Environmental engineers assess the impact of human activity on our environment. They develop strategies and technologies to provide a balance between quality of life and environmental health. Their work improves water treatment, prevents pollution, recovers resources and energy from waste, and remediates hazardous materials from air, soil and groundwater.
Academics > Research Opportunities > Outside the Classroom > Career Paths >
Request more information. Become a UA Engineering Wildcat.
UA environmental engineering students benefit from being part of a combined chemical and environmental engineering department, gaining background in traditional chemical engineering foundations including processes, economics and safety.
They learn how to predict the consequences of pollutants on the ecosystem and public health, and they master techniques to improve the environment. Students take hands-on laboratory courses and participate in interdisciplinary capstone design projects that focus on processes to treat air, water and soil in a sustainable manner.
Environmental engineers can find high demand careers in environmental health at private consulting companies, government agencies, research and development firms, and industry. The average salary is over $105,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some graduates pursue advanced degrees and careers in academia.
Shanghai Ranking consistently puts the University of Arizona at #1 nationally in water resources. More than 90% of undergraduates participate in high-profile research, in areas including:
Students also have opportunities to work on pilot-scale research projects at the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, the UA’s leading facility in the development of new technologies that deal with water scarcity and reuse.
Club involvement, along with professional and peer mentorships, are vital to the undergraduate experience. Wildcat engineers benefit from myriad hands-on activities and real-life projects.
Various engineering clubs help ensure all students feel welcome and connected. These include the American Indian Science & Engineering Society; the National Society of Black Engineers; Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers; and the Society of Women Engineers.
