OT: UofM Environmental Engineering Questions

Submitted by StephenRKass on

This is totally off topic, but I am looking for some advice for my daughter. She is more than half way through her Navy enlistment. She is interested in studying environmental engineering once she finishes her contract. Of course, I will contact admissions, and can do some sleuthing around to help her navigate various programs. However, should any of you have any advice, whether on Michigan or other schools, please let me know. I am glad to put up my email address. (This is where some kind of PM function or something else on the board would be most helpful.) Thanks!

EDIT:  Thanks for all the comments. This is exactly what I was looking for. For those who wanted to give more, you can reach me at [email protected].

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StephenRKass

January 19th, 2017 at 5:42 PM ^

I'm starting from square one. She has a somewhat technical rating in the Navy (Aegis Computer Network Technician). She knows from this that she doesn't want to be a computer / electrical engineer, or do IT work. But she also realizes that she probably has what it takes to be an engineer (The Navy training was pretty brutal, and making it through was an accomplishment in itself). So she needs to figure out what to do (pre reqs, whether to take the SAT or ACT or something else, what else to do to prep for admission.) She can take gen ed classes while in the Navy over the next 2 1/2 years, but needs to figure out if those credits would be accepted at all. She knows that she wants to make a difference in the world, and likes the idea of environmental engineering (having seen how the Navy and Industry often don't plan or think well in terms of the environment).

I think the GI Bill will allow her to afford to go to pretty much any place she can get accepted into. (Apparently, the law now stipulates that Vets going to college straight from the service are given in-state tuition, wherever they choose to go).

Of course, we can just look at how schools are ranked by US News and others, but sometimes, talking to people who have been in schools helps give you a feel.

Joined: 07/15/2008

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SLEDGE HAMMER

January 19th, 2017 at 5:32 PM ^

I studied Earth & Environmental Science (geology) so not quite the same thing but as an Army vet myself, whatever she does, make sure she gets involved with the campus SVA (Student Veterans of America).

Joined: 09/30/2014

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FrankMurphy

January 19th, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^

I have no advice to contribute, but I just wanted to say that it sounds like your daughter has has some incredibly valuable life experience and has her head on straight. Kudos to her and to you. 

Joined: 08/19/2008

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Marley Nowell

January 19th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^

I did Civil & Environmental Engineering at Michigan. Core classes are split between environmental stuff like water treatment, and civil stuff like structural analysis/construction. Not sure how similar it is now but you essentially take electives (which are graduate level courses) in the specific field you want to be in. Overall the education was great, but my criticism would be the professors are focused on their research / graduate work so they don't have much time for undergrads. My advice would be to look carefully at the course offerings at see if it matches what she wants to do.

Joined: 07/31/2008

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Marley Nowell

January 19th, 2017 at 6:21 PM ^

Civil side, but felt the same way for all of the profs. I distincly remember trying to ask my water treatment prof questions the day before a midterm exam and he was literally running from us. 

Overall I don't blame profs for being more invested in research, but office hrs before exams would have been nice.

Joined: 07/31/2008

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Orthotropic

January 19th, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^

I'm a Mich CEE grad. I was on the civil side, but took some environmental classes and had environmental engineering friends through Chi Epsilon. I thought the environmental profs I had were excellent. I don't live in Ann Arbor, but go there to recruit CEE grads for new hires. We get excellent candidates from the program.

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fortissimosca

January 19th, 2017 at 6:16 PM ^

I graduated from the CEE department at U of M.  I really enjoyed the environmental classes (UMich is one of, if not the best EnvE programs in the country), but ended up going more civil/construction.

It sounds like your daughter is prepared for the workload, so really the only advice I can give is to load up on all the calculus, statistics, physics and chemistry (and some biology) as possible.  One of the reasons I didn't go the environmental rout was because I wan't prepared technically, even after a boat load of STEM AP courses.  We were trying to model the effect of sheet flow of rainwater through a contaminated bog: lots of variables and unknowns across several different sciences (just an example).  One of my tests I think I got 9/100...and that was a C with the curve.

Also, please thank your daughter for her service!

Joined: 11/07/2014

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UMProud

January 19th, 2017 at 6:33 PM ^

Yes...just finished a green tech class in grad engineering school.  Interesting but it consumed my life with calculus and arcane formulas.  Think chemistry, physics and statistics in one class.

This is an excellent and lucrative field to get into.  Would highly recommend she look particularly at green certified buildings...fun and creative!

 

https://living-future.org/lbc/

BTW, CMU has a great engineering school and is a bit cheaper if cost is a consideration.

 

Joined: 12/18/2014

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SLS

January 19th, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^

Is she interested more in the environmental side, or the engineering side? Michigan has one of the best geology departments in the country, which is a degree than can easily be applied to lots of environmental topics/careers like groundwater, etc.



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blue in dc

January 19th, 2017 at 6:27 PM ^

But quickly ended up in the environmental field (and had a job title as environmental engineer until I went into management) When I waa at U of M, environmental engineering was a subspecialty within civil engineering rather than a coequal within the department as it is now. At that time, the primary focus was in the water area (building water and sewage treatment plants). Even though it looks like the department has expanded, this still seems to be an area of emphasis. There are many fields of engineering that can prepare you for a job in an environmental field. In the air pollution field where I work, I know many more engineers who studied mechanical or chemical engineering than environmental engineering. However, like at Michigan, most environmental engineering programs are significantly more comprehensive than they used to be. Unless your daughter has a particular focus she knows she is interested in (e.g. Water, air pollution control, sustainable buildings etc. I would definately encourage her to look at schools with large departments that offer a wide scope of options so that she has flexibility as she learns more about what she wants to focus on. She shouod definately focus both on inside and outside the classroom opportunities. Even as a mediocre student (by Michigan engineering standards), i was able to get jobs in both the thermodynamics lab and in a joint project with the school of architecture called the Energy Cost Avoidance Project. Those experiences definately helped in landing my first job.

