General Information
The Department of Environmental Engineering was established in January 1973 in response to the growing concern over the environment and the need for fully qualified engineers capable of undertaking professional responsibilities for optimum development and prudent management of water, air and land resources. This department evolved from the Sanitary Engineering division of the Civil Engineering Department, which had been offering graduate courses in this field since 1967.
The mission of the Environmental Engineering Department is to provide the high quality environmental engineering education as required by the industry and the public; to advance the understanding and application of the principles of environmental science and engineering; to enhance and maintain sustainable economic development efforts and to improve the well-being of the society in general through teaching, research and community outreach programs. This mission is consistent with the broader mission of the Institution.
The graduates of the B.S. program of METU Department of Environmental Engineering, after few years following graduation, are environmental engineering professionals who meet the following Program Educational Objectives:
- Graduates will practice their profession with the scientific fundamentals and key principles of Environmental Engineering
- Graduates will identify and solve the current and emerging environmental problems.
- Graduates will pursue active research and participate in technology development programs.
- Graduates will practice environmental engineering as effective members who play leadership role in coordinating multi disciplinary teams.
- Graduates will comply with professional and ethical responsibilities as practicing environmental engineers.
The Program Outcomes of the Environmental Engineering Department are such that
- Graduates will have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- Graduates will have an ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data
- Graduates will have an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs with realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability
- Graduates will have an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
- Graduates will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- Graduates will have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- Graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively
- Graduates will have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context
- Graduates will have recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
- Graduates will have knowledge of contemporary issues
- Graduates will have an ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
The Department offers the degrees in
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Philosophy of Doctor (Ph.D.)
The programs are designed with consideration of the modern concepts of environmental engineering education, as well as to encourage the development of individual initiative and resourcefulness with emphasis on responsibility and good judgement.
As a part of the undergraduate program, students are required to complete two summer practies each lasting 20 working days as approved by the department and to prepare reports of their activities, subject to the approval of the department. Students successfully completing the four year program are awarded the degree of B.S. in the Environmental Engineering.
The goal of the graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees is two folds. First is to establish active research and technology development programs for identification and solution of current and future environmental and engineering problems. Second is to provide trained human resources with advanced technical knowledge capable of making decisions and directing projects towards solutions of complex environmental problems.
The graduate program offers research opportunities and advanced course work to qualified students in the following specific areas: water supply engineering, wastewater engineering, air pollution and control, water quality management, soil and ground water pollution, environmental modeling, environmental impact assessment, environmental chemistry and environmental microbiology and biotechnology.