Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSEnvE) Degree
Program Learning Outcomes (Student Outcomes) for the BSEnvE Degree
Upon completing the BSEnvE degree, students will be able to demonstrate:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Program Educational Objectives for the BSEnvE Degree
Within 3 to 5 years of graduation, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSEnvE) degree are expected to attain the following Program Educational Objectives (PEOs):
- Excel in problem-solving and communication skills.
- Achieve leadership positions in technical or managerial areas.
- Demonstrate initiative and innovation in professional endeavors.
- Demonstrate engagement in addressing ethical, social, environmental, and global concerns.
- Remain engaged in continuing learning, including advanced degrees.
- Obtain a Professional Engineering license, if appropriate.
Requirements for the BSEnvE Degree
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BSEnvE degree must complete:
- A minimum of 33 courses (91-92 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 124 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 19 courses (50 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- The requirements for one area of specialization (see below for areas of specialization). When students declare the major in Environmental Engineering (associated with the BSEnvE degree), students must additionally identify and declare one of four areas of specialization, either in:
- Area I - Sustainable Water: Environmental chemistry, environmental restoration, smart materials, fate and transport of contaminants, sustainable water treatment, environmental microbiology, or
- Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy: Watershed and aquifer management, flood prediction, data analysis, GIS, and hydrologic modeling, or
- Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk: Climate risk management, systems reliability, transportation systems, hydrogeology, infrastructure resilience, or
- Area IV - Environmental Management: Environmental law, engineering economics, engineering leadership, ethics, and project management.
- A minimum of 14 courses (36 credit hours) from the General Math and Science courses.
- A minimum of 10 courses (25 credit hours) from the Core Requirements.
Because of the common core requirements, it is possible for students to change their area of specialization at any time, even after initially declaring the major. To do so, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
Civil and Environmental Engineering's innovative and challenging BSEnvE degree's engineering curriculum is designed to provide significant flexibility to the student. Specific details and typical course layouts by semester can be found on the departmental website.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Environmental Engineering | 91-92 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BSEnvE Degree | 124 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Math and Science Requirements 1 | ||
| BIOS 201 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| or CHEM 111 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | |
| CHEM 123 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 1 |
| or CHEM 113 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I | |
| CHEM 122 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| CHEM 124 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | 1 |
| CMOR 220 | INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING COMPUTATION | 3 |
| or EEPS 220 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATION IN THE EARTH, ENVIRONMENT AND PLANETARY SCIENCES | |
| EEPS 107 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXTREME WEATHER | 3 |
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| MATH 211 | ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA | 3 |
| MATH 212 | MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | 3 |
| or MATH 232 | HONORS MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS | |
| PHYS 101 & PHYS 103 | MECHANICS (WITH LAB) and MECHANICS DISCUSSION 2 | 4 |
| STAT 310 / ECON 307 / | PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | 3-4 |
| or STAT 305 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR BIOSCIENCES | |
| Core Requirements | ||
| CEVE 101 | FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 3 | 2 |
| CEVE 211 / MECH 211 | ENGINEERING MECHANICS 3 | 3 |
| CEVE 310 | PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 3 | 3 |
| CEVE 315 | URBAN WATER SYSTEMS: SOURCES, TREATMENT, DISTRIBUTION, RESOURCE RECOVERY AND REUSE | 3 |
| CEVE 316 | URBAN WATER SYSTEMS LAB: WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES | 1 |
| CEVE 363 | APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS | 3 |
| CEVE 411 | ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND CLIMATE | 3 |
| CEVE 412 | HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING | 3 |
| CEVE 481 | INTRODUCTION TO SENIOR DESIGN | 1 |
| CEVE 482 | SENIOR DESIGN | 3 |
| Area of Specialization | ||
| Select 1 from the following Areas of Specialization (see Areas of Specialization below): | 30 | |
Area I - Sustainable Water | ||
Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy | ||
Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk | ||
Area IV - Environmental Management | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select electives to fulfill the remaining BSEnvE degree requirements (see below for suggested elective courses) 4 | ||
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Environmental Engineering | 91-92 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 1-2 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 124 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | Or an equivalent approved course. |
| 2 | The Civil and Environmental Engineering department has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 141 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I is not eligible for meeting the requirements of Environmental Engineering major. |
| 3 | Courses that introduce fundamentals of civil and environmental engineering primarily targeted at students with diverse science, engineering, and humanities backgrounds (CEVE 101, CEVE 211, CEVE 310). |
| 4 | See also the University Graduation Requirements footnote above denoted with an *. |
Areas of Specialization
To fulfill the remaining BSEnvE degree requirements, students must complete a total of 10 courses (30 credit hours) from the four areas of specialization as follows:
- 8 courses (24 credit hours), consisting of a minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from each of the four areas of specialization as breadth.
