2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Environmental Engineering, BSE
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Undergraduate students majoring in environmental engineering develop a 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. The major objectives of the environmental engineering program are:
- Program graduates will have the skills to become successful environmental engineering professionals and problem solvers;
- Program graduates will actively engage in lifelong learning, pursue professional licensure, and be professionally active;
- Program graduates will become leaders in shaping engineering and public policy; and
- Program graduates will be prepared for the successful pursuit of advanced degrees.
The undergraduate program begins by providing study in the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and mathematics, and proceeds to the fundamental aspects of civil engineering. The curriculum focuses on the electives available for designing individualized programs suited to the student’s career goals. Emphasis is placed on societal needs and ways of meeting those needs. The environmental engineering program will seek to be accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET once it produces the first program graduate (expected in April 2017). http://www.abet.org. For more information on the civil and environmental engineering department, contact casson@pitt.edu or see http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Departments/Civil-Environmental/_Content/Undergraduate/Environmental-Engineering-at-Pitt/
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Freshman Engineering Program
All engineering freshmen pursue a common academic program, selecting a major upon completion. The freshman-year curriculum includes two specially designed engineering-oriented courses (ENGR 0011 Introduction to Engineering Analysis and Engineering 0012 Introduction to Engineering Computing ). These courses provide freshman students with an overview of the various areas of engineering, introduce certain engineering skills and tools, and acquaint students with the engineering problem solving process. Freshman students also participate in an engineering seminar, conducted in part by the Freshman Leadership Team’s Peer Advisors. These seminars provide general information on the transition to college and the improvement of study skills and provide an overview of the various engineering fields so that freshmen can make an informed choice of majors at the end of the first year. Students are also given several opportunities to visit the various programs in order to talk to the faculty and learn about the specific academic requirements. All engineering freshmen participate in the Freshman Engineering Conference during the Spring Term. Outstanding freshman students may also participate in the Fessenden Honors in Engineering Program (See Special Academic Opportunities/Programs for details). For more information on the Freshman Engineering Program, visit http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/freshman/
The freshman-year curriculum is detailed below:
Note:
* Students choose electives from an extensive list of acceptable Arts and Sciences humanities and social science courses, including a large number of languages that students are encouraged to study. Students may not take self-paced, hybrid, or online courses to satisfy the humanities/social science requirement.
Honors Courses for Engineering Freshmen
Outstanding freshman engineering students are eligible to participate in the University Honors College (UHC). Entering freshman students who are in the top 5 percent of their graduating class and have a minimum SAT I score of 1450 are eligible for honors courses. Students participating in the University Honors College may take honors courses that substitute for regular required course offerings in their first two terms. For more information on the UHC, visit www.honorscollege.pitt.edu
Honors courses offered include:
Honors Freshman Equivalent
Credits: 17
*Students who receive a C or higher in MATH 0235 will be awarded advanced placement credit for MATH 0220 .
Honors Freshman Equivalent
Credits: 18
*Students who earn a C or higher in MATH 0235 for the first term may take UHC MATH 0240 the second term and will be awarded advanced placement credit for MATH 0220 .
Students who opt to take Engr 0711 (Honors Engineering Analysis and Engineering Computing) in the fall term of their freshman year have the opportunity to take a unique service learning course in the second term. This course, ENGR 0716 Art of Hands-On System Design and Engineering , is only open to students who successfully complete ENGR 0711 with a grade of C or better. In this course, students will explore tools and techniques for inventing, designing and prototyping systems. Students will gain an introduction to ‘smart systems’; i.e.,automated systems that can sense the world and automatically respond in useful ways.
Writing-Designated Course (W Course) Requirement
Engineering students must demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively. This includes both written and oral communication and the ability to make professional presentations. Upon admission, students with an SAT Critical Reading score below 500 will be required to take at least one English Composition Course during their freshman year that will not count toward the Swanson School of Engineering graduation requirements.
All students must take at least one W course as part of their humanities/social science requirements. Please note that students may also satisfy the W requirement by taking a science course with a writing component. In addition, each engineering program has substantial communications components throughout the curriculum. Some programs require a specific course in communications. It is important to refer to each program’s graduation requirements to identify requisite communication courses.
For students planning on a dual degree from the Swanson School of Engineering and an A&S major, it is important to note the following: The University of Pittsburgh Composition Program has agreed that there is no need for students who have taken freshman writing through the Freshman Engineering English Writing Program to take Seminar in Composition (ENGCMP 0200 ) as well. Taking just one of these courses to meet the A&S General Education requirement for composition is sufficient to meet the composition requirement.
Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum
The environmental engineering major program is designed for the students who enter the program at the end of their freshman year. Transfer students are also accepted to the program as space allows. In addition, summer programs are available primarily to assist students who are not taking the structured curriculum on schedule or students participating in the cooperative study program. Students are expected to complete all prerequisite courses before advancing to the next term.
Minimum Grade Requirements
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