An environmental engineer generally needs a minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering.
An environmental engineer is an engineer who examines, assesses and creates solutions to many different issues that affect the environment. He focuses on a wide range of areas, including air and water pollution, global warming, disposal of waste and recycling. Environmental engineers must have at least a bachelor’s degree and be licensed by the state of residence.
Education
A career as an environmental engineer usually requires at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Some environmental engineers have previous experience working as an environmental scientist or engineering technologist. Many environmental engineers specialize in a certain area such as asbestos removal or hazardous waste accidents. Environmental engineering programs provide classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory experiences that concentrate on current environmental issues. A graduate degree is required for environmental engineers who choose to pursue research positions.
Coursework
The coursework for environmental engineers varies depending on the institution and program, but all engineering students are required to take biology, chemistry, physics, calculus and general engineering courses. Common core environmental engineering courses include atmospheric chemistry, environmental organic chemistry, hydrology, surface water quality engineering, surface water quality modeling, the quality of the air and the construction environment and boundary layer meteorology.
Licensing and Continuing Education
All states require all engineers to be licensed. Licensing requirements generally include completion of an engineering program that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), minimum work experience and passing a two-part written state examination. Many states require environmental engineers to complete continuing education to maintain licensure. There is a wide range of continuing education opportunities, such as courses offered by community colleges, online classes, conferences, workshops and written publication opportunities.
Skills
An environmental engineer must have keen science and mathematics skills and the ability to apply environmental engineering principles to a variety of tasks. He must have sound written and oral communication skills and the knack to clearly explain environmental engineering topics to different individuals. An environmental engineer should also gain detail orientation and analytical skills throughout his education.
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job growth of environmental engineers to increase much more rapidly than average for all professions, growing 31 percent from 2008 to 2018. An increased focus on preventing environmental problems will contribute to job growth.
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