When choosing a school to complete your higher education, it’s important to make sure the college or university you choose offers a strong degree in your field of interest. If you are interested in a rewarding and challenging career path that protects the environment and improves public health and safety, consider environmental engineering.
Many universities in Colorado offer strong programs with a focus on environmental engineering. Learn more about each college below:
Universities and Colleges with Environmental Engineering in Colorado
Colorado State University (CSU)
A public university in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University offers environmental engineering as an interdisciplinary degree between engineering and earth and atmospheric sciences.
CSU offers an accredited program with in-depth courses like organic and environmental chemistry, microbiology, hydrology, environmental toxicology, and water treatment. The program closes out with a final, year-long capstone design project that features real-world engineering problems at the center of a design project.
Graduates out of CSU are gainfully employed at engineering consulting firms, with many opting to serve the public at regulatory agencies or working within the environmental divisions of large corporations.
CSU’s program is known for its hands-on learning and focus on solving some of the world’s most challenging environmental problems, such as providing sustainable water sources and addressing the impacts of climate change. Students are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam before graduation, which is the first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).
Colorado School of Mines
True to its name, the Colorado School of Mines is a highly specialized school, though it doesn’t just deal with mines. The name comes from its past as a school to train professional miners, however, now it’s a well-known engineering school. Its civil and environmental engineering program includes courses on water resources and hydrology, site remediation, waste management and wastewater treatment, and more.
Graduates of the Colorado School of Mines often land jobs as environmental engineers, water project managers, hydrologists, and environmental health and safety directors.
The Colorado School of Mines is unique in that it offers a robust “4+1” BS/MS program that allows qualified students to smoothly transition into a master’s degree with a four-year undergrad and a single year to complete the master’s level. The program is also known for its strong ties with industry partners and opportunities for undergraduate research in world-class research facilities, such as the PFAS, CERA, and AQWATEC labs.
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder (also known as CU Boulder) is a public research university. The college of engineering and applied science offers an environmental engineering degree that offers multi-disciplinary expertise from faculty across four different departments.
The course load students can expect includes introductory courses and speciality classes, like air quality, sustainability, and environmental engineering design.
CU Boulder prepares students for a multifaceted career, with graduates opting to work in research, consulting, construction, and teaching.
CU Boulder’s environmental engineering program began in 1998 as a separate degree, growing from being an option within other engineering disciplines. The university also offers a concurrent BS/MS degree program, allowing students to count two graduate-level electives for both degrees, potentially enabling them to earn both in five years.
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public urban university with a large student population. This school offers an interdisciplinary degree program between engineering and earth and atmospheric sciences.
With a flexible curriculum, MSU’s program can be tailored to interests and goals — students can choose electives in civil engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and sustainable systems. The typical workload includes courses in engineered water, solid and hazardous waste, and environmental toxicology.
Students graduating from MSU are well-prepared for careers in consulting firms and public service, like government agencies or municipal utilities.
The program is known for its personalized counseling and advising, with faculty providing one-on-one guidance. MSU Denver’s collaboration with the Internship Center offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience and earn technical elective credits at the same time. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for an ever-changing job market by integrating with other MSU Denver programs and centers, such as the One World One Water Center.
What is Environmental Engineering?
Environmental engineering is a sub-type of civil engineering that focuses on protecting the environment. It includes pollution control, resource conservation, waste management, water and air quality, and more. As many of these programs demonstrate, environmental engineering is a multi-disciplinary field that allows for various specialities.
Environmental engineering is vital for improving public health, safeguarding natural resources, and protecting beneficial ecosystems.
For environmental engineering students, this means taking course loads that offer a depth and variety of knowledge and skills. Students can expect to study the same fundamentals as other engineering disciplines like geology, mathematics, sciences, drafting, and computer-aided design (CAD). Beyond that, courses will begin to specialize and include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, chemistry, and microbiology to provide a deeper understanding of environmental systems and related infrastructure like water treatment.
Some programs offer a high degree of specialization, with courses specific to wastewater resource engineering, hydrology, green engineering and sustainability, and air quality.
What Jobs Can You Get After Graduating from an Environmental Engineering School in Colorado?
When you graduate with a degree in environmental engineering, you’ll find a lot of doors open to you. If you want to stay true to your discipline, consider finding a job at a civil engineering firm, where you can help public and private sector projects — like helping a city revitalize its water treatment plants, or establishing renewable energy programs for ski resorts.
Roaring Fork Engineering hires environmental engineers in addition to our other open positions. Learn more about what it’s like to work with us in Carbondale, Colorado.
