Well educated graduates capable of handling the diverse
problems of pollution and man's impact on the environment are in
continuing demand. Safe drinking water, clean air, efficient
wastewater systems, adequate refuse disposal, control of hazardous
wastes (chemical, biological and radiological) and sound
management of our fragile ecosystems are constant expectations.
All of these issues must be addressed on a daily basis to insure a
healthy environment.
The educational objectives of the undergraduate program are:
To instill in students a desire to learn and apply their
knowledge and skills to prevent and solve environmental
problems.
To provide students with educational experiences in science,
analysis and design, as well as in social and cultural studies
that will prepare them for productive careers in the
environmental engineering profession as well as other
professions.
To provide students with education experiences that will
enable them to work effectively with other professionals and
to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely.
General Information
Environmental engineering sciences is a field in which
engineering and scientific principles are applied to protect and
preserve human health and the environment. The field embraces
broad environmental concerns, including air and water quality,
solid and hazardous wastes, groundwater protection and
remediation, water resources and management, environmental policy,
radiological health, environmental biology and chemistry, systems
ecology, water and wastewater treatment, and wetlands ecology, and
toxicology.
The Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences offers the
following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Engineering, Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor
of Philosophy. The Bachelor of Science program is accredited by
the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
The University of Florida's Department of Environmental
Engineering Sciences is one of only a few programs in the nation
that offer their own environmentally oriented engineering degree.
It has its own full-time faculty, and occupies three buildings
that house classrooms, faculty, administration and laboratories
for both teaching and research.
At the undergraduate level, the Environmental Engineering
program provides students with excellent engineering and sciences
fundamentals specifically focusing on the principles of water
supply treatment and distribution; wastewater collection,
treatment and disposal; air pollution control; environmental
resources, economics and policies, green engineering, and
environmental sciences.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for graduates of the Environmental
Engineering Sciences program are extensive. A major factor in
attracting students to this field is the esteem of serving society
and the environment by learning the tools and techniques to
balance the needs of both.
Typical areas of employment are: design and development
consulting firms; engineering and construction companies;
regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection;
service industries: water treatment, waste water treatment, solid
and hazardous waste disposal; research organizations: national
laboratories, universities; and manufacturing industries
Undergraduate Instruction
Our society needs individuals with an environmental engineering
education. These engineering students require a basic
understanding of scientific principles upon which the concepts and
techniques of engineering can be built. An appreciation of the
social, economic, and political factors involved in translating
theory into practice is also important.
Traditionally, comprehensive education in environmental
engineering sciences has been at the graduate level, although
options or concentrations in this field have been offered by some
engineering departments in their undergraduate curricula. Such was
the case at the University of Florida until the late 1960's when
the Board of Regents authorized the Department of Environmental
Engineering Sciences to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in
Environmental Engineering.
Although the undergraduate curriculum is a broad-based program
and does not provide for a specialty concentration, it is possible
to enhance areas of special interest through the selection of
electives.
Combined BS/ME Program
Revised March 6, 2008
Qualified students may participate in a combined BS/ME program. In
this program qualified undergraduate students will be allowed to
shorten the time required in their ME degree program by completing
a maximum of twelve (12) credits of graduate level courses in
their final semesters of their BS program. These credits will
count toward satisfaction of curriculum requirements in both the
BS and ME degree programs. The combined BS/ME program will provide
a fast track for qualified undergraduate students to obtain both
degrees, thereby allowing these students an earlier entrance to
their professional careers. The program will provide incentive to
encourage good undergraduate students to pursue graduate education
at the University of Florida.
Students may apply for the program if their upper division GPA is
3.30 or greater after completing at least 19 credits of Department
of Environmental Engineering courses (EES or ENV prefix).
Acceptance into the program does not ensure acceptance into
graduate school. Normal application for admission to graduate
school and satisfaction of admission deadlines are necessary, and
the student must complete all graduate school requirements and be
accepted into graduate school in order to continue in the program
at the graduate level.
The courses (maximum of 12 credits) that would be double-counted
in the BS and ME programs must be graded graduate level courses
offered by the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences
except the following:
ENV 6910 Supervised
Research
ENV 6916 Non-thesis
Project
ENV 6940 Supervised
Teaching
ENV 6971 Research for
Master’s Thesis
ENV 6972 Research for
Engineer’s Thesis
ENV 7979 Advanced
Research
ENV 7980 Research for
Doctoral Dissertation
Graduate courses from other departments may
apply only after review and approval by the Environmental
Engineering Sciences curriculum committee. All special
requirements of the technical electives as outlined in the
undergraduate catalog (capstone design, design and laboratory
experience) must also be satisfied.
Students admitted into the BS/ME program will not be eligible for
teaching or research assistantships, since they would not be
classified as graduate students until they receive their BS
degree.
