University of Pittsburgh
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Founded in 1996, the Environmental Studies program has become one of the most successful interdisciplinary majors at the University of Pittsburgh. Our program equips students with an understanding of earth systems and the impact of humans on the biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere. ES graduates have gone on to careers in government, industry, sustainability, advocacy, enforcement, education, law, and international policy. The complexities of human interaction with nature demand a truly interdisciplinary approach. Our students gain this comprehensive background through coursework, internships, field camps, undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities. The Department of Geology and Planetary Science's Environmental Studies program has produced Fulbright, Udall and Truman scholarship winners, and our alumni now work in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. The program has developed strong ties with Pitt's Honors College as well as the Graduate School of Public Health and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, plus a number of professional certificate programs.

Undergraduate students majoring in environmental engineering will provide undergraduate students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with an excellent environmental engineering curriculum and skill set that will enable them to tackle increasingly complex and rapidly evolving technological problems in environmental engineering. The environmental engineering major will allow the Department to produce environmental engineers who will be prepared to pursue a professional licensure in Environmental Engineering (once the program obtains ABET accreditation) and address future challenges in environmental engineering practice; pursue graduate study in environmental engineering; or pursue a career in business, law or policy with a strong focus on the environment. The environmental engineering major leading to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering will prepare graduates to apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, chemistry (including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and kinetics), earth science, biological science, and fluid mechanics. The curriculum will prepare graduates to formulate material and energy balances, and analyze the fate and transport of substances in and between air, water, and soil phases; conduct laboratory experiments, and analyze and interpret the resulting data in more than one major environmental engineering focus area (e.g., air, water, land, energy, and sustainability); design environmental engineering systems that include considerations of risk, uncertainty, sustainability, life-cycle principles, and environmental impacts; and apply advanced principles and practice relevant to the program objectives. The curriculum will also prepare graduates to understand concepts of professional practice, project management, and the roles and responsibilities of public institutions and private organizations pertaining to environmental policy and regulations.

In this changing world, Pitt's Urban Studies major enables students to explore the fascinating complexities of urban environments. Urban Studies prepares graduates for a variety of fields and careers in the private, for-profit world as well as the public and private nonprofit sectors.

The Engineering for Humanity certificate is open to all undergraduate students and both guides and formalizes student participation in engineering projects in which social and/or environmental sustainability is a core thrust. Moreover, the certificate program addresses the significance of cultural, political, and business forces in rapid and effective penetration of new technologies. This certificate will allow students to earn credit for service learning projects. Students have the option of pursuing either a U.S. or international track. The certificate embodies significant flexibility, with only 2 of 5 courses being explicitly defined, so participating students may tailor course work to their region and topic of interest. It is expected that with appropriate planning at least two of the courses will align with departmental BS graduation requirements.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability aims to provide undergraduates the opportunity to enhance their education by including sustainability in their course of study. This certificate program in “Sustainability” transcends existing Schools and Departments at the University of Pittsburgh, capitalizes on ongoing Sustainability-growth opportunities in teaching and research at the University of Pittsburgh, and utilizes the framework of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) to execute the certificate. The objectives of the Undergraduate Sustainability Certificate are: • To develop the basic competencies needed by science, engineering, and humanities graduates to contribute quickly and effectively to the development and ultimate use of sustainable technologies, science, and practices in the U.S. and abroad, • To create opportunities for undergraduates to develop analytical skills and to learn to think critically about sustainability, • To provide undergraduates the opportunity to seamlessly incorporate sustainability into their course of study, and • To create a benchmark education program that can serve as a model throughout academia.