-
2 additional courses (6 credit hours) from one of the four areas of specialization for a total of 4 courses (12 credit hours, including breadth) in that specific area as an area of specialization.
Please Note: Of the 10 required courses (30 credit hours) for the area of specialization, a minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) must be taken from departmental (CEVE) course offerings.
Area of Specialization: Area I - Sustainable Water
All students must select a minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area I. Students pursuing the Area I - Sustainable Water area of specialization must complete:
- 4 courses (12 credit hours) from Area I - Sustainable Water
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area IV - Environmental Management
Please Note: Of the 10 required courses (30 credit hours) for the area of specialization, a minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) must be taken from departmental (CEVE) course offerings.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| SUSTAINABLE WATER PURIFICATION FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD | ||
| CHEMISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION RESTORATION | ||
| SMART MATERIALS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| FATE AND TRANSPORT OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY AND MICROBIAL ECOLOGY | ||
Or any approved (Area I - Sustainable Water) course from CEVE course offerings | ||
| Select 2 courses from the Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area IV - Environmental Management Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Area of Specialization: Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy
All students must select a minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area II. Students pursuing the Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy area of specialization must complete:
- 4 courses (12 credit hours) from Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area I - Sustainable Water
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area IV - Environmental Management
Please Note: Of the 10 required courses (30 credit hours) for the area of specialization, a minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) must be taken from departmental (CEVE) course offerings.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| SUSTAINABLE DESIGN | ||
| ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| COASTAL HAZARDS IN A CHANGING CLIMATE | ||
| CLIMATE DYNAMICS | ||
| EARTH’S NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION | ||
| THE SCIENCE OF NATURE-BASED CARBON SEQUESTRATION | ||
| EARTH SYSTEMS MODELING I: PHILOSOPHY AND FUNDAMENTALS | ||
| EARTH SYSTEMS MODELING: NUMERICAL TECHNIQUES AND APPLICATIONS | ||
Or any approved (Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy) course from CEVE course offerings | ||
| Select 2 courses from the Area I - Sustainable Water Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area IV - Environmental Management Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Area of Specialization: Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk
All students must select a minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area III. Students pursuing the Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk area of specialization must complete:
- 4 courses (12 credit hours) from Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area I - Sustainable Water
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area IV - Environmental Management
Please Note: Of the 10 required courses (30 credit hours) for the area of specialization, a minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) must be taken from departmental (CEVE) course offerings.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| TIME-DEPENDENT SYSTEM RELIABILITY METHODS AND APPLICATIONS | ||
| SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE MATERIALS | ||
| URBAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
| DATA-DRIVEN MODELS FOR CLIMATE HAZARD | ||
| FLUID FLOW IN FRACTURED ROCKS | ||
Or any approved (Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk) course from CEVE course offerings | ||
| Select 2 courses from the Area I - Sustainable Water Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area IV - Environmental Management Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Area of Specialization: Area IV - Environmental Management
All students must select a minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area IV. Students pursuing the Area IV - Environmental Management area of specialization must complete:
- 4 courses (12 credit hours) from Area IV - Environmental Management
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area I - Sustainable Water
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy
- 2 courses (6 credit hours) from Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk
Please Note: Of the 10 required courses (30 credit hours) for the area of specialization, a minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) must be taken from departmental (CEVE) course offerings.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: | 12 | |
| ENGINEERING ECONOMICS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT | ||
| UNCERTAINTY AND RISK IN URBAN INFRASTRUCTURES | ||
| ETHICS AND ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW | ||
| CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT | ||
| REMOTE SENSING | ||
Or any approved (Area IV - Environmental Management) course from CEVE course offerings | ||
| Select 2 courses from the Area I - Sustainable Water Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area II - Air, Climate, and Energy Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Select 2 courses from the Area III - Resilient Infrastructure, Disasters, and Risk Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Electives for the BSEnvE Degree
