Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
(OP)
I am a graduate of the local community college and have earned my applied science degree. I was hoping to transfer into another school to obtain a degree in environmental engineering. It has taken me sometime to decide this. I am 30 years old and looking at another 2-3 years of schooling before I receive my degree. I do not have any experience in environmental engineering. My question is can I expect to find a job with little or no work experience when I graduate college? Also, what types of activities should I involve myself in now so that I can try to get acquainted with the field?
any input is helpful
thank you for taking the time to read this
any input is helpful
thank you for taking the time to read this





RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
Have you thought about being an engineering geologist? We've been looking for them in Northern CA-seems to be a shortage.
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
The question is, what will the pay level be. Environmental engineering is one of the lower paid engineering fields.
Greenone has made some good points about workig as an intern. You should definitely do that and see if you like the work.
If it turns out to be "just another job" for you, you might want to investigate the salaries of the other engineering fields.
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
thank you all for yout input
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
I'm a civil engineer, about to enter grad school to pursue a PhD in environmental engineering. Environmental engineering may be one of the lower paid engineering fields, but environmental issues are gaining increasing attention from government, so the field is probably destined for future growth. And of course, environmental engineers are paid higher than environmental non-engineers.
An internship is good advice and mediocre advice. If you've never worked in an engineering firm before, by all means give it a try. We had an intern last summer who in three months learned a lot about answering phones and a little about drafting and a little about not wearing high heels to construction sites, but really, she wasn't given the opportunity to do much real work.
Environmental engineering is a broad field. You could do hydrology and drainage basin stuff; you could do waste water treatment; you could do environmental impact assessment; you could do environmental remediation. You'd be hard pressed to find a company that will expose you to the full spectrum of environmental engineering, especially not in an internship during what remains of the summer (classes start in 6 weeks).
You're probably better off spending a pre-arranged day at the college you want to attend (and spend the $35 on applying right now, because it's worth it even if you decide not to go). They ought to be able to send you brochures and probably could arrange a tour of their labs and interviews with a few professors who can tell you about their work and maybe you'll understand them. (I did this tour/interview thing yesterday and for the most part I didn't understand them but now I feel really positive about deciphering their jargon in the coming semesters.)
One of the earliest classes you should take is drafting. You can then probably get on part time at a local engineering firm and earn while you learn - it'll also probably pay a lot better than most of the other part time jobs you'll be able to get.
Don't overlook scholarship/loan opportunities. The local university where I live is currently offering a $500 scholarship to over 25s who're going back to school. They don't have an accredited engineering program, but some of their classes transfer to schools that do. Of course there's a limit to the amount of transfer credit, but it's worth keeping in mind.
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
"You will definitely be able to obtain employment with any engineering degree."
Francesca is correct:
"One of the earliest classes you should take is drafting." I would clarify - take AutoCAD, hand drafting (if it is still offered??) will teach you nothing which I would ever pay you to do. I would not hire an intern or entry level design person who doesn't know AutoCAD.
In my experience, the internship did nothing. It was in forest pest management, and I currently do land development. I learned nothing relevant.
In my opinion, the discipline your degree is in is not hugely relevant. When I graduated w/ Env Eng., I first did HazMat reporting, then moved into design air pollution control scrubbers (including the electrical control panels). I then went into land development. I have done all of this well, and can say I've had no "formal schooling" in any of those fields. I currently work with a person with a structural degree...he designs wastewater treatment plants AND stormwater management plans. I firmly believe anyone with the wherewithall to get any engineering degree can work in any field.
Remember: The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
-Steve
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
You may want to carefully consider whether or not to get your undergrad degree in environmental, however. I too thought I wanted to be an environmental engineer, but I completed a civil engineering program, with an environmental specialty, because that was all that was offered at my school.
I am now glad that I did so. The opportunities that a civil engineering degree opens to one are many times those opened by an environmental engineering degree. As I alluded to above, consider also that you can get adequate basic environmental training in civil engineering, while still acquiring the basic civil skill set, and in fact many civil graduates work in environmental-related subspecialties.
I encountered several students with environmental engineering degrees who were "retraining" as civils for various reasons when I was in school. It's much easier to make the jump from civil to environmental than the other way - when I took the PE you could pass the environmental exam with a civil degree, and the right electives. Not so the other way.
That said, if environmental is what really excites you then go for it. Whatever you do you will be doing for a long time, and the most important thing is that you enjoy doing it.
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
If you truly have a concern for the environment start applying your engineering skills now in design and solve the environmental problems out there.
At best environmental engineers are considered whistle blowers.
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
RE: Help in decision to become Environmental Engineer
A civil with environmental focus sets you up for environmental landscape restoration and stormwater management, both of which are lucrative fields now and for the foreseeable future. With a civil degree to boot, even if public money for environmental work goes away you should always be able to find a job either building new stuff or fixing decrepit infrastructure.
Environmental focus with mechancial background would enable you to develop improved industrial processes, work on sustainable building projects (solar energy, water use reduction, high efficiency materials, etc).
Environmental focus with geotechnical engineer would prepare you for brownfield remediations and groundwater cleanup. Expect plenty of non-environmental work to boot (pavement design, retaining wall, soil improvements).
Environmental as its own focus set you up for very focused work, but it might be better to have a broad background so you can adapt to changing societal priorities in the future.