About
Environmental engineers apply science and engineering principles to protect and improve public health and the environment, including our air, water and land.
- Four year degree
- Full-time program
- You can enter this program directly from high school
- You can begin this program off-campus
What you will learn
Starting your degree
We've redesigned first-year engineering at USask to help you succeed and make engineering more fun. We call the new first year RE-ENGINEERED. It’s the only program of its kind in Canada. It will get you excited and inspired about engineering.
In RE-ENGINEERED, instead of high-stakes exams, you will do more assignments and quizzes so you can improve your mark if you stumble early. Daily tutorials are part of the schedule so you can get help when you need it. And instead of final exams, you will explore the different branches of engineering in hands-on courses.
You will choose your engineering specialty – known as your major, or discipline – at the end of your first year. This is the area you will study in-depth in your upper-years classes.
RE-ENGINEERED: The new first-year program
In RE-ENGINEERED, your first-year classes will be shorter and more intensive so you can learn a broader range of material. These essential skills will form the strong foundation you need for the rest of your degree.
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
| Courses in both the fall and winter terms | |
| Introduction to Engineering | |
| Mechanics (Dynamics and Statics) | |
| Design | |
| Engineering Mathematics | |
| Electrical Circuits | |
| Engineering Communication | |
| Additional first-year courses | |
| Computer Science | |
| Natural sciences and their connection to engineering | |
| Process Engineering | |
| Hands-on experiences in the engineering disciplines | |
* These are elective courses. You'll have a number of courses to choose between.
The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.
Here are just a few of the classes you might take while you complete this degree:
ENVE 201: Principles of Environmental Engineering
Population, economic growth, industrialization, urbanization and energy-use, as causes of environmental pollution. Mass and energy balance for environmental engineering systems under steady state and unsteady state conditions. Contaminant partitioning and transport in air, water and solids. Application of environmental principles (technical and non-technical) to: water resource management, water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, solid waste management, environmental impact assessment, and environmental ethics. Thermal pollution, noise pollution, greenhouse effect, acid precipitation, ozone depletion, air toxics, and ground-level ozone and fine particulates (photochemical smog). Sustainable development and life cycle analysis. Review of the principles of environmental quality objectives, standards and guidelines.
ENVE 212: Physical Principles of Plant Biosystems
An introduction to physical concepts governing movement and storage of nutrients, energy, and water within the plant biosystem (soil-plant-atmosphere). Topics include: physical properties of soil, biogeochemical cycling, plant physiology, and water and energy transport within the plant biosystem. Subject material will provide the foundation for future engineering courses involving biosystems.
ENVE 495: Capstone Design Project
A final design course in which advanced principles of design are learned by application to a suitable environmental engineering project. Projects normally involve interaction with industrial sponsors who act as clients. The course requires that students work in groups. Group interaction and performance is monitored throughout. Guest lectures from various industrial and regulatory representatives will be provided to enhance the students' design experience.
We have RE-ENGINEERED first year
Experience RE-ENGINEERED. Our new first-year program is designed to help you succeed. We don’t want our first years to simply survive, we want you to thrive.
Your school day will start and end at the same times each day. And all first years have the same lunch-hour so you have time to join a club with your friends or fit in a workout.
Learn by doing
You will use state-of-the-art technology in the lab to learn, experiment and test your ideas. From our wind tunnel to our anechoic chamber, our students gain experience using equipment and software first-hand, rather than by watching demonstrations.
Get the academic help you need
Daily tutorials are built in to the RE-ENGINEERED schedule so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.
Our strong team of academic advisors is passionate about their work. You can book a one-on-one academic advising appointment to plan your degree and get your questions answered.
Join our community
You will be part of a welcoming community where you are noticed and supported. Our students cheer for each other and help each other succeed. We seek to be a place where students of any gender, race, ethnicity, religion, identity or background can work hard and achieve their goal of becoming an engineer.
Make an impact outside the classroom
Our student groups are well-established and successful.
You can use what you’ve learned in the classroom and develop leadership and team-building skills. Our design groups work on projects ranging from ¼-scale tractors, to steel bridges, to cube satellites.
Careers
With a degree in environmental engineering, your employment options are varied. Some possible careers include the following:
- working in the public or private sectors
- municipal (both urban and rural), provincial or federal governments
- working as an engineering consultant
- developing waste management and land reclamation methods
- overseeing project management
- developing resources (for example, mining)
Tuition estimates
| Canadian students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,354 | $54,954 |
| Student fees | $1,121 | $1,121 |
| Books | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Total | $13,975 | $57,575 |
Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.
Program options
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.E.)
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree is a four-year program offered by the College of Engineering.
While you complete your Bachelor degree, you can also enhance your experience with the following options:
Admission requirements and deadlines
Ready to apply?
Create an admissions account and start your application today. When you are ready to submit your application, you will be assessed a non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD. Effective December 2, the application fee is increasing to $120 CAD.
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