UGA Specific Information for Environmental Engineering

Engineering is about creating new solutions to existing or future problems. Engineers are problem solvers who employ science, math, analysis and synthesis to design unique and practical solutions to everyday problems. They must accomplish this often under the constraints of time, budgets, and safety and health issues. Engineers also must be concerned about the environmental, political and social impact their answers will create.

The environmental engineering discipline integrates science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation (house or home) and for other organisms, and to remediate pollution sites. It involves waste water management and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, environmental sustainability, and public health issues as well as a knowledge of environmental engineering law. It also includes studies on the environmental impact of proposed construction projects. 



Class of 2023 Career Outcomes for Environmental Engineering*

** Includes Self-Employed


Campus Resources


Additional UGA Career Center Recommendations

Potential Careers Paths in Environmental Engineering

  • Environmental Engineer: Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

  • Water Resources Engineer: Design new systems and equipment that help manage human water resources, including in water treatment facilities, underground wells, and natural spring. Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of water treatment and aquatic resource management.

  • Process Engineer: Design, implement, and optimize chemical and biochemical processes, especially continuous flow ones on an industrial scale. Turn raw materials, such as oil, natural gas or milk, into an end product (e.g. drugs, cosmetics, gasoline, beer, butter, etc.). 

  • Consultant: Solve business problems, using their own expertise in problem-solving, combined with an extensive support network of industry, function and local experts, as well as other specialists. Gather data and insights, run analyses, make presentations and pitch solutions. 

  • Engineering Consultant: Participate in project teams, offer professional advice in terms of delivering services to clients, coordinate the activities of all other team members, including those from different fields of expertise. May work with a firm or through freelance. 

  • Environmental Health Research Scientist: Analyze pressing environmental problems and develop solutions with the goal of improving public health outcomes and to protect both the environment and people. Find sources of pollution and determine possibilities to ensure the ultimate safety of those affected by pollution. 

  • Air Quality Engineer: Develop techniques to analyze and control air pollution by using sophisticated monitoring, chemical analysis, computer modeling, and statistical analysis. Some may design or modify pollution control equipment. 

  • Hydrologist: Study how water interacts with the earth's crust and also how precipitation affects people by influencing river levels or groundwater availability. Investigate contaminated sites to assess how water flow might disperse pollutants or how polluted water can be remediated. 

  • Field Engineer: Inspect and install equipment and new technologies, direct crews or workers on site, conduct research, and report on project status. Field engineers will make sure that everything works smoothly and engineering designs are being followed. 

  • Municipal Engineer: Management of public structures and services that are provided by a local government, which can include the construction and administration of public roads, sewers, waste management facilities, and parks. 

  • Wastewater Engineer: Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design. 

  • Project Engineer: Plan, organize, and oversee the construction of civil engineering projects. Direct the construction of roads, bridges, dams, pipelines, airports and other structures, and gas, water, and sewer systems. 

  • Design Engineer: Focus on the science of how things are made, are involved with the planning, designing, and improvement of concepts, and oversee the projects from their concepts to their completion. "Design engineer" encompasses a broad range of roles, including those at hydroelectric power plants, vacuums, wind turbines, etc. Work with clients to create projects and comply with regulations. 

  • Civil Engineer: Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems. 

Additional Job Titles: staff engineer, staff water engineer, renewable development analyst, stormwater management plan reviewer, civil designer 


Additional Career Research Resources

O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  

My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  

Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  

Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  

Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  

UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  

Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 

Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  

Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.


Employment Websites


Professional Associations/Resources

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER-FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

COMPANY & SALARY RESEARCH - Career Bliss • GlassDoor • Salary.com

LINKEDIN GROUPS - Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests.  To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords.  Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well. To login, visit the LinkedIn main page. 


Employers/Position Title Reported by Class of 2023 Environmental Engineering majors

The information below represents employers and position titles from the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Employer Position Title(s)
1000 Faces Coffee Wastewater Engineer
Armentrout Matheny Thurmond P.C. Civil Engineer
Bohler Engineering Staff Engineer
Bolton & Menk, Inc. Design Engineer
Brown and Caldwell Staff Environmental Engineer
Carter and Sloope, Inc. Project Engineer
CIRT Recycling Information and Data Manager
Engineering Management Inc. Environmental Engineer
Fiùtur Program Analyst
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Environmental Engineer
Kimley-Horn Civil Engineering Analyst
Kimley-Horn Solar Analyst
Kimley-Horn Civil Analyst
Mortenson Safety Engineer
Stantec Junior Civil Designer
WSP in the U.S. Graduate Environmental Engineer
* denotes no responses received.

*Source: Areas above marked with an Asterisk (*) have been created utilizing data taken from the UGA Career Outcomes Survey. The "Employers Hiring...," "Job Titles of...," "Career Outcomes for...," and "Graduate/Professional Schools and Programs..." information listed above represent UGA Class of 2023 Graduates. The lists are not exhaustive and therefore do not represent all potential career options. Click here for more detailed Career Outcomes information regarding this major.

Graduate/Professional Schools attended by Class of 2023 Environmental Engineering majors

The information below represents graduate/professional schools and programs reported through the Class of 2023 Career Outcomes Survey. To view historical Career Outcomes for this major, click here and select "Historical Data" from the navigation menu.

Graduate School Program(s)
Carnegie Mellon University Civil and Environmental Engineering, MS
University of Georgia Civil and Environmental Engineering, MS
University of Georgia Civil and Environmental Engineering, MS
University of Georgia Civil and Environmental Engineering, MS
* denotes no responses received.