Environmental Engineering
B.S. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the Environmental Engineering program will (1) establish an Environmental Engineering career in industry, government, or academia and achieve professional licensure as appropriate; (2) demonstrate excellence and innovation in engineering problem solving and design in a global and societal context; (3) commit to lifelong learning and professional development to stay current in technology and contemporary issues; and (4) take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership in technical and/or managerial roles. (Program educational objectives are those aspects of engineering that help shape the curriculum; achievement of these objectives is a shared responsibility between the student and UCI.)
The curriculum includes a core of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as engineering mechanics and methods courses. Students may select from a variety of environmental engineering courses to fulfill the remaining portion of the program and to focus their environmental engineering training in one or more of the following areas: water supply and resources, waste water management, or atmospheric systems and air pollution control. Students apply principles of sustainability, leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the formulation and solution of environmental problems. Design experiences are integrated into environmental engineering courses, and seniors enroll in a capstone design course.
Admission
High School Students: See School Admissions information.
Transfer Students: Preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall, and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: two years of approved calculus, one year of calculus-based physics with laboratories (mechanics, electricity and magnetism), completion of lower-division writing, one year of general chemistry (with laboratory), and one course in introductory programming. For course equivalency specific to each college, visit assist.org.
Students are encouraged to complete as many of the lower-division degree requirements as possible prior to transfer. Students who enroll at UCI in need of completing lower-division coursework may find that it will take longer than two years to complete their degrees. For further information, contact The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at 949-824-4334.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Basic Science Courses: | ||
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry | |
| orENGR 1A | General Chemistry for Engineers | |
| CHEM 1B & CHEM 1C | General Chemistryand General Chemistry | |
| CHEM 1LC & CHEM 1LD | General Chemistry Laboratoryand General Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CHEM 51A | Organic Chemistry | |
| ENGRCEE 11 | Methods II: Probability and Statistics | |
| MATH 2A & MATH 2B | Single-Variable Calculus Iand Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| MATH 2D | Multivariable Calculus I | |
| MATH 2E | Multivariable Calculus II | |
| MATH 3A | Introduction to Linear Algebra | |
| MATH 3D | Elementary Differential Equations | |
| PHYSICS 7C | Classical Physics | |
| PHYSICS 7LC | Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| PHYSICS 7D | Classical Physics | |
| PHYSICS 7LD | Classical Physics Laboratory | |
| Two additional basic science electives, one Earth System Science course approved for General Education II and one Biological Sciences course approved for General Education II. | ||
| Lower-Division Engineering Elective: | ||
| Students must take one course from the following: | ||
| CBE 40A | Chemical Processes and Material Balances | |
| EECS 70A | Network Analysis I | |
| ENGR 7A & ENGR 7B | Introduction to Engineering Iand Introduction to Engineering II * | |
| ENGR 54 | Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | |
| ENGRCEE 80 | Dynamics | |
| orENGRMAE 80 | Dynamics | |
| Engineering Topics Courses: | ||
| Students must complete a minimum of 19 units of engineering design. | ||
| Core Courses: | ||
| ENGRCEE 20 | Introduction to Computational Problem Solving | |
| ENGRCEE 21 | Computational Problem Solving | |
| ENGRCEE 30 | Statics | |
| ENGRCEE 81A | Civil Engineering Practicum I | |
| ENGRCEE 81B | Civil Engineering Practicum II | |
| ENGRMAE 91 | Introduction to Thermodynamics | |
| ENGRCEE 110 | Methods III: Modeling, Economics, and Management | |
| ENGRCEE 130 & ENGRCEE 130L | Soil Mechanicsand Soil Mechanics Laboratory | |
| ENGRCEE 150 & ENGRCEE 150L | Mechanics of Materialsand Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | |
| ENGRCEE 160 | Environmental Processes | |
| ENGRCEE 162 | Introduction to Environmental Chemistry | |
