Welcome Undergraduates 
Civil Engineering | Environment Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering (CiE) excels in environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, and structural design. Involvement with the Hydrology Program also provides for strength in water resources engineering. A student may design a program which covers a broad range of civil engineering topics, or may focus on a particular area. For example, students may elect: up to 37 credits in environmental engineering, up to 26 credits in structural design, up to x9 credits in materials engineering, up to 9 credits in geotechnical engineering, or up to 16 credits in water resources engineering.
Environmental engineering is one of the cornerstones of the department. The Department offers a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Engineering (Municipal Processes), and is home to the Environmental Research Group (ERG). The faculty and students of ERG have been nationally and internationally recognized for their work in the areas of solid waste management, drinking water treatment, remediation of hazardous waste contamination, and ground water monitoring, evaluation, and remediation.
The importance of planning, design, and construction of facilities is stressed from the first semester on. Students in CiE 400 are introduced to a project, and use that project for examples, theory, and problems in all subsequent civil engineering courses during their tenure. The project currently being used by the department for this integrated curriculum approach is the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant (when completed) will treat one billion gallons per day of wastewater generated in the Boston area. This $6.1 billion project has used many innovations in geotechnical, structural, and environmental engineering design and construction management. Several graduates of the UNH program work on the Deer Island project in its planning, design, and construction. Therefore, current students have many opportunities to visit and tour the site, and engineers from the project come into their classes to discuss the project.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineers plan, design, and direct the construction of public and private facilities that are essential to modern life and vary widely in their nature, size, scope, operation, use, and location. For example, civil engineers design and build: tunnels, bridges, dams, roads, airports, transit systems, facilities for treatment and distribution of drinking water, solid waste management facilities, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, and hazardous waste remediation systems. These facilities must provide safe and efficient service to the users, be cost effective, and be compatible with the environment. The program leads to a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Its strong analytical basis prepares graduates for many career opportunities, typically in public, private, or university career paths. Some graduates of the program pursue future education and careers in medicine, law, and business. Students must enter the program with an open and creative mind. Analytical rigor is obvious, but imagination, creativity, and communication skills are just as important in resolving the many problems presented to civil engineers.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers work in many places. Some of the common ones are:
- engineering consulting firms that design and construct air and water pollution-control systems,
- industries that need to treat their air or wastewater discharges,
- private and municipal agencies that supply drinking water,
- companies that treat and dispose of hazardous chemicals,
- companies that operate treatment facilities for municipalities or industries,
- government agencies that monitor and regulate waste discharges,
- universities that teach and conduct research on environmental control,
- private and government laboratories that develop the new generations of pollution-control systems,
- international agencies that transfer knowledge and technology to the developing world, and
- public-interest groups that advocate environmental protection.
Like most engineers, environmental engineers must have a strong background in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. They learn engineering problem-solving and how to work in teams to accomplish goals. They develop the ability to apply scientific principles as part of making engineering decisions. Environmental engineers are skilled at analysis and design, and they apply their knowledge to protect the environment and human health. The breadth and multi-disciplinary nature of environmental issues requires that environmental engineers expand their skills beyond the range normally associated with any single engineering field. Environmental engineers gain knowledge and skills in areas such as chemical technology, geology, water and atmospheric chemistry, microbiology, hydrology, computers and engineering economics.
