Ecological engineering focuses on the design and restoration of natural ecosystems for societal and environmental benefits. Students who study ecological engineering may choose to focus on the design and restoration of natural ecosystems including streams, wetlands, and coastal systems. Others will focus their studies on water quality and environmental contamination issues through the design, development, and management of ecosystems.
Students who specialize in ecological engineering combine basics of math and science -- calculus, biology, physics, chemistry, and ecology; fundamental engineering principles -- fluid mechanics, heat transfer system, dynamics, instrumentation, and engineering economics; with advanced courses in soil and water engineering, stream geomorphology and watershed hydrology, and sustainable waste management.
Graduates from this program work for environmental consulting firms, the Army Corps of Engineers, and government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Agriculture.