B.S. in Environmental Engineering

The B.S. in Environmental Engineering at Lehigh University combines classroom study with hands-on laboratory work, research, design projects, and opportunities to work with faculty, industry, and government-sponsored projects. Students learn in the LEED-certified STEPS Building and other Civil and Environmental Engineering facilities, where they can investigate issues such as water treatment, pollution control, waste management, and environmental remediation while developing teamwork and professional skills.

Students gain practical experience through:

• Environmental engineering laboratories: Students have access to state-of-the-art environmental laboratories and analytical instrumentation for investigating chemical, physical, and microbiological systems.
• STEPS Building: Environmental engineering students learn, study, and collaborate in the Science, Technology, Environment, Policy, and Society (STEPS) Building, a LEED-certified facility that houses environmental engineering research laboratories.
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Students can participate in industry- or government-sponsored REU projects, gaining experience with applied environmental engineering research and presenting their work at national conferences.
• Industry-sponsored design projects: Students work on design projects for industrial sponsors addressing real environmental engineering problems, connecting academic concepts with professional engineering practice.
• Water-treatment projects: Undergraduate projects have included developing devices to remove toxic metals from water, treating arsenic-contaminated water, and investigating processes relevant to wastewater treatment.
• Wastewater and biological research: Students can investigate sludge treatment at wastewater plants and the transport of bacteria in the presence of detergents, providing practical exposure to environmental and microbiological engineering challenges.
• Environmental analytical work: The environmental facilities support analysis of chemical, physical, and microbiological systems, giving students access to instrumentation relevant to environmental engineering research.
• Water resources facilities: The CEE department's facilities include a wave tank, several flumes, a 10-cfs recirculating flow system, and two multipurpose tanks for water-resources model studies.
• Undergraduate research: Lehigh's CEE department connects undergraduates with faculty, researchers, graduate students, and peers for research addressing issues such as air pollution, clean water, and infrastructure protection.
• Interdisciplinary environmental research: The Environmental Initiative supports projects involving environmental engineering alongside areas such as earth science, economics, policy, and communications, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary research.
• Professional and international experience: The CEE department provides undergraduate students with opportunities for co-op and international experiences, allowing them to extend their learning beyond the classroom.
• Campus as a living laboratory: Lehigh also uses its campus as a living laboratory, where students can work with real campus datasets and investigate issues such as energy use, transportation, buildings, and sustainability. 

 Graduates of the B.S. in Environmental Engineering are prepared for careers in environmental engineering and related professional fields, with the program emphasizing engineering problem-solving, environmental design, experimentation, teamwork, and professional development. Lehigh’s environmental engineering graduates can pursue roles such as Environmental Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Environmental Consultant, and Sustainability/Environmental Specialist, while the program also supports progression toward professional licensure and further study.

Career development and employment opportunities include:

• Career services: Lehigh’s Center for Career & Professional Development provides career coaching, Career Lab support, resume and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, networking guidance, and access to employer recruiting events through Handshake.
• Internships and co-ops: Environmental engineering students can use Lehigh’s engineering internship and co-op system to gain industry experience, with opportunities listed through Handshake and support for applications, interviews, and career planning. Eligible students can receive academic credit through ENGR 160 – Engineering Internship or ENGR 200 – Engineering Work Experience.
• Employment outcomes: Lehigh reports that 92% of the Class of 2025 achieved an outcome of employment, continuing education, or another post-graduation pursuit within six months; the reported average starting salary was $77,000, with 577 unique employers hiring graduates.
• Environmental Engineering salary: Lehigh’s current post-graduation outcomes data reports an average salary of $72,302 for Environmental Engineering graduates.
• Industry connections: Lehigh’s campus recruiting program connects students with employer partners for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions, supported by fall and spring Career Expos, employer information sessions, coffee chats, and recruiter events.
• Alumni networking: Lehigh Connects gives students access to thousands of alumni profiles for professional networking, mentoring, and exploring career paths, companies, and industries.
• International career support: International students can use Interstride to search for U.S. jobs using sponsorship information, while Lehigh’s career and international offices provide guidance on CPT/OPT, networking, internships, and U.S. employment processes.
• Accreditation value: The B.S. in Environmental Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The program explicitly prepares graduates to pursue professional licensure or certification and develop careers in environmental engineering and related fields.
• Graduation outcomes: Lehigh’s university-wide Class of 2025 data reports 64% employed, 24% continuing education, 4% other, and 8% seeking; separately, 88% of graduates completed at least one internship or experiential learning opportunity.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate-level environmental engineering or related engineering programs, pursue additional professional training, research, or advanced specialization, and work toward relevant professional licensure or certification. Lehigh’s Civil & Environmental Engineering department also offers graduate study and research opportunities, providing a pathway from the B.S. into advanced academic and professional development.