Environmental Engineering

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

Minor

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a minor program in environmental engineering. Environmental problem formulation, identification of solutions, and then implementation require an interdisciplinary approach. Additional breadth can be obtained by combining an undergraduate major in physical, mathematical, social, or biological sciences with a minor in environmental engineering. This minor will develop quantitative approaches to environmental analysis and is good preparation for graduate study in environmental engineering within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Berkeley or elsewhere.

There is no major in environmental engineering.

Declaring the Minor

To be considered for admission to the minor, students should have the following:

  • An overall grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0.
  • Completed the lower division prerequisite courses with a GPA of 3.0; for further information regarding the prerequisites, see the Minor Requirements tab on this page.
  • Upon admission to the minor, completed a minimum of five courses, of which no more than one can be counted toward of the requirements of the major(s).
  • A minimum of a grade-point average of 2.0 in the minor.
  • Completion of the minor cannot delay graduation.

After completion of the prerequisite courses, students need to complete and submit to the Civil and Environmental Academic Affairs office (750 Davis Hall) a Minor Program Application form.

Upon completion of the minor requirements, the student must complete and submit the Confirmation of Completion form to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Office of Academic Affairs no later than two weeks after the end of the term in which the minor was completed.

Other Majors and Minors Offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil Engineering (Major only)
Geotechnical Engineering (Minor only)
Structural Engineering (Minor only)

Visit Department Website

Minor Requirements

Minor programs are areas of concentration requiring fewer courses than an undergraduate major. These programs are optional but can provide depth and breadth to a UC Berkeley education. The College of Engineering does not offer additional time to complete a minor, but it is usually possible to finish within the allotted time with careful course planning. Students are encouraged to meet with their ESS adviser to discuss the feasibility of completing a minor program.

All the engineering departments offer minors. Students may also consider pursuing a minor in another school or college.

General Guidelines

  1. ​All minors must be declared no later than one semester before a student's Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If the semester before EGT is fall or spring, the deadline is the last day of RRR week. If the semester before EGT is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions. To declare a minor, contact the department advisor for information on requirements, and the declaration process.

  2. All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be taken for graded credit.

  3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the prerequisite courses is required for acceptance into the minor program.

  4. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.

  5. No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.

  6. Completion of the minor program cannot delay a student’s graduation.

Lower Division Prerequisites

MATH 51
& MATH 52		Calculus I
and Calculus II (MATH 1A and MATH 1B as through Summer 2025)		4
MATH 53
& MATH 54		Multivariable Calculus
and Linear Algebra and Differential Equations		8
Select one Chemistry course:8
CHEM 1A
General Chemistry [3]
CHEM 4A
General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis [5]
PHYSICS 7APhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
Select one computer programming course:
ENGIN 7
Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods [4] (or equivalent)
COMPSCI 61A
The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs [4]

Upper Division Minor Requirements

CIV ENG 100Elementary Fluid Mechanics4
or MEC ENG 106 Fluid Mechanics
CIV ENG 111Environmental Engineering3
Select three of the following:
CIV ENG C103NTerrestrial Hydrology4
CIV ENG C106Air Pollution3
CIV ENG 107Climate Change Mitigation3
CIV ENG 108Climate Change Adaptation3
CIV ENG 110Water Systems of the Future3
CIV ENG 112Water & Wastewater Systems Design and Operation3
CIV ENG 113Ecological Engineering for Water Quality Improvement3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
CIV ENG 115Water Chemistry3
CIV ENG C116Chemistry of Soils3
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3

Courses

Environmental Engineering

Contact Information

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

760 Davis Hall

Phone: 510-642-3261

Fax: 510-642-3261

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Joan Walker, PhD

763 Davis Hall

chair@ce.berkeley.edu

Faculty Minor Advisor

Robert Harley, PhD

667 Davis Hall

harley@ce.berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Advisor

Erin Leigh Inama

750 Davis Hall

Phone: 510-643-6640

cee-ug@berkeley.edu

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