Environmental Engineering

Why Choose ONU's Environmental Engineering Concentration?

Establish yourself as a leader in sustainability by adding a concentration in environmental engineering to your Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering. Designed for problem-solvers eager to make an impact, our program integrates a hands-on, exploratory approach. You’ll connect classroom theory to practical application by participating in labs, collaborative projects, and professional experiences that prepare you to innovate.

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As an environmental engineer, your focus on protecting our earth drives you to design systems that meet society’s needs today without compromising tomorrow. ONU’s concentration equips you to turn curiosity into action and impact with:
●    Expert faculty mentors who tailor their guidance to your goals and invest in your academic and professional growth.
●    Immersive, hands-on learning that cultivates interdisciplinary expertise, teamwork, and technical skills to advance your career.
●    Experiential opportunities through student organizations, environmental research, and competition teams that deepen your sustainability knowledge and explore your potential.
●    Internships and co-ops with leaders like AECOM, Verdantas, or the National Resources Conservation Service — often leading to full-time employment and a thriving future.

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Turn Classroom Learning Into Real-World Impact

At ONU, your academic journey is shaped through experiential learning and hands-on application. This approach transforms classroom theory into tangible experiences and reimagines how environmental engineering connects to daily life. Through this immersive framework, you sharpen your technical skills and position yourself as an effective problem-solver.

Uncover Your Professional Potential

Opportunity surrounds you at ONU. From career-launching co-ops and internships to immersive research projects, we prioritize professional development through real-world work experiences and personalized mentorship that ignite your confidence.

Co-op Program

ONU environmental engineering students have the opportunity to study issues all over the country.

Generate New Ideas Through ONU’s Competition Teams

Join ONU’s collaborative competition teams to get connected and design creative solutions to real-world environmental challenges. Together, you and your engineering classmates compete against top schools across the U.S. and participate in national sustainable design competitions, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Campus RainWorks Challenge or the People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition.

More About Competition Teams

Environmental Engineering Courses and Curriculum

ONU’s Environmental Engineering concentration is grounded in hands-on learning and exploration, encouraging you to ask bold questions and uncover new solutions that care for our communities and planet.

You broaden your engineering expertise through specialized courses in ecology, water and wastewater treatment, environmental systems, and ethics. To tailor your education to your interests, you can also choose electives in environmental design, watershed management, and more. This applied, interdisciplinary coursework builds a strong foundation in engineering principles, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

Each experience, from labs to fieldwork to collaborative research, deepens your technical knowledge and prepares you to design sustainable systems that protect the earth for future generations.

To earn your bachelor’s degree with a concentration in environmental engineering, you must complete 129 credit hours of coursework.
Your journey to become a civil engineer with a concentration in environmental engineering culminates in a senior capstone project, where you will apply your knowledge to real challenges. From designing a rooftop solar and rain garden system or managing a stream corridor restoration at Yellowstone National Park, your capstone project empowers you to embrace your ecological and engineering passions and explore what’s next in sustainability.
The enduring care and encouragement of our professors shape your experience in the environmental engineering concentration. From your first lab to your senior capstone, they mentor you every step of the way, ensuring you have the practical guidance and industry insight to excel.

Meet ONU's Faculty

Study in Cutting-Edge Facilities

At ONU, you have the opportunity to learn, research, and innovate with your peers and mentors in the 105,000-square-foot James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building. It offers large-scale project and design space for capstones, competitive design projects, and other direct industry engagement. Additionally, it provides modern research laboratories where supportive faculty guide your exploration.

The new home of the College of Engineering

The James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building is a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building.

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

Careers in Environmental Engineering

Becoming a civil engineer with an environmental focus opens up a world of opportunity. Equipped with hands-on experience, technical expertise, and a drive to improve sustainability, you can pursue roles in consulting firms, government agencies, and private industry — designing systems that protect our planet and enhance our communities.

Alumni from the environmental engineering concentration have used their diverse skills and innovative ideas to launch careers at:
● AECOM
● EMH&T
● Jones & Henry Engineers
● Verdantas

Reach Your Potential at ONU

Want to be a part of moving progress forward? Gain the technical skills and expertise to design innovative, sustainable solutions with ONU’s Environmental Engineering concentration.

Take the first step toward a new academic adventure. Apply to Ohio Northern University today.