FAQs

Given that the curriculum builds on itself, and most required classes are only offered in the fall or spring semester, students should register for courses in year and semester recommended in the curriculum. Students off-sequence should plan a meeting with the undergraduate program director for advising before they register for classes.

Students are encouraged to look at the lists early to help plan, especially given that some option electives are offered every other year.

Reach out directly to faculty studying topics that look interesting to you with your resume and ask if they’re hiring, apply to participate in research through Rutgers programs including Aresty, read your email and apply when faculty advertise opportunities.

Speak with your class year adviser before you start! Your adviser will confirm the technical nature of your work, the number of hours, and deliverables. Once that is set, email the undergraduate program director with your adviser cc’d. 

Read your email for opportunities throughout the year, attend career fairs, attend seminars to meet invited speakers from industry, join the student chapter of professional organizations in our field, network at our twice annual alumni-student-faculty mixers! Companies hire interns throughout the year, some start selecting summer interns early in the fall semester.

Career fairs: There are multiple career fairs each year with organizations that are looking for EnvE students! Many, especially large consulting firms, manufacturers, and governmental organizations that hire environmental engineers, will be at the Career Center MegaFair - try to attend outside of the busiest hours. 

SoE-specific career fairs include the ASCE-Chi Epsilon Civil and Environmental Engineering Career Expo and SHE-SWE-MEET Career Fair. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Chi Epsilon (XE, Civil Engineering Honor Society that EnvE students can join!) expos are usually multi-day events in the early fall semester that ask students to pre-register with the benefit of being smaller and civil and environmental engineering focused.

SEBS-specific career fairs that include many companies involved in the environmental and sustainability sectors include the Green Jobs Fair and the SEBS Academic and Career Extravaganza! Both are usually in early- or mid-spring semester. 

Email list: We send many announcements including those about internship, research, and volunteer opportunities through the Environmental Engineering student email list. If you are our major, you will get these emails. Students receive a lot of email, but it pays to look at them all to see valuable notifications.

Students should schedule a meeting with with one of their class year advisers each semester. Advisers can help students with schedule planning, career advice including weighing job offers, narrowing down student focus area, selecting option electives, and more! Two class-year advisers are suggested for each class year, one on Busch and one on Cook; see the Handbook for the lists. And, two undergraduate directors (one on Busch and one on Cook) are also available to all EnvE students. Advisers want to get to know you and are here to help! Do not hesitate to reach out to them, and feel free to copy the undergraduate directors, as well. 

Consider joining the Rutgers student chapters for American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE ).

Keep an eye out for opportunities to participate in the local chapter) of New Jersey Water Environment Association (NJWEA), the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA, and others.