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A new program for a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering within the College of Engineering has been approved by the Faculty Senate, the UMass Board of Trustees and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. While undergraduates could previously focus on environmental engineering within the civil engineering curriculum, they can now pursue it as a separate degree.

Ten existing faculty members comprise the Environmental Engineering program. The faculty members are experts in a wide range of subjects, including hydrology, effects of climate change, biotechnology, drinking water quality and treatment, PFAS removal and destruction, microbial physiology and environmental sensing.

In addition to coursework, environmental engineering students will have access to numerous experiential learning opportunities, cutting-edge facilities, and research centers that are housed by UMass Amherst, such as the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and the Water Innovation Network for Sustainable Small Systems.

The new degree is in line with the College of Engineering’s priorities as exemplified by the construction of the Sustainable Engineering Laboratories (SEL), an approximately 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a hub for clean energy research and education and is scheduled to open in 2026.

“The new B.S. degree in environmental engineering is an important addition to our department, complementing the B.S. in civil engineering that the civil and environmental engineering department has historically offered,” says Sergio Breña, department head of civil and environmental engineering.

“Our department is now well positioned to better serve those students who, for a number of years, have expressed an interest in environmental engineering,” he adds. “The knowledge gained through this program will equip students with the practical engineering tools to develop environmentally conscious solutions to societal problems.”

The college continues to offer a master’s in environmental engineering, as well as a doctorate in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental and water resources engineering (EWRE).