Discover Environmental Engineering at Waterloo

Quick Overview

The University of Waterloo's Environmental Engineering program aims to "re-imagine" the field by addressing urgent climate and biodiversity crises through four core specialization areas: Water Resources, Energy and Climate Change, Pollution and Restoration, Modelling and Data Analytics, and Sustainable Cities, supported by foundational engineering, math, and science concepts, while offering new curriculum flexibility, redesigned design courses, and early focus on sustainability to better prepare students for future challenges.

Key Points: Waterloo Engineering's Environmental Engineering program is ranked #1 in Canada for Environmental Engineering and Science (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2023). The program features small class sizes (30-80 students) for core courses, taught within the EnvE/GeoE cohort, integrating knowledge from physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. The curriculum emphasizes preparing for a future unlike the past, requiring students to design new environmental systems to meet challenges like micro-plastic pollution, carbon sequestration, and low-carbon cities. The Environmental Engineering specializations center around Water Resources, Energy and Climate Change, Pollution and Restoration, Modelling and Data Analytics, and Sustainable Cities. Co-op students gain practical experience through North America's largest co-op program, with 96% of grads employed within six months after graduation in jobs related to their skills. New curriculum changes starting in 2025 include new foundational courses in early years, repurposed design courses using relevant software, a curriculum diet to reduce core requirements, and reimagined specializations for better career connection.

Context: This presentation, delivered by Bruce MacVicar, the Director of Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo, introduces the Environmental Engineering program, highlighting its mission to create a more resilient future by addressing contemporary challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. The presentation details the program's structure, its four core specialization areas, the foundational knowledge provided, and the significant curriculum updates planned for 2025 to better equip students for future environmental problems.