Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering applies scientific and engineering principles to improve and maintain the environment to protect human health, protect nature's beneficial ecosystems, and improve environmental-related enhancement of the quality of human life. Environmental Engineering is a sub-department of chemical engineering and civil engineering that is involved with natural resource management, the usage of water, environmental pollution, and human health. An environmental engineer is liable for improving the quality of the environment, and public health and developing resolutions to undervalue the degradation of natural resources.

Aspirants can pursue Environmental Engineering courses after the completion of class 10. These courses are available at diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels in India. Students can join Environmental Engineering through the entrance exams as well as through merit-based criteria. They are required to score at least 50% aggregate in their last qualifying exam with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology (PCMB) as compulsory subjects. They are also required to appear for entrance exams such as JEE Main, JEE Advanced, CUSAT CAT, GATE, etc exams to get admitted into this course.

Further, this course can be pursued online, and offline as well as in a distance learning mode. In India, some of the top institutes offering Environmental Engineering courses are IIT Bombay, MIT Manipal, JMI New Delhi, IIT Madras, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, and so on. The average Environmental Engineering fees range from INR 5-15 LPA. After the completion of the course, students can obtain an average starting salary of 10 LPA.

Quick Facts About Environmental Engineering

• Courses like Environmental Engineering are introduced globally for sustainable development and consumption of resources.
• Environmental Engineering devises ways to control pollution, treat wastewater, distribute safe drinking water, manage hazardous waste, etc.
• Environmental Engineering tracks the changes in the ecosystem, climate, and habitats of various animals and understands the causes of damage to the same. 

Check out the significant highlights of the Environmental Engineering courses below:

Environmental Engineering is a very advantageous field in today’s time. Environmental engineering is a major field of engineering that is essential for understanding how anthropogenic activities are impacting the condition of the planet. They monitor changes in the ecology, climate, and habitats of different creatures and identify the reasons why these things are being endangered. They research a range of topics, including public health, clean energy, dam construction and maintenance, air and water pollution, and so on. Candidates can not only have an advantageous career but also have a favorable influence on the surroundings via their work. Due to its assortment, candidates have multiple domains to select from with high-yielding jobs with handsome salaries. Businesses look for enterprising specialists who are qualified to bring ingenious ideas. The demand for environmental engineers in public sectors and private organizations for public security, threat evaluations, and multiple additional assignments is way more elevated than for professionals in other engineering courses. Further, students can build a long-lasting profession within a few years, along with an attractive salary and further job incentives. 

The scope of an environmental engineering course in India is enormous, but given so many options, it is important to focus on a certain field. Students who choose careers in wastewater treatment or hazardous waste management will have several job options in both the public and commercial sectors. Individuals with a focus on conservation and sustainable resource use are among the most highly compensated and sought-after professionals. Their employment is not only confined to desk work; they also have the chance to lead conferences and deliver presentations. Aspirants who want to work in NGOs at the national and international levels may also find employment in this sector because these organizations usually require environmental engineers to help with public health issues. Listed below are a few job profiles students can hold after completing the course:

• Geologist
• Biologist
• Ecologist
• Public Health Specialist
• Agricultural Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Waste Management Officer

Environmental engineering is a field of study that focuses on finding solutions to environmental problems. If you are interested in helping to protect the environment and addressing issues like pollution, climate change, and waste management, then this might be a good career choice for you. Environmental engineers use a variety of different skills and knowledge to come up with creative and effective ways to solve these problems. One of the benefits of studying environmental engineering is that it is a multidisciplinary field. This means that you will learn about many different disciplines like science, engineering, economics, and social sciences, all of which are important for solving complex environmental problems. You will also have the opportunity to work in many different areas, such as government agencies, consulting firms, research institutions, and industries. 

Environmental challenges are global issues that affect everyone, no matter where they live. This means that your work as an environmental engineer will have an impact around the world. You will be working on projects that aim to create sustainable solutions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environmental engineers also use innovative technologies to solve problems. They work on developing new technologies that are more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. They also help to ensure that industries and organizations follow environmental regulations to protect public health and the environment. 