| ENGRCEE 170 | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics | |
| ENGRCEE 181A & ENGRCEE 181B & ENGRCEE 181C | Senior Design Practicum Iand Senior Design Practicum IIand Senior Design Practicum III | |
| Engineering Elective Courses: | ||
| Students must take two courses each from two of the following three groups and one course from the remaining group. At least one of the Engineering electives must be one of the following courses: ENGRCEE 165, ENGRCEE 172, or ENGRCEE 178. | ||
| Water Supply and Resources: | ||
| ENGRCEE 171 | Water Resources Engineering | |
| ENGRCEE 172 | Groundwater Hydrology | |
| ENGRCEE 173 | Watershed Modeling | |
| ENGRCEE 176 | Hydrology | |
| ENGRCEE 178 | Fluid Mechanics of Open Channels | |
| Environmental Processes: | ||
| ENGRCEE 163 | Wastewater Treatment Process Design | |
| ENGRCEE 164 | Carbon and Energy Footprint Analysis | |
| ENGRCEE 165 | Physical-Chemical Treatment Processes | |
| ENGRCEE 166 | Microbial Processes for Bioremediation | |
| ENGRCEE 168 | Microorganisms and Climate Change | |
| ENGRCEE 169 | Environmental Microbiology for Engineers | |
| Atmospheric Systems and Air Pollution Control: | ||
| EARTHSS 112 | Global Climate Change and Impacts | |
| ENGRCEE 168 | Microorganisms and Climate Change | |
| ENGRMAE 110 | Combustion and Fuel Cell Systems | |
| ENGRMAE 115 | Applied Engineering Thermodynamics | |
| ENGRMAE 164 | Air Pollution and Control | |
| All additional engineering topics courses needed to satisfy school and major requirements must be approved by the faculty advisor. Environmental Engineering is an inherently interdisciplinary program. Students interested in pursuing a second degree along with Environmental Engineering may be able to substitute appropriate course work for required courses stated above. Please consult with an Engineering academic or faculty advisor. | ||
| Engineering Professional Topics Courses: | ||
| ENGRCEE 40 | Fundamentals of Economic Analysis for Scientists and Engineers | |
| or | ||
| ECON 20A & ECON 20B | Basic Economics Iand Basic Economics II | |
| ENGR 190W | Communications in the Professional World | |
| ENGRCEE 60 | Contemporary and Emerging Environmental Challenges | |
| orUPPP 8 | Introduction to Environmental Analysis and Design | |
| (The nominal Environmental Engineering program requires 191 units of courses to satisfy all university and major requirements. Because each student comes to UCI with a different level of preparation, the actual number of units will vary.) | ||
At most an aggregate total of 6 units of 199 or H199 courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements.
*. ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B is available only to lower-division students in Fall and Winter quarters. Both ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B must be taken to be counted as one Lower-Division Engineering Elective course.
Sample Program
The sample program of study chart shown is typical for the major in Environmental Engineering. Students should keep in mind that this program is based upon a sequence of prerequisites, beginning with adequate preparation in high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Students who are not adequately prepared, or who wish to make changes in the sequence for other reasons, must have their programs approved by their faculty advisor. Environmental Engineering majors are encouraged to consult with academic counselors as needed, and students who are academically at risk are mandated to see a counselor as frequently as deemed necessary by the advising staff.
Sample Program of Study — Environmental Engineering
Freshman
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2A | MATH 2B | MATH 2D |
| CHEM 1A or ENGR 1A | CHEM 1B | CHEM 1C |
| Engineering Elective | PHYSICS 7C | CHEM 1LC |
| General Education | PHYSICS 7LC | PHYSICS 7D |
| PHYSICS 7LD | ||
| ENGRCEE 81A |
Sophomore
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 3A | MATH 3D | MATH 2E |
| CHEM 51A | ENGRCEE 11 | ENGRCEE 21 |
| CHEM 1LD | ENGRCEE 81B | ENGRMAE 91 |
| ENGRCEE 20 | Engineering Elective | General Education |
| ENGRCEE 30 |
Junior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| ENGRCEE 170 | ENGRCEE 160 | ENGRCEE 110 |
| ENGR 190W | ENGRCEE 162 | undefined |
| Basic Science Elective | ENGRCEE 171 | Basic Science Elective |
| General Education | General Education | General Education |
Senior
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| ENGRCEE 181A | ENGRCEE 181B | ENGRCEE 181C |
| Engineering Elective | ENGRCEE 165 | General Education |
| Engineering Elective | Engineering Elective | General Education |
| General Education |