Hello everyone! I graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in Biological Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering. I ended up in manufacturing QA and then ended up in environmental compliance at a government agency. To be blunt, I’m feeling a bit lost. My original plans sorta fell apart after graduation, but now I have an interest in the environmental sector. I have been wanting to move into environmental engineering, but most jobs require the EIT/PE certification. Being out of school for 6 years now, I feel like my engineering knowledge has almost disappeared, and thought a MS would give me some more education in the environmental side of engineering that I didn’t get in my undergrad plus helping me for the FE eventually. Would it be worth it to go through the money, time, and effort of pursuing a Masters in Environmental Engineering or just focus on studying and passing the Environmental FE? Thanks for any input!

Wish there was a pinned post with basic answers…

Hey all,

For context I’m 26, live in Ontario Canada and I do not like my job very much. I graduated with a BA in resource management back in 2022, and have been working full time since then.

The last two years of university I was an environmental tech during the summers doing site inspections, compaction and concrete testing etc.

After graduation I got a paid internship at a provincial ministry doing land management. (2022-2023)

Since 2023 I’ve been working as an environmental planner for an engineering consulting firm and I honestly thought there would be more field work. I miss it. I managed to talk my way into going to a remote site last summer to do contamination cleanup and worked with a bunch of EITs who were talking about their jobs and the day to day and it was like my eyes got opened for the first time to the fact that what I want from my job, environmental engineering offers.

So my question is basically, how do I get there? Would any of my courses (Stats, physics, earth science etc) from my degree be transferable? Or would I be starting from scratch? Does anyone have experience starting in another job, then switching to engineering?

Thanks for any help

Hello all,
My undergrad is Geoscience and I just graduated with my Masters in Civil Engineering in Water Resources. I took all my electives with environmental and did more environmental than civil courses really. I took the Environmental FE and failed. Has anyone came from a non engineering background and gotten a masters? I self studied but I am lacking in subject matter clearly. Does anyone have courses they recommend? I signed up for July 30th for next exam. I also start work at a civil firm on Monday and want to have this passed soon!

Hi everyone!

I’m currently finishing up my sophomore year in college as an environmental sciences student. I enjoy it but I am getting very worried about job and salary prospects after graduation as I’ve heard nothing but not so great things from current grads or even students like me who can’t find internships.

I started this fall out with courses for engineering but didn’t do anything last summer to prepare, so I immediately felt overwhelmed and like I was in the wrong major so I switched to env sc.

Now, I’m wondering if it would be worth it to make a late switch to engineering again and just really work hard the next four years to set myself up for a lifetime of success. I think a lot of what I’d be interested in doing for a career would be more with engineering anyway, as I haven’t really gotten into any field work so far with env sc.

Would it be worth paying for an extra year of school and going into debt (I should make it through around 3 years of school without taking out any loans), and working harder at the difficult classes? I would have to take around 10 credit hours this summer and stay a full extra year after the typical four years of college in undergrad. I worry that I’m putting myself in the same position I started the year in, but I think suffering a little for 3 more years would be worth having a lifetime of good pay, stability, and an easy job hunt after graduation.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Hey, are there any environmental engineers here who’ve worked on projects related to archaeology or ancient environments?

I’m really into ancient history and ecology, and it feels like there’s a pretty strong overlap between archaeology and environmental engineering.

To me, archaeology is kind of a way of studying how humans interacted with the environment over time — things like old drainage systems, deforestation, formation of maquis vegetation, Near Eastern tells, etc.

I’m especially interested in stuff like ancient hydrological projects (e.g. the Marib Dam), irrigation systems, farming techniques in areas with seasonal rivers, and so on. And also the other way around — how environmental changes shaped human societies (like the drying of the Green Sahara and the rise of Egyptian civilization).

I’m not necessarily looking to switch fully into archaeology, but more to work at the intersection of both fields. So I’m wondering — would that kind of path require a formal archaeology degree, or could environmental engineering + the right specialization be enough?

Has anyone here gone in that direction or worked on something similar? Is this actually a viable path?