Students who study environmental engineering are encouraged to look for sensible approaches to environmental issues including air pollution from vehicles and the development of alternative energy sources. To manage polluted areas and ensure both human and ecological health, this course focuses on developing regulations and controlling the harmful progression of technology. On the other hand, ecology, different ecological systems, and the interactions between organisms and their surroundings are all studied in environmental science courses. Environmental sciences involve the study of issues including pollution, prevention, natural resources, and renewable energy systems. The following table highlights the primary differences between Environmental Engineering and Environmental Science:

Students who are interested in dealing with the issues related to the environment to find scientific solutions to preserve nature take this course following their 10th class. Afterward, they may choose to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as per their interests or career objectives. These courses are offered to prospective candidates in all three modes of learning: full-time, part-time, and online/distance schooling. Details are discussed below:

Full-Time Environmental Engineering Courses

Given their respective course duration, full-time students must attend in-person classes, complete regular assignments, and take semester-by-semester offline exams on campus. They must also complete projects and perform practicals as part of the course curriculum.

Part-Time Environmental Engineering Courses

For students who cannot commit to the full-time programme or who are working in their professions full-time, this course is offered part-time. The part-time programme lasts three to four years compared to the regular course duration.

Distance/Online Environmental Engineering Courses

Similar to the part-time course, distance/online courses also last three to four years and can be pursued from anywhere. Students may find various websites or online learning platforms that provide this course along with professional certifications and placement opportunities (if included).

How Many Courses Are There in Environmental Engineering?

Mainly, students can choose from three types of courses in Environmental Engineering that are offered at different course levels — Diploma, undergraduate (BE/BTech), and Postgraduate (MTech). Below is a brief discussion of these courses to help you decide which is better for you.

Diploma in Environmental Engineering: The main objective of a three-year diploma in environmental engineering course is to provide students with extensive professional training and an understanding of the distinctive sciences. While a PG Diploma in Environmental Engineering can only be pursued after earning a degree in a relevant field, it continues to focus on improving students' knowledge of the discipline in key industries.

UG degree in Environmental Engineering: A student who wishes to devote full-time attention to the field and pursue a long-term career should pursue a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering degree, rather than a diploma.
PG degree in Environmental Engineering: Students who pursue their bachelor's degree in a related field of engineering can progress with a master's in environmental engineering, which has more specializations.

The eligibility criteria required to gain admission under various domains of Environmental Engineering have been listed in the headers below.

Diploma in Environmental Engineering

• Candidates can pursue a Diploma Course in Environmental Engineering after passing their Class 10
• To be eligible for a diploma course, it is mandatory to have a PCM background in class 10+2
• Candidates can get admission to good colleges if they have at least 40% marks
• The duration of a diploma in Environmental Engineering course is 3 years
• A diploma in Environmental Engineering has good demand, but not as much as a graduate in the field.

Undergraduate Degree in Environmental Engineering

• The duration of the BTech in Environmental Engineering course is 4 years
• To pursue an Environmental Engineering course at the undergraduate level, candidates need to have at least 50% marks during their class 10+2 from a recognized national or state-level education board.
• The core subjects in class 10+2 class should be Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics (PCMB).
• Candidates need to clear national-level entrance exams or the entrance exam of the respective institute based on the requirement of the respective college or University

Postgraduate Degree in Environmental Engineering

• Candidates should have passed appearing in the final semester of BE/BTech in Environmental Engineering
• Candidates should score at least a minimum of 60% marks in the aggregate and a satisfactory score in the GATE entrance examination

Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Courses (PhD in Environmental Engineering)

• The duration of a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering is 2 to 5.5 years
• To pursue a doctorate in Environmental Engineering, it is compulsory to have a postgraduate degree in the same
• To become eligible for a doctorate-level course, candidates need to have a minimum GATE or NET score 
• Candidates are required to score at least 50% marks in the last qualifying examination

Note: Candidates should always check the eligibility criteria before applying for a particular course by visiting their preferred university’s official website.

