Humans require good safe drinking water and healthy food to survive. Unfortunately, many human activities create pollution problems that directly and indirectly threaten human health. The field of environmental engineering is geared toward minimizing pollution problems through effective management and treatment of human and industrial wastes. Environmental engineers also actively work to improve conditions at contaminated sites through remediation activities.

Connecticut College, which had one of the first environmental studies programs in the country, has partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute to provide specific training for students interested in environmental engineering. Science courses in chemistry, geosciences, physics and biology at Connecticut College are combined with engineering and design courses off campus to produce the expertise needed to enter this vital field. This unique program will provide you with the skills to be able to identify pollution problems and suggest solutions to minimize and remediate contaminated sites, especially with regard to surface and groundwater drinking water sources. Students completing this degree will be well positioned to directly enter the field of consulting or to continue their studies in graduate school.

WPI Partnership Program

Environmental engineering studies is an interdisciplinary major that requires three years of study at Connecticut College and one year of study away coursework at Worcester Polytechnic Institute during the junior year. After completing the major, students will receive a bachelor of arts degree in environmental engineering studies from Connecticut College. After graduation, students are strongly encouraged to transfer to WPI for one additional year of study to pursue a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering from WPI.

Students interested in environmental engineering studies will apply to study away at WPI during the first semester of their sophomore year. During the study away year, students will complete an Interactive Qualifying Project, which is required for the B.S. degree at WPI. 

Labs and Equipment

In addition to state-of-the-art teaching facilities to support our introductory and upper-level courses in the major, our research facilities include a gas chromatograph/ mass spectrometer and atomic absorption spectroscopy for use in characterizing chemical pollutants. Our campus houses one of the state's largest recirculating flumes used to investigate fluid mechanics, and the hydraulics lab has several smaller teaching flumes, as well as an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and an electromagnetic flow meter for characterization of discharge conditions. Additional field equipment is available for use in classes and research.

Take Courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Students at Connecticut College have the opportunity to enhance their coursework by taking additional engineering courses through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy has one of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the country and is located immediately adjacent to our own campus. Connecticut College students in good academic standing are able to take courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy without additional fees.

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