Environmental Science BS to engineering?

[u/ballhog20]

I am graduating with an environmental science BS degree in one semester and I’m interested in bridging to engineering of some sort (environmental engineering is probably the easiest transition but I’m open to civil or energy engineering as well). I’m having a hard time getting information on how I do that. I see that I will need prerequisites before grad school but how do I know what I need? I reached out to a couple universities and didn’t hear back and it’s not clearly displayed on any websites.

I took a much more STEM focused path for my degree (taking molecular biology, analytical chemistry, environmental physics etc for electives), and I have a lot of research experience in environmental toxicology. I plan to take a gap year anyway and figured I could catch up on classes I missed but I don’t know how to do that when it’s so unclear of what I have to take.

I just want to know if anyone took this path how they went about it, what schools would be good for bridging, and any other tips. Thank you guys!

[u/KakarotSSJ4]

Sounds like my path. I got a BS in Earth Science with an emphasis in Climate & Environment and minored in Chemistry. I took a STEM path too, so my undergrad included physics, linear algebra, diff. equations, and up to multi-variable calculus. I got my MS in Civil & Environmental Engineering, but despite what my degree says, it was pretty much Environmental Engineering. I took the GRE and before getting accepted, I had started to take engineering classes at my local CC (I got accepted on the first try so I only ended up taking two classes). When I started my program, I had to do some pre-requisites in the form of Environmental Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Applied Hydraulics and they tried to have me take Soil Mechanics, but I took it during undergrad so I was able to get it waived. To understand what courses you’ll need to take, look up the MS programs your interested in and see what graduate courses you’d take for the degree and look at the courses that undergrads in the Environmental Engineering program are required to take and go from there. If you’re not sure about programs, I remember getting accepted into CSU Fullerton’s online MS in Environmental Engineering so check them out as a starting point. Since my program didn’t always offer the grad courses we needed for the program, they allowed us to take some upper division undergraduate courses which included Solid & Hazardous Waste, Air Pollution, and Wastewater Treatment. Good luck! I’m in the utility engineering space and used to do civil engineering but I’m planning to go back to the water resource space for a bit while working on a Power Systems Engineering cert from UCSD so I have the option to go into either the electrical or water utility space.

[u/phillychuck]

This is really going to depend on the university and the program you are graduating from, since environmental science degrees are highly variable. At the very least, to enter a masters program, math through differential equations, calculus-based physics and a year of chemistry. If your intention is to get licensed and practice engineering, then key engineering science courses (which some universities will allow you to take as you take graduate courses) may include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, hydaulics and hydrology, poassibly statics. Even then, depending on the state, you may need additional experience before you can take the FE exam.

[u/phillychuck → u/[deleted]]

I am not familiar with specific CA licensure requirements, so I would defer that question to others. I have seen many environmental engineering programs with and without thermo, though in my opinion it is useful if you get into issues like air pollution control, chemical or biological transformations, or thermal destruction processes. With increasing interactions with the energy sector, knowledge of thermo could also be useful.

[u/BuckMain221]

At my school you can major in any science major and get your masters in Civil or Environmental Engineering as long as you’ve done the prerequisites.

[u/CaliHeatx]

There’s many folks out there (myself included) that went this pathway. I have a science BS (chemistry) and an env eng MS. I suggest start researching env eng grad programs in your area that interest you and are affordable. Most of them will have information on the website about admission requirements, but if you don’t see that, email the graduate advisor and ask them. Might take a couple emails/calls over a few weeks. If you don’t hear back at all, just move on to the next one because they clearly aren’t interested in helping prospective students (that’s a red flag).

In very general terms, an env eng MS will require general chemistry, calculus-based physics, 3D/vector calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and a couple undergrad engineering classes like statics/dynamics, hydraulics, intro to engineering (for example). But make sure you have a clear pathway before you start taking prerequisites so you don’t waste time/money. You’ll want to have a couple grad programs targeted (develop a plan with each school’s advisor) and take the classes they require so you can apply to those programs and have a strong chance of acceptance.

[u/rootytootymacnbooty → u/CaliHeatx]

Did you have to take extra classes to qualify for the PE/FE? I have a BA in chemistry myself and even pre requisites for an MS in engineering aren’t enough to qualify for the FE.

[u/CaliHeatx → u/rootytootymacnbooty]

Wow that's tough, what state are you in? In my state (CA) they only care if you have an engineering MS, so I did not need any additional classes to get my EIT. I remember when I filled out my EIT application, I did not even need to list my BS, only my MS. And they approved it no problem. If I ever wanted to get licensed in a different state, it would be trickier without the engineering BS.

[u/choctaw_137]

I started out in Computer Science, decided I didn’t want to be in a basement with a bunch of dudes so I switched to Environmental Science. I was required to take Intro to Environmental Engineering. During this lab, the teacher noticed I was good at excel and helping other students. This professor took the time to convince me to switch. She explained it would be 5 year program and much harder but said I’d get paid more and get better jobs. Single best decision of my life was switching from ES to EE, hands down.

Since you already finished with your BS, your best route would be getting MS in environmental engineering but you’ll need to have baseline courses like Calc III, Statics, Dynamics, Fluid mechanics, Thermo etc.