Virginia Tech
AC-5: Immersive Experience

The Virginia Tech Green Engineering Program consists of a curriculum (Green Engineering Minor) plus associated research projects and collaborations on and off campus. The minor and core classes are part of the College of Engineering rather than any specific department. The program is mainly focused on undergraduates, though graduate student interest and opportunities are increasing. Green Engineering focuses on the design of materials, processes, systems, and devices with the objective of minimizing overall environmental impact (including energy utilization and waste production) throughout the entire life cycle of a product or process, from initial extraction of raw materials used in manufacture to ultimate disposal of materials that cannot be reused or recycled at the end of the useful life of a product. Life Cycle Assessment is a tool used in the Green Engineering Program, and a required course for the minor, for quantitative analysis of environmental impacts. Economic and social impacts are also considered throughout this program as the Triple Bottom Line is a concept which is used extensively. The Green Minor requires 18 credits: 2 core classes – ENGR 3124 (Intro to Green Engineering) and ENGR 4134 (Environmental Life Cycle Assessment) 2 Engineering Electives with environmental content 2 Interdisciplinary Electives with environmental focus Student demand for the Green Engineering Program is high with core classes filling up each semester. In the 2016 – 17 academic year, 148 green engineering minors from 17 majors were awarded.

2016-17 Green Minor Checksheet