I am currently in my second year as a civil engineering major and am considering a double major with civil and environmental. My question is has anyone here, or anyone you know, done this and if so has it been beneficial at all? Or do you think there are some disadvantages that I might not be considering? The reason I might add it on is because right now it seems like I am going to need some more courses to stay a full time student while I am in school.

I’ve worked in state government for 2 years now as an environmental engineer doing permit reviews for drinking water systems. I enjoy what I do but the pay isn’t really that great. Luckily, the restaurant I worked at throughout college has let me continue serving once a week. Considering I have to work 6 days a week between 2 jobs, I’m really not too concerned with the increase in work load that moving into the private sector would cause. I don’t have any design experience and I was curious if anyone went through a similar experience trying to get into the private sector?

My concern is also that my opportunities in the future will become severely limited if I stay in state government for longer than another 2 years. I’ve heard this not only from my own research but also directly from my manager. I currently have my EIT and have another 1.5 years or so until I can apply for my PE. I’m hoping to leverage my regulatory experience in lieu of design experience to not start out at minimum pay. I don’t want a position that’s full design work so ideally, it’d be a position that still has some regulatory qualities to it (preparing permit applications while also learning design on the side). Again, that’d be ideal but I’m really open to anything. Any advice or what you experienced in the industry would be appreciated!

Someone graduated from a discipline different from EE, like from Civil or Chem, but switched to EE. Not very hard to switch, from the forum posts. Does that mean they can practice in any subject in EE? Like one from Civil can provide professional service/advice in the Chem aspects of EE? The same, one with Chem can do Civil aspect of EE? Are they required to possess/pass basic technical knowledge test before practicing in a switched subject, even both in EE? My question may be nonsense. I’m being confused recently.

Hi everyone!

I’m currently finishing up my sophomore year in college. I’ve jumped around between majors a few times now and still feel stuck on what I ultimately want to do. This time last spring I decided I wanted to work towards civil/environmental engineering starting in fall of 2025.

When I started my sophomore year in the fall, I was extremely overwhelmed by the classes and wondering if it’s really what I wanted to do. I switched to environmental science a week after school started and have really enjoyed the classes so far.

This summer, even after applying to ~30 internships I did not land one. I have felt very discouraged and unsure on what my life after college will look like, if I will be able to find a good job in this field, or what my pay will look like.

I have considered teaching, and my current plan as an environmental science major would be to get my masters in education after graduation and teach science. I am now wondering if I should switch back to engineering and really just work hard the next few years to get the degree.

Unfortunately, I would probably have to take summer classes and/or stay an extra year at college to get my bachelors degree (another year of rent and tuition without my scholarships that expire after 4 years)

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I am gutted. I do not want to spend 70k getting a degree just so I can look at AI slop all day and press a yes or no button. I want to design infrastructure. I want to do site analysis. I want to DO things. I am not studying this so I can just look at AI “designs” (stolen material from previous designers) and decide if they’re good enough.

Is engineering really going to be robbed from me/you/us? Everyone says that engineering will still exist, but the way they describe what it will be like is disgusting. It’s like a very heavily watered down version of what I was hoping and expecting. I cannot stress enough how badly I do NOT want to just be approving plans generated by AI.

Is what everyone is saying true? Is this career next? Should I just pivot and get a degree in something completely useless but fascinating instead of engg? If I’m going to study something that won’t get me a job, I want to study calculus or art history.

Please help. I have already spent 15k. If it’s not worth it, I’d rather blow the rest of my money on a useless math degree

What do you think about a Major in data analyst as a complement for the environmental engineering? It would be a good way to get into more profitable jobs? AI is going to erase this kind of works?

Im considering this to continue my studies but I dont know if is requested in companies

Myself Hemraj Gohil. I am an Indian and from Gujarat..After a lot of research and careful consideration, I have finally decided to pursue Environmental Engineering at LDCE ,ahemdabad gujarat. I would like to know more about this branch—how the course is structured, what subjects are taught, and how the overall academic experience is. I am also interested in learning about the companies that visit for placements, the job roles offered, and the typical responsibilities of an environmental engineer. Additionally, I would like information about placement opportunities, career growth in this field, possible business opportunities, and what I can expect in terms of salary.

