Program Overview

Environmental Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSEV)

The Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Colorado Boulder is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in environmental engineering, encompassing the scientific assessment and development of engineering solutions to environmental problems. The program aims to produce graduates who are capable of addressing the complex environmental challenges facing society, including safe drinking water, wastewater processing, solid and hazardous waste disposal, outdoor and indoor air pollution, human health and ecological risk management, and renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Mission

The mission of the Environmental Engineering Program is to provide a multidisciplinary undergraduate environmental engineering education that emphasizes mastery of principles and practices, inspires service for the global public good, endows a desire for lifelong learning, and prepares students for broad and dynamic career paths in environmental engineering.

Faculty

The faculty of the Environmental Engineering (EVEN) Program are drawn from the Departments of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Chemical and Biological Engineering; and Aerospace Engineering Sciences. The EVEN faculty, its Professional Advisory Board, and EVEN alumni and current students have contributed to the creation of the program's mission and the educational objectives of the BS in environmental engineering degree.

Requirements

To earn a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, students must complete the curriculum in the undergraduate major program, as outlined below. For up-to-date program requirements, visit the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering webpage. In addition, students must meet the general undergraduate degree requirements of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Required Courses and Credits

The following courses are required for the Environmental Engineering Program:

• CHEN 1310: Introduction to Engineering Computing (3 credits)
• CVEN 2121: Analytical Mechanics 1 (3 credits)
• CVEN 3227: Probability, Statistics and Decision (3 credits)
• CVEN 3246: Introduction to Construction (3 credits)
• CVEN 3313: Theoretical Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
• CVEN 3414: Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (3 credits)
• CVEN 4333: Engineering Hydrology (3 credits)
• EVEN 1000: Introduction to Environmental Engineering (1 credit)
• EVEN 3012: Thermodynamics for Environmental Science and Engineering (3 credits)
• EVEN 3550: Sustainability Principles for Engineers (3 credits)
• EVEN 4404: Water Chemistry (3 credits)
• EVEN 4414: Water Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
• EVEN 4424: Environmental Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• EVEN 4434: Environmental Engineering Design (4 credits)
• EVEN 4464: Environmental Engineering Processes (3 credits)
• EVEN 4484: Integrative Environmental and Molecular Microbiology (3 credits)
• EVEN 4494: Contaminant Fate and Transport (3 credits)
• GEEN 1400: Engineering Projects (3 credits)
• MCEN 3022: Heat Transfer (3 credits)
• MCEN 4131: Air Pollution Control Engineering (3 credits)

Required Science Courses

The following science courses are required for the Environmental Engineering Program:

• CHEM 1221: Engineering General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
• CHEN 1201: General Chemistry for Engineers 1 (4 credits)
• CHEN 1203: General Chemistry for Engineers 2 (2 credits)
• PHYS 1110: General Physics 1 (4 credits)
• PHYS 1120: General Physics 2 (4 credits)
• PHYS 1140: Experimental Physics 1 (1 credit)

Required Mathematics Courses

The following mathematics courses are required for the Environmental Engineering Program:

• APPM 1350: Calculus 1 for Engineers (4 credits)
• APPM 1360: Calculus 2 for Engineers (4 credits)
• APPM 2350: Calculus 3 for Engineers (4 credits)
• APPM 2360: Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (4 credits)

Sample Four-Year Plan of Study

A sample four-year plan of study for the Environmental Engineering Program is provided below:

Year One

• Fall Semester:
  • APPM 1350: Calculus 1 for Engineers (4 credits)
  • CHEN 1201: General Chemistry for Engineers 1 (4 credits)
  • EVEN 1000: Introduction to Environmental Engineering (1 credit)
  • COEN 1500: CEAS First Year Seminar (1 credit)
  • First-Year Engineering Projects course (3 credits)
  • Humanities and social science elective (2 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • APPM 1360: Calculus 2 for Engineers (4 credits)
  • CHEN 1203: General Chemistry for Engineers 2 (2 credits)
  • CHEM 1221: Engineering General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
  • CHEN 1310: Introduction to Engineering Computing (3 credits)
  • PHYS 1110: General Physics 1 (4 credits)
  • Humanities and social science elective (3 credits)

Year Two

• Fall Semester:
  • APPM 2350: Calculus 3 for Engineers (4 credits)
  • PHYS 1120: General Physics 2 (4 credits)
  • PHYS 1140: Experimental Physics 1 (1 credit)
  • Select one of the following in Statics: CVEN 2121, GEEN 2851, or MCEN 2023 (3 credits)
  • Humanities and social science elective (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • APPM 2360: Introduction to Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (4 credits)
  • CVEN 3414: Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following in Fluids Mechanics: CVEN 3313, GEEN 3853, MCEN 3021, or CHEN 3200 (3 credits)
  • Technical Elective (3 credits)
  • Humanities and social science elective (3 credits)

Year Three

• Fall Semester:
  • EVEN 4404: Water Chemistry (3 credits)
  • EVEN 4414: Water Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
  • EVEN 3550: Sustainability Principles for Engineers (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following in Engineering Economics: CVEN 3246, EMEN 4100 (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following in Thermodynamics: EVEN 3012, AREN 2110, MCEN 3012, CHEN 3320, or GEEN 3852 (3 credits)
  • College-approved writing course (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • EVEN 4424: Environmental Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
  • EVEN 4484: Integrative Environmental and Molecular Microbiology (3 credits)
  • Engineering Fundamental Course (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following in Probability and Statistics: CVEN 3227, STAT 4000, or CHEN 3010 (3 credits)
  • Environmental engineering design/technical elective (3 credits)

Year Four

• Fall Semester:
  • EVEN 4464: Environmental Engineering Processes (3 credits)
  • EVEN 4494: Contaminant Fate and Transport (3 credits)
  • MCEN 4131: Air Pollution Control Engineering (3 credits)
  • Environmental engineering design/technical elective (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following: Technical elective, Senior Thesis, or Environmental engineering design/technical elective (3 credits)
  • Humanities and social science elective (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • CVEN 4333: Engineering Hydrology (3 credits)
  • EVEN 4434: Environmental Engineering Design (4 credits)
  • Select one of the following: Environmental engineering design/technical elective, Technical Elective, or Senior Thesis (3 credits)
  • Free elective (3 credits)

Learning Outcomes

The Environmental Engineering Program is designed to produce graduates who can:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Degree Program

The bachelor's-accelerated master's (BAM) degree program offers currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year). The BAM program is available for the BS in Environmental Engineering, MS in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.

Admissions Requirements

To gain admission to the BAM program, a student must:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 to earn either the EVEN or CVEN MS or a 3.25 GPA to earn the MCEN MS.
• Completion of all MAPS requirements and no deficiencies remaining (students admitted to CU Boulder prior to Summer 2023 only).
• Have at least junior status within the bachelor's degree program.

Program Requirements

Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program, which can later be used toward the master's degree. However, only six credits may be double-counted toward the bachelor's degree and the master's degree. Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree and apply to continue with the master's degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.