Environmental Engineering degree

environmental engineering student in lifejacket looking at machine while standing in a stream

Engineering for a better, more resilient future

Ready to help solve some of the world’s most pressing energy, climate change, and sustainability challenges? Environmental engineers are making a difference!

At À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ, you’ll merge your strengths in math and physics with biology and chemistry, then put them to use with the latest technology to address problems at the interface between engineered and natural systems. Meanwhile, you’ll gain two years of paid experience through six co-op work terms.

Find out how to develop food, water, air and energy systems that protect our health while also helping to protect and restore the world around us. You'll gain the skills needed to design smarter water treatment and distribution systems, clean contaminated soil, or even build a better city.

By graduation, you'll be ready for a future in energy sustainability analysis, pollution control and restoration, water resource engineering, air quality modelling, and more.

If providing solutions to pressing problems such as climate change, unequal access to clean drinking water, and global decreases in biodiversity is your passion, you’re in the right place. Lead the way to a more sustainable future with this in-demand field. Opportunity awaits!

What courses will you take in Environmental Engineering?

First-year courses

You’ll take courses in math, chemistry, physics, and environmental engineering fundamentals—building the technical foundation to model ecosystems, analyze pollution, and design sustainable solutions

September to December

  • ENVE 175 – Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
  • ENVE 100 – Environmental and Geological Engineering Concepts
  • CIVE 104 – Mechanics 1
  • ENVE 115 – Linear Algebra
  • MATH 116 – Calculus 1 for Engineering
  • ENGL 191/COMMST 191 – Communication in the Engineering Profession

May to August

  • ENVE 176 – Microbial Biology for Environmental Engineers
  • ENVE 121 – Computational Methods
  • ENVE 153 – Earth Engineering
  • ENVE 123 – ElectricalÌýCircuits and Instrumentation
  • MATH 118 – Calculus 2 for Engineering

This is a sample schedule. Courses are subject to change.

After first year

Your upper-year courses will explore drinking water treatment, air pollution control, waste management, environmental microbiology, and sustainable design, with hands-on labs and real-world engineering projects.

View all the courses required for your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

ENVE 277 – Air Quality Engineering
ENVE 382 – Hydrology and Open Channel Flow
ENVE 330 – Lab Analysis and Field Sampling Techniques
ENVE 573 – Contaminant Transport

Customize your degree in Environmental Engineering

Customize your degree in Environmental Engineering

Learn how you can enhance your degree with specializations within the program.

  • Energy & Climate Change – Gain expertise in climate change, atmospheric processes, energy systems, sustainable buildings and communities, and the environmental and social impacts of energy solutions.
  • Water Resources – Explore the physical science of water, its role in human and natural environments, water quantity analysis, GIS and remote sensing, and conflict resolution for scarce resources.
  • Pollution & Restoration – Focus on chemical and biological processes for air and water management, treatment strategies, and nature-based solutions for ecosystem resilience.
  • Modeling & Data Analytics – Build skills in coding, big data, optimization, machine learning, and image processing for environmental applications.
  • Sustainable Cities – Study urban infrastructure, transportation, and civil engineering systems, with cross-disciplinary training in urban planning, landscape design, and decision-making for sustainable cities.
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Faculty:
Faculty of Engineering

Degree:
Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering

Available as a co-op program?
Co-op only

Available as a regular program?
No

Available as a minor?
No

Protect the planet. À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµâ€™s strong background in water research can lead to careers in watershed restoration, water treatment, habitat protection, and air pollution mitigation.

Learn at one of the world's top universities. À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ is ranked 36th in the world for environmental science and engineering (Academic World Ranking of Universities 2024).

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience — and make money!

Sample co-op job titles

  • Drainage design engineering assistant
  • Environmental engineering assistant
  • Technical writer
  • Tides and water levels assistant
  • Field engineering / project coordinator
  • Industrial wastewater engineering
  • Program developer

Starting in first year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Co-op Study
Second Co-op Study Co-op
Third Study Co-op Study
Fourth Co-op Study Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Your first work term will be halfway through first year (January to April 2026).

Learn more about co-op →

What careers can you pursue with an Environmental Engineering degree?

Graduates often pursue careers that can positively impact the environment around us such as consulting, operations, and more. They typically work in government, for cities, and for environmental consulting firms.

Recent graduates

  • Environmental Consultant — Pottinger Gaherty Environmental Consultants
  • Water Resources Specialist — Golder Associates
  • Environmental Specialist — Public Works Government Services Canada
  • Project Coordinator — David Schaeffer Engineering
  • Geomatics Analyst — Monteith Sutherland Geospatial Solutions
  • Operations Specialist — CLEAResult
  • Water Resource Engineer in Training — AECOM

Possible professional designation

Learn about the future of careers in engineering.

Tuition fees for Engineering programs

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $18,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $19,000
International (visa students) $73,000
    Ìý
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Student life in Engineering

Student design teams

Have fun and develop hands-on experience through one or more of our 35+ student-led design teams!

Design teams include rocketry, concrete canoe, small airplanes, robotics, solar car, submarine racing, autonomous vehicle, Engineers Without Borders, and more.

Engineering Society (EngSoc)

is run by students and provides social and academic events and services to make your experience as a À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Engineering student the best it can be.

Benefit from mentoring for first-year students or meet other students through an annual conference, semi-formal, career fair, charity events, community outreach, and much more!

Women in Engineering

Women in Engineering (WiE) supports women and non-binary engineering students and alumni, while encouraging the next generation to pursue a future career in engineering

Any student is also welcome to join , a student-run club that promotes equality in STEM through skills workshops, discussions, and guest speakers.

Campus-wide activities

Our campus is packed with opportunities to get involved – no matter how unique your interests.

Between our 200+ student-run clubs, sports and recreation opportunities, student government, and events, student life at À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ has something for everyone.

Admission requirements

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

  • Advanced Functions (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
  • Calculus and Vectors (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
  • Physics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
  • Chemistry (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
  • English (ENG4U) (minimum final grade of 70% is required)

Admission averages: Individual selection from the mid- to high 80s

Complete the Admission Information Form once you've applied.

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.

How to apply

Apply directly to this program on your application.

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Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?

Please contact Kelsey Richardson, our Faculty of Engineering recruitment co-ordinator who can answer any questions you have.