Any departmental (CEVE) course offering not taken to fulfill an Area of Specialization requirement can be taken as an elective. Other suggested courses are listed below.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 320 | CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY | 3 |
| BIOS 271 | ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| BIOS 374 | GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY | 3 |
| BIOS 559 | SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT ASSESSMENTS | 3 |
| CHBE 382 | INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY | 3 |
| EEPS 434 | CLIMATE OF THE COMMON ERA | 3 |
| EEPS 436 | GIS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS | 3 |
| ENST 202 / HUMA 202 | CULTURE, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY HUMANITIES | 3 |
| ENST 210 | SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: AN EXPLORATION OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS | 3 |
| ENST 250 | UNDERSTANDING ENERGY: ENERGY LITERACY AND CIVICS | 3 |
| ENST 281 / CHBE 281 | ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | 3 |
| ENST 301 | ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 3 |
| ENST 313 / ARCH 313 | CASE STUDIES IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN | 3 |
| ENST 315 | ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH | 3 |
| ENST 322 / ARCH 322 | CASE STUDIES IN SUSTAINABILITY: THE REGENERATIVE REPOSITIONING OF NEW OR EXISTING RICE CAMPUS BLDGS | 3 |
| ENST 332 / ANTH 332 | THE SOCIAL LIFE OF CLEAN ENERGY | 3 |
| ENST 415 / SOCI 415 | THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT | 3 |
| ENST 437 / ECON 437 | ENERGY ECONOMICS | 3 |
| ENST 480 / ECON 480 | ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY ECONOMICS | 3 |
| HEAL 375 | THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH | 3 |
| STAT 485 | ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS AND DECISION MAKING | 3 |
Policies for the BSEnvE Degree
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the BSEnvE degree should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, under Declaring Majors, Minors and Certificates, students may not obtain both a BA and a BS in the same major.
- Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSEnvE) Degree may not additionally pursue the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) Degree.
- Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSEnvE) Degree may not additionally pursue the BA Degree with a Major in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Civil and Environmental Engineering website: https://cee.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BSEnvE Degree
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Departmental Honor, Award, and Scholarship Opportunities
- Distinction in Research and Creative Work: The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will recognize graduating seniors for outstanding creative contributions with the award of Distinction in Research and Creative Work. The Department recognizes this award as being a significant honor. As such, it will be awarded to no more than 20% of a graduating class (rounded up to next whole number). This award shall be given for significant contributions in research, design, and creative projects beyond class assignments (except CEVE 499). Generally, it is expected that the student recipients will have performed research/design for a minimum of two academic segments (one segment = one academic year or one summer) during their undergraduate career (either for credit or pay). It may be given for one outstanding piece of work for consistent meaningful contributions made over the course of an undergraduate career. All majors (BA and BS) are eligible and will be considered for this distinction in the spring prior to their graduation.
- Rice Global Forum: Rice Global Forum (RGF) is an engineering and construction industry funded center which is in its second decade of operation. It was founded by Ahmad Durrani, past chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice. RGF funds and facilitates interaction with the engineering and construction industry, particularly oil and gas related work. RGF funds $25,000 worth of scholarships every year. In addition, RGF also consistently sponsors and supports Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and has donated to other student clubs as well in addition to holding an engineering design competition every year in February during National Engineers Week.
Rice undergraduate students completing studies in science and engineering may have the option to pursue the Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering (MCEE) degree. For additional information, students should contact their undergraduate major advisor and the (MCEE) chair of the department graduate studies committee.
Student Organizations and Clubs
- Engineers Without Borders (EWB): https://ewb.rice.edu/
EWB partners with developing communities worldwide to design engineering solutions that will improve their standards of living. It is an important component of the Civil and Environmental Engineering program. BA students with their flexible curriculum are encouraged to participate. This exciting endeavor allows undergraduates to have an experience in a developing country, where they are able to design and build a project to help society. Students have been attracted to the EWB program in large numbers and our local chapter is one of the most successful in the United States. Some CEVE courses are EWB-related, providing the opportunity to also obtain credit hours. - Society of Women Engineers: https://swe.rice.edu/
The Society of Women Engineers aims to empower women to pursue and achieve their full potential in science and engineering-related fields. We provide opportunities in professional development, academic and post-graduate planning, community outreach, and social events.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Civil and Environmental Engineering website: https://cee.rice.edu/.