Environmental and Ecological Engineering, BSEEE

About the Program

The Environmental and Ecological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Our multidisciplinary faculty rigorously prepare students to address the issues that environmental engineers traditionally consider and to proactively prevent environmental problems.

• Coursework:  Undergraduate coursework in EEE focuses on environmental issues, ecological interactions, the complexity and connectivity between systems, and “designing for the environment.” Topics include systems modeling, urban ecology, industrial sustainability, environmental modeling and remediation, and life-cycle analysis, soil and water resource engineering, global and environmental issues, water and wastewater treatment, hydrology, disaster and emergency relief, habitat restoration, air pollution control and design, and climate action initiatives.
• Integrated mentorship:  EEE’s mentoring program is an integrated partnership that emphasizes one-on-one attention. Each student is assigned an EEE advisor to discuss academic and personal concerns, and paired with a faculty mentor to provide guidance in identifying research interests and pursuing long-term goals.
• Flexible plans of study:  An advisor and faculty mentor work with each student to craft an individualized plan of study. Students complete extensive elective coursework in addition to the core curriculum, enabling each degree to be tailored strategically to individual interests and career plans.
• Experiential learning:  Our students participate in a broad range of hands-on learning activities, including cooperative education, undergraduate research, study abroad programs, internships, and service learning.
• Community:  EEE undergraduates are a close-knit group of students who prioritize peer support over competition. Our program’s female enrollment is 50 percent, among the largest percentages of female students in any College of Engineering major.
• Strong career opportunities:The job placement rate and starting salary range EEE graduates are commensurate with those for other College of Engineering majors. EEE graduates are equipped to enter a wide range of employment sectors in environmental and engineering fields, such as consulting and engineering services, manufacturing, industrial and construction, government, municipal and public service, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academia.

Environmental and Ecological Engineering Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Mission Statement

The Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE) furthers the learning, discovery, and engagement missions of the Purdue College of Engineering with a focus on understanding the ways in which all engineering activities affect and are affected by the environment. EEE will help the College fulfill the responsibility of service to the state, the nation, and the world through innovative and comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education, collaborative and wide-reaching research and discovery, and the assumption of ever-greater levels of leadership in addressing global environmental and ecological problems.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the EEE Undergraduate Program will:

• Be prepared to assume immediate employment in the field of environmental & ecological engineering or to continue education in an advanced degree program;
• Participate fully and ethically in the advancement of the profession within five years of graduation, as measured by one or more of the following:
  • Achievement of, or significant progress toward, professional licensure
  • Achievement of, or significant progress toward, an advanced degree
  • Publication of research results and/or field reports
  • Advancement to a leadership role within an engineering organization
  • Advancement to a leadership role within organizations, agencies, or companies who offer solutions to major societal and environmental issues

Student Outcomes

Upon graduation, graduates of EEE will show:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
• An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Degree Requirements

128 Credits Required

Supplemental Lists

• Environmental & Ecological Engineering (EEE) General Education Requirements    
• Environmental & Ecological Engineering Major Selective Courses, Technical Electives, and No Count List  

Grade Requirements

Clearly list any/all grade requirements within the program.

GPA Requirements

• 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.
• 2.0 GPA required in College of Engineering courses at the 20000-level and above.

Course Requirements and Notes

• A maximum of 6 credits total of EPICS, GEP and/or VIP may be counted toward the BSEEE. This does not include courses contributing to FYE Requirement #1 and #2.

Non-Course/Non-Credit Requirements

Experiential education at Purdue University is a planned pedagogy centering on an authentic experience to strengthen students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities, paired with student reflection. Participation in an experiential education opportunity is expected in EEE, and necessary prior to enrolling in EEE 48100: Reflective Practitioner, a required major course in the senior year.

Experiential education may include internships/co-ops, clinical placements and other field-based experiences, projects with community/industry partners, and undergraduate research. Not all experiences are course-based. Some common examples are listed here, but are not limited to:

• EPCS, VIP, GEP - any course level, and any credit level
• EEE 29199, 29299, 39399, 39499, 39599, 38199, 38299, 38399, 39699 - all EEE Coop/Internship courses
• EEE 49800, EEE 59800, EAPS 49900, CE 49900, CHE 41100  - Undergraduate Research/Independent Study courses
• EEE 47200 - real-world, client-based service-learning design experience
• Study Abroad - any course level, any credit level, any time duration

Pass/No Pass Policy

• No course for the BSEEE may be taken pass/no pass. The Academics Committee will entertain petitions for necessary exceptions, such as circumstances with study abroad or transfer courses.

Transfer Credit Policy

• A maximum of 10 credits from another university or a regional campus may be used as substitutes for Required Major Courses in EEE. Students may not receive transfer credit for EEE 48000. A maximum of 9 credits from another university or a regional campus may be used as EEE Selective.

University Requirements

Sample First Year Engineering Plan of Study

Sample Environmental and Ecological Engineering Plan of Study

Pre-Requisite Information

For pre-requisite information, click here.

Critical Course

The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.