Required Skill Set for Environmental Engineering

Critical Thinking or Logical Reasoning: Candidates should be able to use logic and reasoning to perform their way via constructing professional conclusions.

Coordination: While multitasking, coordination among the assignments is necessary or candidates end up achieving none of the assignments.

Complex Problem Solving: Getting perforated with a convoluted tribulation but executing innovative resolutions by re-evaluating the details comes with the capacity of complicated problem-solving skills.

Enthralled Listening: Taking information in and simultaneously deciphering that information needs conservative listening. Attentive listening demonstrates the level of professionalism in the candidate.

In India, numerous entrance exams for Environmental Engineering courses are held, such as at the state level, national level, and university level. The following is a list of some of the popular entrance exams that applicants may take to enrol in the course:

JEE Main

The Joint Entrance Examination Main or commonly known as the JEE Main is a national-level entrance examination that is executed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates every year. 

GATE

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE is a post-graduation national-level entrance exam that is conducted for candidates who are inclined to be admitted into the MTech course across the institutes of India. 

JEE Advanced

The Joint Entrance Examination Advanced or JEE Advanced is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the top IITs. The top 2,50,000 candidates who qualify for JEE Main are eligible for JEE Advanced exam.

CUSAT CAT

Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test or CUSAT CAT is a university-level entrance examination conducted by Cochin University of Science and Technology for Engineering courses at the undergraduate level. It is an offline test consisting of subjects, Maths, Physics, and Chemistry.

Some of the specialisations for Environmental Engineering have been listed in the table below:

As discussed, environmental engineering degree courses come in two varieties: undergraduate courses and graduate courses. Applicants can submit applications for admission to BE/BTech if they wish to pursue a bachelor's degree. On the other hand, a student might apply for admission to ME/MTech courses if they want to pursue a master's degree. Furthermore, JEE Main is used for admission to the BE/BTech programme, while GATE is required for admission to the ME/MTech programme. Below we will discuss a standard process to get admission to Environmental Engineering courses:

Diploma in Environmental Engineering: Merit lists are used to determine admissions, however, they vary from one university to another. By registering on the official website of their preferred university, students may submit applications for this course both offline and online.

BE/BTech Degree in Environmental Engineering: Entrance exams or direct entry are the two options available to students seeking admission to BE/BTech degrees. The scores that candidates obtained in 12th grade are used to determine whether they qualify for direct admission.

M Tech Degree in Environmental Engineering: Students must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field with a minimum cumulative GPA of 60%. Further, the percentage of individuals who are granted direct admission to top-tier universities is determined by their GATE score.

If you're interested in pursuing a career in environmental engineering, you might wonder how to get into a college or university offering this program. Generally, admission to engineering programs involves entrance exams, but some institutions may offer direct admission without requiring a specific exam. It's important to note that admission processes can differ from one institution to another, so it's best to verify the specific admission requirements of each one. Here are some general steps that you can consider for direct admission without an entrance exam:

• Merit-Based Admission - Some institutions admit students based on their academic performance in certain exams, such as 10+2. High scores in mathematics, physics, and chemistry may be preferred.
• Educational Qualifications - Candidates need to make sure that they meet the educational qualifications required by the institution. Typically, a background in science with a focus on physics, chemistry, and mathematics is necessary for admission to engineering programs.
• Application Process - Apply to the college or university offering environmental engineering by applying with all necessary documents, including academic transcripts, certificates, and any other documents required for admission.
• Counseling - Some institutions may conduct counseling sessions as part of the admission process to assess your suitability for the program.
• Management Quota - Some private institutions reserve a certain percentage of seats under the management quota, which allows students to secure admission based on criteria set by the management, which may include a direct admission process.
• Lateral Entry - If you already have a diploma or degree in a related field, you may explore lateral entry programs that allow you to enter the environmental engineering program directly in the later stages.

