South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Students who wish to study environmental engineering at Mines follow a curriculum that culminates in an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering (BS) degree with a specialization in environmental engineering. Students who chose the Environmental Specialization take additional science, chemistry, and chemical and biological engineering courses relevant to environmental engineering. The Environmental Engineering specialization is designed for Civil Engineering majors interested in the application of environmental concepts within engineering. The specialization focuses on chemical and biological processes to solve pressing global processes in all areas related to the environment and public health. The Environmental Engineering specialization has its own distinct curriculum within our BS Civil Engineering program. The specialization curriculum utilizes courses from CBE and Chem, along with core and environmental-focused CEE courses, preparing you for the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Environmental Engineering exam for future Professional Engineering licensure. For more details, degree requirements, and course descriptions within the Environmental Engineering specialization curriculum, please see South Dakota Mines academic catalog.

The Green Chemistry Specialization is designed for chemistry majors who are interested in a career related to green and sustainable technologies.. The Specialization will require the students to take the 300- and 400-level courses in green chemistry and processes, environmental and sustainable chemistry, and renewable energy generation and storage. . Student should work with their advisor for the application procedure and appropriate forms.

Sustainable engineering describes a new approach to solve complex environmental, economic, and social problems resulting from the rising competition for increasingly limited resources, water, and land supplies. Sustainable engineering seeks to transform engineering practices by designing or operating systems to use energy and resources sustainably. Sustainability engineers are expected to take a lead role in delivering sustainable and low-energy design projects, incorporating life cycle assessment and other innovative techniques into engineering solutions that ensure environmentally benign routes of technology developments. Students from any major at Mines may pursue a minor in sustainable engineering.

Environmental engineers design systems and solve pressing problems in all areas related to the environment and public health; sustainable design of drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment and solid hazardous waste disposal systems; development of air quality monitoring and pollution prevention programs; design of site remediation and mining reclamation programs; and development of ecosystem protection and restoration efforts, among others. A minor in environmental engineering is open to all students at Mines and an asset for anyone who wants to help solve society’s most pressing problems.

Understanding and protecting the environment is key for all fields of study and as asset to employers who want to reduce environmental lability. A minor in environmental science at Mines gives students tools needed to detect and mitigate environmental contamination and an overall academic preparation for a science or engineering career. This minor is open to all students and is an asset for anyone who wants to help solve society’s most pressing problems.

https://ecatalog.sdsmt.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=27&poid=2854&returnto=7802 Minor in Science, Technology, and Society Visionary leaders in STEM fields are most often well-rounded individuals who recognize value in multiple types of thought. A minor in science, technology, and society (STS) at Mines empowers graduates to become in-demand leaders in today’s fastest-growing industries. The STS minor supplements students’ major program with interdisciplinary coursework in the humanities and social sciences. This pathway furthers Mines’ commitment to bring interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and respect for the human dimensions of technological innovation to students as they prepare to address the scientific and engineering challenges of the 21st century. Confronting issues from climate change to biodiversity loss to sustainability, the STS minor provides an understanding of the historical origins of current problems, emphasizes effective communication across cultures and audiences, and examines the ethical implications of our choices. By connecting scientific and engineering innovation to real-world problems and analyzing the impact of those innovations on communities across the globe, the STS minor provides essential training for STEM students. Students from any discipline at Mines may pursue a minor in STS.