About Us

The Department of Environmental Engineering was established in January 1973 in response to the growing concern over the environment and the need for fully qualified engineers capable of undertaking professional responsibilities for optimum development and prudent management of water, air and land resources. The department evolved from the Sanitary Engineering division of the Civil Engineering Department, which had been offering graduate courses in this field since 1967.

The mission of the Environmental Engineering Department is to provide high quality environmental engineering education as required by the industry and the public; to advance the understanding and application of the principles of environmental science and engineering; to enhance and maintain sustainable economic development efforts; and to improve the well-being of society in general through teaching, research and community outreach programs. This mission is consistent with the broader mission of the Institution.

The programs are designed with consideration of modern concepts of environmental engineering education, and to encourage the development of individual initiative and resourcefulness with emphasis on responsibility and good judgement. As part of the undergraduate program, students are required to complete two summer practices each lasting 20 working days and to prepare reports of their activities, subject to departmental approval.

The graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees aim to establish active research and technology development programs for identification and solution of current and future environmental problems, and to provide trained human resources capable of making decisions and directing projects towards solutions of complex environmental challenges. Research opportunities and advanced coursework are offered in water supply engineering, wastewater engineering, air pollution and control, water quality management, soil and groundwater pollution, environmental modeling, environmental impact assessment, environmental chemistry, and environmental microbiology and biotechnology.

Graduates of the B.S. program, within a few years following graduation, are environmental engineering professionals who:

1. Identify and contribute to the prevention and solution of current and emerging environmental problems in a creative and independent manner.
2. Participate in research and technology development programs.
3. Function in diverse areas of environmental engineering practice at national and international levels.
4. Pursue leading positions in both public and private organizations.

Graduates of the Environmental Engineering Department will have:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. 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.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, considering the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. 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.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.