Environmental engineering is a branch of engineering related to environmental sciences. It encompasses broad fields of science, such as biology, microbiology, hydrology, hydraulics, geology, mathematics, and ecology. The goal is to produce solutions that protect and improve the health of the environment and living beings. Environmental engineering is a branch of chemical engineering and civil engineering. However, within civil engineering, environmental engineering focuses particularly on sanitary engineering.
Environmental Engineering trains you to tackle engineering challenges with the aim of preserving and improving the health of ecosystems. You will learn how to treat, recycle, and reuse waste, as well as reduce air and water pollution and clean up contaminated sites.
When you examine ways to improve the environment, you will find ways to solve problems both locally, such as site-specific concerns and regional regulations, and globally, including modeling future environmental impacts to inform government policy. The program will help you understand how policies are developed and implemented, as well as engineering design, construction, and deconstruction, among other things.
The Environmental Engineering program combines classroom activities with group work and hands-on learning in laboratories. In your final years of study, you will collaborate with communities on essential projects to enhance your learning experience. In addition, each year you will take design courses to help you apply your knowledge and prepare you to become a professional environmental engineer.
Experience-based learning
Throughout your degree, you will gain valuable field experience by working with local municipalities. You will also be able to take advantage of UBC’s high-quality sustainable infrastructure and use the campus as a living laboratory. There is also the option of doing an internship, where you can gain full-time paid experience in different work environments and start building a professional network before you graduate.
Once you complete this program, you will be prepared for a career in sectors such as:
• Environmental engineering at all levels of government, NGOs, consulting, or manufacturing and extractive industries, locally and internationally.
• Sustainability planning and design
• Environmental policy-making
• Infrastructure design, management systems, and information systems.
• Conducting impact assessments (covering regulatory, sustainability, environmental, social, and risk assessments)