Environmental Engineering
If you think it’s important to protect our water-air-soil environment, make our cities more sustainable, and build resilience in the face of climate change, then you should definitely be thinking about environmental engineering. This program is designed for people who are strong in science and math, and want to be good problem solvers in balancing the needs of society and nature. From protecting lakes and rivers to managing the impact of natural disasters, you’ll be on the way to making a clear difference for communities around the world.
What will I learn?
You'll typically start with foundational classes and labs in chemistry, physics and calculus, then quickly move on to specific courses in the major such as sustainability and environmental engineering fundamentals. In your junior and senior years, you’ll get more in-depth training in topics such as modeling pollutant movement, treating contaminated water and air, and environmental monitoring. You'll also be able to choose lots of electives, so you can follow your interests and check out topics like hydraulic engineering and brownfield restoration—or take classes in a related technical field.
What can I do with an environmental engineering degree?
Providing clean water to hundreds of thousands of people. Consulting on green infrastructure projects. Joining environmental regulatory agencies. These are just a few of the ways our graduates have used their degrees to make an impact.
Environmental engineers typically work for private consulting firms, government agencies, non-profit organizations and research labs around the world. Leading organizations that recruit UB grads include:
- AECOM.
- Arcadis.
- Buffalo Sewer Authority.
- CH2M Hill.
- Ecology and Environment.
- Erie County Water Authority.
- GHD.
- Golder Associates.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- O’Brien & Gere.
- Parsons Engineering Science.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
While many of our students work in the environmental field, some of them apply their skills and knowledge to a career in business, law, public health and other areas.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $113,360.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Environmental Engineers | $103,390.00 | $49.71 | Rapid Growth |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $77,920.00 | $37.46 | |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,040.00 | $31.27 | Rapid Growth |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.