Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The educational goals for the Environmental Engineering major are consistent with those of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering and Cornell University. We are committed to providing an excellent undergraduate engineering program in a nurturing learning environment so that our graduates acquire knowledge and develop the needed skills for successful professional careers. The EnvE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org. Students may seek engineering professional licensing after graduation.

Program Educational Objectives

The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) of the Environmental Engineering major are to prepare graduates who, within 3-5 years of graduation:

• Demonstrate in their professional practice strong technical abilities, leadership, communication, and teamwork;
• Engage in lifelong learning through the pursuit of advanced degrees and/or other opportunities for professional development outside of the classroom;
• Contribute to the design, construction, and operation of solutions to societal problems involving environmental systems;
• Demonstrate commitment to professional and ethical norms prioritizing public health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability.

In the assessment of the program, the four educational objectives are supported by seven desirable student outcomes.

Student Outcomes

The following Student Outcomes (SOs) are assessed in the evaluation of our Environmental Engineering BS degree program. Our success in achieving these outcomes is periodically reviewed by our faculty, and by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, as part of its accreditation process.

We advise EnvE students to think about these desirable outcomes and consider how through their choice of electives and co-curricular activities they can develop these abilities, and desired knowledge and understanding. Some students may want to emphasize particular issues or skills. But, none should be neglected – the successful environmental engineer needs to have a broad understanding of social and technical issues and the ability to communicate, as well as being outstanding technically.

Attainment of the following Student Outcomes prepares EnvE graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering:

1. identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

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