Environmental Engineering
Why Environmental Engineering at Valpo?
As an environmental engineering major, you’ll make a positive impact on the planet and lend your light to the lives of others. Our students radiate innovation – and these bright engineering minds are needed to create a bright, sustainable future for our environment. In Valpo’s College of Engineering, hands-on learning prepares you for your career. State-of-the-art labs, undergraduate research opportunities, and mentorship from expert faculty place Valpo among the top engineering programs in the nation.
As an environmental engineering student, you’ll learn to design solutions to improve water and air quality, use resources sustainably, and tackle environmental challenges. Valpo’s close proximity to Lake Michigan – just 15 miles from Indiana Dunes National Park – offers hands-on learning beyond the classroom. In this interdisciplinary program, you’ll explore the natural sciences and learn to collaborate with others to engineer solutions for the greater good.
Environmental Engineering Highlights
>99%
of College of Engineering graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation – for the past 10 years straight.
ABET Accreditation
Valpo’s environmental engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Top 15 in the Nation
The Valparaiso University undergraduate engineering programs rank in the top 15 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Environmental Engineering Major Requirements
Recommended high school courses include physics and four years of math, including pre-calculus. Students who are interested in engineering but do not meet all admission requirements may still be considered for our pre-engineering major. At Valpo, pre-engineering students are enrolled in the College of Engineering from day one and take additional math and science coursework to strengthen skills before declaring a specific engineering major.
First-year engineering students complete a consistent schedule of courses, including Fundamentals of Engineering and classes in calculus and physics. Across campus, all first-year students also take Valparaiso University Experience (VUE) courses, which enhance critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
To obtain a bachelor of science in environmental engineering, students complete 128 credits of major requirements and electives. Valpo’s curriculum integrates classroom and lab experiences in engineering, chemistry, biology, and soil science. Studies also include mathematics, computer programs, and engineering design, culminating with a senior design project. As part of the Valpo experience, engineering students also explore a variety of interests through liberal arts courses.
| Major Requirements: Minimum 128 Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| BIO 215 | Fundamental Microbiology for Engineers | 3 Cr. |
| CHEM 115 | Essentials of Chemistry | 4 Cr. |
| CHEM 116 | Applications of Chemistry in Engineering | 4 Cr. |
| CHEM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 Cr. |
| MATH 132 | Calculus II | 4 Cr. |
| MATH 253 | Calculus III | 4 Cr. |
| MATH 260 | Linear Systems and Matrices | 1 Cr. |
| MATH 270 | Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 Cr. |
| PHYS 141 | Newtonian Mechanics | 3 Cr. |
| PHYS 141L | Experimental Physics I | 1 Cr. |
| STAT 240 | Statistical Analysis | 3 Cr. |
| GE 100 | Fundamentals of Engineering | 2 Cr. |
| GE 109 | Mechanics-Statics | 3 Cr. |
| GE 311 | Financial Decisions in Engineering | 1.5 Cr. |
| GE 312 | Ethical Decisions in Engineering | 1.5 Cr. |
| CE 151 | Introduction to Computer-Aided Drafting | 1 Cr. |
| CE 213 | Techn and Prfsnl Wrtng in Cvl & Envrnmtl, Civil Engineering | 1 Cr. |
| CE 215 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 Cr. |
| CE 281 | Geology for Civil and Envrnmtl Engineers | 3 Cr. |
| CE 334 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 Cr. |
| CE 335 | Hydrology | 3 Cr. |
| CE 351 | Programming and Numerical Methods | 2 Cr. |
| CE 364 | Environmental Engineering I | 4 Cr. |
| CE 365 | Environmental Engineering II | 3 Cr. |
| CE 493 | Senior Design I: Project Planning and, Management | 3 Cr. |
| CE 494 | Senior Design II: Project Development, And Design | 3 Cr. |
| ENE 210 | Environmental Toxicology & Rsk Assessmnt | 3 Cr. |
| ENE 260 | Environmental Sustainability | 2 Cr. |
| ENE 310 | Chemical Fate and Transport | 3 Cr. |
| ENE 330 | Environmental Soils | 3 Cr. |
| ENE 360 | Environmental Policy and Law | 2 Cr. |
| ENE 440 | Introduction to Air Pollution | 3 Cr. |
| ENE 450 | Hazardous Waste Management | 3 Cr. |
| ME 270 | Thermodynamics I | 3 Cr. |
| Environmental Engineering Electives: 6 Cr. | ||
| One course from the following options: | ||
| MATH 126 | Calculus and Functions Part II | 4 Cr. |
| MATH 131 | Calculus I | 4 Cr. |
Environmental Engineering Career Outcomes
Environmental engineers play a critical role in protecting our environment for the future. Top employers in the field include engineering firms, consultancies, and government agencies. This important profession is expected to grow 7% by 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Environmental engineers earned a median annual pay of $100,090 in 2023.
Careers in Environmental Engineering:
- Conservation agent
- Corporate policy advisor
- Environmental consultant
- Environmental engineer
- Environmental lab scientist
- Health safety manager
- Natural resources manager
- Public policy analyst
- Regulatory compliance officer
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educator
Student Success
– Daniel Owens ’23
