its first graduates in 1982.
In the undergraduate program, students are educated with water, air and soil pollution, use and development and management of natural resources, treatment of domestic and industrial wastes, etc. Both extensive theoretical knowledge is given and fundamental knowledge of the discipline are enhanced through practical applications.
Candidates who have graduated from Environmental Engineering or some other related engineering branches can be accepted to graduate programs. The purpose of master's and doctoral programs is twofold. The first of these is the establishment of active research and technology development programs to identify and solve current and future environmental and engineering problems. The second is to provide human resources with high levels of knowledge and skills that can solve complex environmental problems. Graduate programs provide high-level knowledge and the opportunity to conduct research on water supply, wastewater engineering, air pollution control, water quality management, soil and groundwater pollution, environmental modelling, environmental impact assessment, environmental microbiology and biotechnology.
The department's educational program is systematically evaluated and improved. In this process that includes institutions, organizations and individuals where graduates work, graduates, students continuing their education and faculty members of the department, the entire education program is evaluated, taking international norms into account. Department education aims to ensure that its graduates have the following qualifications in line with the education criteria of the Faculty of Engineering:
- To be able to apply the acquired knowledge in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering,
- Have the knowledge to design and implement experimental studies and also be able to analyze and interpret the data obtained,
- To be able to design need-oriented systems, parts of this system and process,
- Ability to work in teams consisting of people from different disciplines,
- To be able to diagnose and formulate engineering problems and produce solutions,
- Having professional and moral responsibilities,
- Being able to communicate effectively,
- To understand the effects of engineering solutions in a global and social context,
- Understanding the importance of lifelong learning,
- To follow new topics and have information about their effects on engineering.
Mission of METU Department of Environmental Engineering
Mission of the Department is defined as "to provide high quality environmental engineering education for the needs of industry and society, to improve the understanding and application of the basic principles of environmental science and engineering, to increase and ensure the continuity of sustainable economic development efforts, to improve the general values of society through education, research and public programs."
Department of Environmental Engineering provides education at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. These programs are designed by following the innovations in Environmental Engineering education and in line with the department's mission to train environmenal engineers with the following qualifications:
- Equipped with the main principles of basic sciences and Environmental Engineering, having theoretical knowledge and application skills,
- Able to identify and solve environmental problems that may arise during the current and future management and development of air, water and land resources,
- Able to follow current research at master's level and take part in technology development programs,
- Able to actively participate in work groups formed by people from different professional groups and lead these groups,
- Aware of their professional and moral responsibilities.