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bringthewood

January 19th, 2017 at 6:29 PM ^

The School of Natural Resources and Environment is changing it's name but has joint grad degree programs with the Engineering School, Business School, Law etc. In additional to engineering for undergrad environmental stuff Michigan has PitE - Program in the Environment a joint program with LS&A and SNRE.

PiTE is not engineering but much more of the biology and environmental science side of things but can lead to a career in environmental science.

So Michigan has a couple of paths to career in the environment. I'm sure engineering is a more employable degree but if she is more interested in the science side of things then PitE might be worth looking at.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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Computer Blue

January 19th, 2017 at 6:28 PM ^

My brother did his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan and is currently a professor of CEE (not at Michigan).  He focuses exclusively on environmental.  I expect that he would be happy to answer some questions.  If you can get me your email, I can put you in touch. 

Either way, good luck to your daughter.

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The Oxford Wolverine

January 19th, 2017 at 6:30 PM ^

To preface, I'm not in her field, nor do I know of all the potential assistance programs of active duty individuals and veterans.  It sounds like she is setting herself up well, so kudos to her! And thanks for her service!

For my graduate program school search, in leiu of rankings, I chose to focus on other factors, like how well the network base was connected for job potential, how comfortable I was on my visits, and the benefits package each school I was accepeted into could offer me (scholarships, grants, etc.) 

I count my blessings everday that I didn't do my graduate work at Syracuse University, opting for Miami University.  While Syracuse had a top 10 program, and in general, more "glitz and glamor", going there would have landed me in 100k more debt versus Miami, since Miami offered me a full-tuition scholarship and a graduate assistantship. Miami also was a small program that catered to my needs and learning process.  I felt at home at Miami University, a feeling I didn't get at Syracuse. 

There are alot of mitigating factors.  The first thing I would do is list those factors and prioritize them.  Then apply to a hanful of schools that meet the criteria, take visits to them, compare each one, but in the end, rely on her gut.  In my opinion, rankings are a bit overated for future job potential, and the stress of financial debt from student loans is sorely underrated.  

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blue in dc

January 19th, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^

For planes, ships and support vehicles as well as renewable electricity for bases. The military has embraced renewable fuels for a host of reasons including energy security, concerns about climate change leading to greater instability around the world and particularly in the case of the navy, concern about the impacts of sea level rise.

Joined: 01/22/2011

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Year of Revenge II

January 19th, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^

It looks like you got a lot of good advice already from an educated and well-connected group.

However, I must state the obvious. If your daughter does not shy away from classroom competition, I have heard that the best place in the country to matriculate for such degrees is the University of Alabama.



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MGOENGINEER

January 19th, 2017 at 7:42 PM ^

Although way too expensive, may not be an issue with your daughter, Lawrence Tech was great. I know LTU has been recognized for one of the top universities for veterans and is the #5 civil engineering school in the nation. I will brag and say I was extremely prepared out of school due to the close interaction with the profs. All, and I mean all, the profs are PhDs who worked or currently work in the field. Best of luck!



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Civil Blue

January 19th, 2017 at 8:25 PM ^

Long-time lurker, first time poster....

I also was a CE undergrad before the department became CEE (I even took engineering classes in West Engineering!).  I've been lucky enough to work in several states through my career with hundreds of bright engineers from a wide variety of institutions (even the three schools my kids weren't allowed to attend).  If she's inquisitive and motivated, she'll do well anywhere she goes.

That said:

A UM degree certainly opens doors, especially in print (e.g. on a CV), no matter where in the country (or world) she works.  Not many other schools with the width and depth of excellent programs that UM Engineering does.  Important if she changes her degree mid-stream.

CEE is the maybe the one field where getting your Professional Engineering license is important.  Thankfully I did it when I was young.  It is a requirement in many CEE positions, some of which she may not be interested in for many, many years.

Thank her for her service.

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Mr. Flood

January 19th, 2017 at 11:03 PM ^

I recieved my degrees in Civil with an emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering. I also took a fair amount of Geology courses. I choose the consulting engineering route upon graduation. Environmental Engineering was in it's infancy, but companies with groundwater contamination problems needed to install monitoring wells in order to assess the extent of their problem and Geotechnical Engineers knew how to do that. Many of the Geotechnical Engineering companies blossomed into Environmental consultants in order to then remediate these problems. In it's hayday clients would call up and practically beg you to work for them. The field is more mature and competitive now. In my opinion, a Masters degree is highly desirable for work in the Environmental consultantancy field.

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bluepow

January 19th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^

Mechanical and Materials Science Engineering grad here that currently works in the solar industry.  We are on the cusp of a major revolution with how we generate, use, and move electricity.  Anything to do with renewable energy, grid modernization, batteries, or electric transport is going to be a slam dunk.  I would say it is akin to "plastics" in The Graduate.

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club2230

January 19th, 2017 at 11:48 PM ^

I was CEE 2008 with an emphasis in structural. In hindsight I did not like the curriculum, and I felt unprepared for work after college. Civil Engineering is such a broad topic, and I had to take many classes that were pretty irrelevant to my career. I highly suggest looking into a curriculum that is more focused on the desired field of study.

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JeepinBen

January 20th, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^

I'm an interviewer for the College of Engineering's HAIL program (Hometown Alumni Interview Link). The program is to interview applicants who are waiting on admission (high school kids).

I'm a Mechanical Engineering grad and couldn't speak about the environmental programs, but if she has general questions about the college of engineering I'm happy to help. My MgoName is my twitter handle, so feel free to reach out if she has any general questions about Michigan Engineering.

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