working in the real world: placements

Demand
The demand for environmental engineers remains high, allowing our graduate to secure a variety of jobs in Georgia and the southeast. There will be a strong demand for environmental engineers in the foreseeable future.

Employment Opportunities
Generally, employment opportunities for environmental engineers may be classified by area of expertise, or by the nature of the employer. Three major areas of expertise are: water & wastewater treatment, air pollution control & modeling, and solid & hazardous wastes management and treatment.

Major classification of employers are government/municipality agencies, industrial corporations (large and small manufacturing facilities, etc.), consulting (private engineering firms), and regulatory agencies (EPA, Georgia EPD). An attractive feature of an environmental engineering degree gives an EVE graduate the flexibility to work in an office setting or in the field.

Job Function
Environmental engineers work in an array of rewarding and challenging areas. Generally the common thread tying all of environmental engineering together is the concern for the protection of public health. The concern with engineering problems of public health are, but not limited to: control of arthropod-borne diseases, the elimination of industrial health hazards, the provision of adequate sanitation in urban, rural, and recreation areas, and the effect of technological advances on the environment.

Environmental engineers are responsible for assuring that the water we drink and the air we breathe is not harmful. Furthermore, environmental engineers are responsible for assuring that all waste products, whether solid, liquid or gas, are disposed of in a way that will have minimal effects on public health and the environment.

Education: Areas of Focus
Environmental engineering is demonstrated through sound engineering thought and practice, the solution of problems of environmental sanitation, the provision of safe, palatable, and ample public water supplies, the proper disposal or recycle of wastewater and solid wastes, the adequate drainage of urban and rural areas for proper sanitation, the control of water, soil, and atmospheric pollution, and the social and environmental impact of these solutions.

Student Employment
Environmental engineering is a new and growing engineering field that enjoys an exceptionally high demand for student employment. Students at Mercer have been offered employment opportunities with environmental consulting firms, large industries and governmental agencies and authorities. Among these are Armstrong, Black & Veatch, Earth Tec, Inc., Environmental Protection Agency, GEC Consultants, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, HHNT, Mercer Engineering Research Center, PBS & J, and Stantec.

Advanced Studies
Graduates of the environmental specialization have continued their formal education in graduate engineering programs, as well as law school.