In India, the average fee for an Environmental Engineering course is INR 5 LPA to INR 10 LPA. The course fee for this program depends on the level of the program and the type of institute (whether government or private) one wants to enroll in. The following table shows the average Environmental Engineering course fee for colleges:

The Environmental engineering course curriculum is structured to introduce the doctrines of applied science converged with environmental studies. The course concentrates on constructing professionals with satisfactory research abilities and the conservation of environmental factors such as climate change, component contamination, and biodiversity protection. Candidates are prepared to innovate and create methods for a tolerable and balanced future. 

The Environmental engineering course designates candidates with an in-depth interpretation of the current scenarios in the domain of environmental engineering and encourages them to come up with creative technological refinement and strategies to implicate public contribution in preserving the proportion of resource consumption. The three years of the undergraduate environmental engineering degree programme are divided into six semesters. Students gain knowledge about environmental preservation and sustainable use through this varied course. On the other hand, a two-year programme divided into four semesters, the postgraduate degree in environmental engineering gives students the in-depth information and skills they need. Common engineering topics, practicals, fundamental environmental topics, projects, etc. are all included in the course curriculum. The following is a list of Environmental Engineering course syllabus & subjects:

• Municipal Solid Waste Management
• Environmental Chemistry
• Geo-Environmental Engineering
• Strength of Materials
• Air Pollution Control Engineering
• Chemistry of Atmosphere
• Water Supply Engineering

Global environmental sustainability is a drawback, and every region of the world faces distinctive concerns. Studying abroad will provide you with the chance to interact with people from various cultures and settings, which will help you understand the difficulties that people confront better. Additionally, it allows you to make use of the most notable programmes and facilities, expand your horizons personally, and create lifelong experiences.

While BE programmes and environmental engineering BSc programmes studied abroad are extremely similar, BSc programmes may not be certified by an engineering authority. Most programmes are coupled with civil engineering or another related field, such as chemical engineering or architecture, in some nations, such as the United Kingdom. On average, the tuition fee for this course is USD 35,829.71 to USD 48646.72 for a year depending on the course level. Further, some popular universities to study Environmental Engineering abroad include Imperial College London, UK; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA; The University of Sheffield, UK; Rice University, USA; Newcastle University, UK; University of Ottawa, Canada; University of North Dakota, USA; and so on.

Some of the top Environmental Engineering Private Colleges have been listed in the table below.

Candidates who wish to take admission to Environmental Engineering through the direct admission procedure can refer to the following colleges listed below. Candidates need to note that these colleges may vary and it is always advised to the candidates to check the official website of the respective colleges before applying.

1. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay
2. Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
4. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy
5. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani
6. Anna University, Chennai
7. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Surathkal
8. Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad
9. Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal
10. Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar

Career options and job prospects for environmental engineers are abundant in both the governmental and private sectors. Several research centres and NGOs exist where students can learn about the future of the fields and how green initiatives are being implemented in our day and age. As many lucrative opportunities are available for students pursuing a BE/BTech or ME/MTech degree in the field, they are also offered extra benefits such as incentives, food coupons, HRA, travelling allowances, and more. The following table highlights some career options and job prospects after completing Environmental Engineering courses:

What is Environmental Engineering Salary?

Candidates who pursue this course are hired on various job profiles such as chemical engineers, biologists, public health experts, and so on. The table below highlights the Environmental Engineering salary along with the respective job profile:

Who are Environmental Engineering's Top Recruiters?

Some of the renowned companies offer job roles to environmental engineers. Some of these Environmental Engineering companies are:

• Enviro Analysts & Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
• Doshion Ltd.
• Aquatech Systems Asia Pvt. Ltd.
• Gujarat Enviro Protection & Infrastructure Ltd.
• Enviro Control Pvt. Ltd.
• Select Energy Systems Ltd.
• Nalco Water India Ltd.
• Paramount Ltd.