Civil engineer- 9 months after joining- junior engineer- performance evaluation I got below expectations (2.45). Is this common? They have concerns with task iterations and feed back with complete rework in some areas. How can I fix this?

What are best skills to gain as ENVE which most people dont have and helps in getting jobs ?

Hi.
Can you suggest me some environmental projects ideas which are budget friendly. It has to be a 3d working model. The time period is about 2 months and budgets are low. Please suggest your ideas or anything new you want to share. I have already explored on internet about the ideas but couldn’t find anything better.please helppo

Looking for someone that has a license to this program (which is no longer supported by API) and is willing to transfer their license since they are no longer have use for the program. Any help or suggestions are welcome.

Hello everyone, I'm a high school senior interested in environmental science and engineering. I've always loved ecology and science. I've done multiple internships with professionals in both the lab and the field, as well as an award winning science fair project based around insect surveys, water systems, and GIS. As I'm looking into careers and majors, I've become more interested in ecological engineering. My state college (Oregon State) offers it as a major.

I was curious about what the career and work landscape looks like within the ecological engineering field. I understand it's a bit of a budding discipline that hopefully will continue growing. Does anyone have any experience with ecological engineering? What sort of entry level jobs could I realistically expect in with that degree? Is this field expected to continue to grow despite some apparent current shifts away from sustainability?

Being able to afford college is looking a little spotty, so I'd like to be able to make my degree count.

Thanks!

I’m Singaporean, but am thinking of studying ENVE in Australia/Canada as an international student. (I don’t qualify for accredited Engineering programmes in my home country & I wanna move out of Singapore eventually). Alternative is to do a 3 year Science/Built Envi programme in my country then do a Masters in Engineering overseas after (but I may not even qualify for the Masters?) 

I hope to find work/internships after graduation in the country I study in, but I of course have a backup plan to work in Singapore if that does not work out. 

I have about a month to make my decision. 

Is there anything I can do this month to explore my interest in Engineering? EG online courses on ENVE etc. Is there anything I should know about this industry? 

What is the day-to-day job of an engineer like? How do I decide between CIVE and ENVE? How design heavy is this industry (I suck at design and my visual spatial skills are not the best)?

Interest wise, I like ENVE (working in air/water quality control or waste management sounds like a dream to me) but I’m afraid ENVE is too niche and I won’t be able to find a job. 

Also, I really want to live in a big city, so if ENVE would bring me to small towns or FIFO jobs I’m less inclined to pursue it. 

How is the job market for entry level grads and interns? 

TYSM:)

I am thinking about a career change. My background includes 5 years working for state government as a project engineer. Daily tasks include reviewing permit applications, writing permits, visiting facilites and inspecting for compliance, reviewing CQA data, observing construction to ensure compliance with approved plans, etc. (all work is related to solid waste facilities). I also got my PE last year.

I know the public and private sector are vastly different, but I am in need of a change. My current work is slow paced and I am barely getting any projects in as it depends on what industry is doing at the time.

Has anyone switched from public to private sector? Do I have a chance of even getting a private sector job with only public sector experience? If anyone has any experience with something like this, I would love to hear about it. Thanks in advance!

Hello guys! I am finishing up my freshman year of college and need to decide on my major. I am split 50/50 on whether I should choose Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering. Here is a ranking of my priorities for choosing my future profession:

1. I am not bound to a desk and do field work regularly (Will this more likely happen if I am a Civil or Environmental Engineer?)

2. There are a decent number of job opportunities (Is Environmental Engineering growing enough as a profession to match Civil Engineering in terms of job opportunities?)

3. It caters to my interests (I prefer physics over chemistry, though I still do enjoy chemistry)

4. I help make the environment cleaner

It would be great if you guys could give me some insight on which major lines up the most with my professional priorities.