Environmental Engineering
The St. Thomas Environmental Engineering Minor empowers action-oriented science and engineering students to design innovative solutions at the intersection of society and the environment. Environmental engineers develop the expertise to protect and maintain clean water, air, and soil to protect human and environmental health. With aging public infrastructure facing challenges from climate change and ongoing chemical pollution, environmental engineers serve a critical role in creating resilient communities and protecting quality of life for current and future generations.
Why Study Environmental Engineering at St. Thomas?
Our hands-on approach prepares you for immediate impact in environmental engineering. Through real-world projects, you'll develop systems thinking and technical learning in water treatment, wastewater management, air pollution control, and site remediation. These experiences connect classroom concepts to actual environmental challenges, allowing you to apply your skills toward meaningful community impact.
Career Pathways and Opportunities
Our program prepares you for success across diverse environmental sectors, including top engineering consultancies (Barr Engineering, Wenck, Brown and Caldwell), regulatory agencies (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Health), public utilities (St. Paul Regional Water Systems, Met Council), and industrial leaders (3M, Xcel Energy).
Whether you are pursuing a career immediately after graduation or planning for graduate school, the Environmental Engineering Minor provides the foundation for making a meaningful difference in protecting our shared environment.
Program Overview
Course Requirements
You'll take junior-level courses in environmental engineering and science as well as a policy course geared to cover the types of environmental regulations that engineers work with. You'll also take at least one design course in water or wastewater treatment, plus eight additional elective credits from thermodynamics to water resources to hydrogeology.
Four-Year Plan
Your faculty adviser will personalize a four-year plan with you based on your goals. View the following degree plans with an Environmental Engineering minor option:
Degrees Awarded
Minor in Environmental Engineering
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
You'll take junior-level courses in environmental engineering and science as well as a policy course geared to cover the types of environmental regulations that engineers work with. You'll also take at least one design course in water or wastewater treatment, plus eight additional elective credits from thermodynamics to water resources to hydrogeology.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Your faculty adviser will personalize a four-year plan with you based on your goals. View the following degree plans with an Environmental Engineering minor option:
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
Minor in Environmental Engineering
Faculty With Real-World Experience
Dr. Ali Ling, Assistant Professor and Program Director, Environmental Engineering
Dr. Ling spent a decade as an environmental engineering consultant, serving water treatment plants and industry sites around the Twin Cities. She brings case studies and lessons learned from her work experience to teaching environmental and water resources engineering courses at St. Thomas. Her current research focuses on understanding cost and environmental impacts of advanced water and wastewater treatment to help inform policy and decision-making.
Launching Your Career in Environmental Engineering
A minor in Environmental Engineering is a great launching pad for pursuing a graduate degree (Masters, PhD) or going straight into an exciting job in consulting, municipal sector, or regulatory agencies. This field is ripe for solutions-oriented students wanting to make a difference for human and environmental health.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.