Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering

Overview

Throughout the world, environmental engineers play a key role in defining the future of sustainable cities and communities. Creating innovations and designing systems that ensure clean and healthy environments are some of the greatest collective challenges of our time. Revolutionary strategies and designs are needed to create symbiosis between our natural and manmade environments.

Using new and advanced technologies, environmental engineers must address the world’s growing challenges, including engineering sustainable strategies coupled with the development of devices and tools to better predict and address environmental needs to provide clean environments and planning green infrastructure in conjunction with the natural environment for a changing planet.

Innovative Curriculum

With a solid foundation in engineering, chemical, biological, and ecological principles, Northeastern’s environmental engineering students learn how to tackle interconnected challenges as they relate to water, energy, air quality, and related fields. Understanding these complex interactions, particularly as they impact our built and natural environments, is embodied in our program through a holistic educational approach.

This knowledge will provide students with the core skills necessary to practice environmental engineering and work with other engineers and urban and regional planners in an interdisciplinary environment. Graduates will play a key role in planning, designing and monitoring public and private facilities to minimize the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment, ensuring regulatory compliance while mitigating the impact of contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water on human health.

Students have the option of selecting from several minors to complement their degree and personalize their path. Students can select from minors in the department, in other engineering departments, or from across the university.

The Accelerated Master’s Degree PlusOne program allows current undergraduate students to accelerate the attainment of the master’s degree by applying graduate credits taken as an undergraduate toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Current students apply to enroll in the PlusOne program. Students attain their bachelor’s degree followed by a PlusOne year to complete the master’s degree.

Students currently earning a BS in Environmental Engineering can select from the below MS degree PlusOne pathways.

BS in Environmental Engineering PlusOne Pathways Additional Prerequisites
PlusOne in Bioengineering
PlusOne in Chemical Engineering CHME 2308
PlusOne in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concentration in Water, Environmental, Coastal Systems CIVE 2331, CIVE 2334, CIVE 2340
PlusOne in Civil Engineering, Concentration in Construction Management
PlusOne in Civil Engineering, Concentration in Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental CIVE 2340, CIVE 2221, CIVE 2331
PlusOne in Civil Engineering, Concentration in Structures
PlusOne in Civil Engineering, Concentration in Transportation
PlusOne in Cyber-Physical Systems
PlusOne in Data Analytics Engineering
PlusOne in Data Architecture and Management
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Communication, Control, Signal Processing EECE 2150, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, EECE 2520, EECE 3468*
*May be replaced with another probability course
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Computer Networks and Security EECE 2150, EECE 2160, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, and two of the following: EECE 2322 (with EECE 2323), EECE 2540, or EECE 2560
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Computer Systems and Software EECE 2150, EECE 2160, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, and two of the following: EECE 2322 (with EECE 2323), EECE 2540, or EECE 2560
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Algorithms EECE 2150, EECE 2160, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, and two of the following: EECE 2322 (with EECE 2323), EECE 2540, or EECE 2560
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Electromagnetics, Plasma, Optics EECE 2150, EECE 2160, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, EECE 2530, EECE 2531
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Microsystems, Materials, Devices EECE 2150, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, and one of the following: EECE 3393, EECE 3410, or EECE 4524 (with EECE 4525)
PlusOne in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concentration in Power Systems EECE 2150, EECE 2412, EECE 2413, EECE 2520
PlusOne in Energy Systems
PlusOne in Engineering & Public Policy
PlusOne in Engineering Management
PlusOne in Environmental Engineering
PlusOne in Human Factors
PlusOne in Industrial Engineering
PlusOne in Information Systems
PlusOne in Mechanical Engineering, General Concentration ME 2355
PlusOne in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Concentration ME 2340, ME 2341
PlusOne in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics Concentration ME 3455, ME 2355
PlusOne in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Concentration ME 4555
PlusOne in Mechanical Engineering, Thermofluids Concentration ME 3475
PlusOne in Operations Research
PlusOne in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering Concentration ME 4555
PlusOne in Software Engineering Systems
PlusOne in Telecommunication Networks

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is the heart of a Northeastern education, combining rigorous coursework with hands-on experience in the classroom, in the lab, and in the field—locally and abroad. With our signature cooperative education (co-op) program, students typically gain six months of work experience integrated as part of the educational program. Both five-year, three-co-op and four-year, two-co-op program options are available.

Te’Erica Eason is pursuing a BS in Environmental Engineering. She is also on the varsity basketball team and an e-board member of the New England Water and Environmental Association. She says co-op is her guiding light and so far worked at WSP USA on hydropower. She hopes to open her own business in water distribution systems in undeveloped rural areas when she graduates.

Program Contacts


Haris Koutsopoulos
Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies,  Civil and Environmental Engineering
Affiliated Faculty,  Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Urban transportation networks and informatics, public transportation operations, mobility on demand

Academic Advising

For support with academic questions, contact the academic advisor assigned to this program.

Admissions & Aid

Ready to take the next step? Review Degree Requirements to see courses needed to complete this degree. Then, explore ways to pay for your education. Finally, review Admissions Information to see our deadlines and gather the materials you need to Apply.

Student News

Lanava Receives 2024 Compass Award

Benjamin Lanava, E’24, environmental engineering, is a recipient of the 2024 Compass Awards, which recognizes exemplary students from the senior class who, during their time on campus, have demonstrated a true dedication to a core set of values: leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern.

Aiding Communities of All Sizes with Clean Water and Renewable Energy

Three unique co-ops helped Rotem Leshed, E’24, environmental engineering, see the endless possibilities as an environmental engineer in a changing, climate-focused world. They also gave her the chance to make an impact on local communities.

Working for an Environmental Engineering Opportunity Worth Having

Between two co-ops both abroad and in Boston, Charlotte Andrews, E’24, environmental engineering, MS’25, engineering and public policy, has figured out what role she wants to play in the environmental engineering field.

Creating Change with Environmental Engineering and Community Engagement

Ben Lanava, E’24, environmental engineering, has had a research assistant role, two co-ops, two Dialogues of Civilization, and an Engineers Without Borders trip to Uganda, leading to many award nominations such as the Rhodes Scholarship.