Sales Engineering Certificate Program
For undergraduate engineering students, this certificate
program provides academic background for career progression in
sales, managerial and entrepreneurial pursuits. The program is
designed to broaden the scope of the engineer, allowing effective
communication with other professionals and providing business
fundamentals necessary to promote new technologies and technical
products.
For additional information, students should contact the
associate dean for academic programs in 312 Weil Hall. To arrange
to complete the Certificate in Sales Engineering, students should
contact their departmental academic advisor.
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is based on courses
completed and quality of academic record. Applicants should have a
cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, and a minimum
cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the critical tracking courses (chemistry,
calculus, differential equations, and physics), in accordance with
College of Engineering admission guidelines. Entering students
should apply through the University Registrar. Current UF students
should apply to the Department Academic Office in 216 Black Hall.
Community College Students
Admission of Community College students is based on achievement
of an AA degree and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the 8 critical
tracking courses (chemistry, calculus, differential equations, and
physics).
Transfer Students from Four-year
Institutions
The requirements listed under the previous two sections also
apply to transfer students from four year institutions although an
AA degree is not required. Students are advised to seek a transfer
as soon as the critical tracking courses are completed. There is a
limit to the number of upper division courses that may be applied
to the UF degree. Each student should determine, in consultation
with his/her advisor, the number of transfer credits to be
accepted by the UF Registrar and the department.
Credit for Prior Work
Credits earned at a two-year Florida community college or
four-year ABET approved engineering college may be applied to a
student's program if they are in appropriate courses. This should
be discussed with the faculty advisor as soon as possible after
entering the Department.
Academic Advisement and Registration
The Department is committed to proper academic advisement and
can assist students at all stages of their academic program.
Students should contact the Department for information about
environmental engineering, the EES curriculum, or the details of
admissions and transfer procedures. The Department will assign
each student an advisor who will help in choosing appropriate
courses.
Students will be assigned an advisor once they declare a major
in environmental engineering and are admitted to the Department.
Students are expected to meet with their advisor at least once per
semester. In particular, students should have a course plan
approved by their assigned advisor before registering. Students
should make an appointment for advisement in advance of
registration. Registration is accomplished via the TELE-GATOR
system, a telephone registration procedure or ISIS, a web based
computer system.
Course Substitutions
Course substitutions should be requested at least one semester in
advance of the semester in which a student plans to take the
substitute course. Petitions are first reviewed by the Department,
then go to the College Petitions Committee for final action.
Students can start the process by obtaining a petition form from
the Academic Office, completing the form, and submitting it to
their faculty advisor. Students should contact the Academic Office
to determine the decision that was made on the petition. The
University and Upper Division GPA must be at least 2.0 for
petitions to be considered.
Policy and Procedures
The official source of information about the University of
Florida (UF) and the Department's academic program is the
Undergraduate Catalog. Catalogs can be requested from the
University of Florida Office of the Registrar: 201 Criser Hall,
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000, Phone: (352) 392-1365. The catalog is also available on-line at www.reg.ufl.edu/catalog.html.
Rules and regulations of the College of Engineering, which apply
to our students, are given in the Catalog. Questions about the
Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences (EES), the B.S.
degree program, or any of our procedures or policies can be
addressed to the Department, in Room 216 Black Hall.
College Probation
Students whose College GPA drops below 2.0 based on all courses
taken after attaining 3EG status, will be placed on probation.
Probationary students are required to visit the Department office
to be assigned to a faculty member who will devise a program of
coursework with defined goals for grades. Failure to comply with
the planned program will result in denial of further registration
in the Department and the College. A College GPA in the range of
2.0 to 2.25 will result in a student receiving counselling as
recommended by the College of Engineering.
Minimum GPA in EES Courses
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all UF courses,
in all upper division courses (after student has earned 60
credits), and in all required courses (including electives) with
an EES or ENV prefix taken as part of the student's formal
curriculum. Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in
all critical tracking courses.
Course Drop Policy
The Department adheres to the College of Engineering Policy on
dropping courses after the drop-add period, as explained
in the current Undergraduate Catalog.
Student Chapters of Engineering and
Professional Societies
A number of societies have student chapters at UF. Those most
closely associated with EES are the Society of Environmental
Engineers, Florida Water Environment Association, the Air and
Waste Management Association, and the Wetlands Club. The
Department has a listing of current officers who can provide
membership information. Many of the groups also maintain their own
Web sites; check the Department Student Organizations page.
License Examinations
It is strongly recommended that students take the Fundamentals
of Engineering (FE) examination during their last semester at UF.
This is the first step in obtaining registration as a Professional
Engineer (PE). The PE license is essential for most career
engineering positions. The FE examination is given each April and
October.
Applications must be filed 120 days prior to the examination.
Application forms can be obtained from: The Department of Business
and Professional Regulation in Tallahassee, FL at (850) 521-0500
or on-line at www.fbpe.org.
For more specific information contact:
University of Florida
Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences
216 A.P. Black Hall
P.O. Box 116450
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL. 32611-6450
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