Drexel University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Environmental engineering is concerned with the design of systems, policies and processes to protect human, animal, and plant populations from the effects of adverse environmental factors, including toxic chemicals and wastes, pathogenic bacteria, and global warming, and to design systems that enable a more sustainable society.

Environmental engineers design systems, processes and policies to minimize the effect of human activities on the physical and living environment so that we can all live more healthy and sustainable lives. Environmental engineers work to meet human needs for resources in ways to minimize impact on the ecosystem and adverse effects on health. This field builds on other branches of engineering, especially civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering. It also builds on information from many of the sciences, such as chemistry, physics, hydrology, geology, atmospheric science, and several specializations of biology (ecology, microbiology, and biochemistry). Students who elect to study environmental engineering will become familiar with many of these areas because maintaining and improving the environment requires that problems be evaluated and solutions found using a multidisciplinary approach.

The environmental science major allows students to pursue a concentration of interest, while receiving an overall breadth of knowledge from the core courses in the discipline. The following concentrations are available:

Biodiversity and Evolution
Ecology and Conservation
Environmental Science

The first two concentrations — Biodiversity and Evolution and Ecology and Conservation — represent areas of combined expertise of researchers at Drexel and the Academy. The Environmental Science concentration is a more generalized track for students who are not sure of their career goals and want a broader diversity of training in the environmental sciences.

The Environmental Studies and Sustainability bachelor’s degree program is for students who want to address contemporary environmental issues from the perspective of the humanities. Environmental studies graduates will have a firm foundation in international studies and foreign language, allowing them to participate in cross-cultural dialogue and help people around the world understand environmental issues.

By taking courses alongside their classmates in the environmental science and geoscience programs, students will gain a valuable background in field research and the basics of environmental sampling. This technical expertise will complement the liberal arts skills they will gain in communication, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, and leadership. Through Drexel’s Co-op program, students will gain the competitive edge of occupation-specific skills and professionalism.

The intent of the Minor is to prepare students to engage and analyze future design challenges from a sustainability perspective. Students completing this Minor will be able to approach these challenges in a resourceful and insightful way with a solid foundation of sustainability principles. The emphasis on collaboration and trans-disciplinary teamwork will allow our students to serve as agile leaders in their future careers and be active participants in the critical discourse of our field. The Minor requires students earn a total of 24 credits.

Environmental Sociology examines interactions between human societies and the natural environment. With a concentration in Environmental sociology, sociology majors can understand how social, economic and political arrangements affect some of the most pressing issues of our time including climate change, environmental causes of disaster, environmental injustice, energy use, agriculture and food systems.

The Green Energy and Sustainability Minor aims to familiarize students with recent technological developments in renewable energy technologies and sustainability, as well as to conduct experimental work in these areas. Students will explore the principles, characteristics and operation of various renewable energy sources, storage devices, and energy conversion systems. In addition, this minor is designed to encourage students to enhance their knowledge of the fields of sustainability and green energy technologies, so they may be able to expand their skills and career opportunities.

https://drexel.edu/sustainability/academic-mission/teaching-climate-and-sustainability/