University of Notre Dame
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Environmental Engineering major prepares students with the chemistry, fluid flow, and mixing mechanics foundations within the context of the Earth system. The first two years focus on general principles of science and engineering, while the third and fourth years are dedicated to specifics of environmental engineering. Courses cover topics such as global change, water, energy, hydrology, mineralogy, fluid mechanics and hydraulics, water quality and treatment, and biological process design. Students also engage in a comprehensive Senior Design Project capstone. The major is housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

The Environmental Earth Sciences major combines the disciplines of fluid dynamics, hydrology, environmental chemistry, and geochemistry in the context of Earth systems. The program focuses on the geology side of the environment and planetary systems and provides a foundation in the physical sciences, while also covering the impact of human activity on Earth processes. Specific courses cover topics such as geomorphology, Earth materials and petrology, mineralogy, environmental microbiology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy. The major is housed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

The Environmental Sciences major trains students in a broad range of topics that integrate the physical and biological sciences into their understanding of the natural world. Majors take a variety of science and non-science courses, giving them a firm foundation in basic ecological principles and allows them to specialize in areas like aquatic ecology, geological sciences, entomology, and vertebrate zoology. The major is housed in the Department of Biological Sciences.

The Sustainability minor is open to all undergraduate students and offers a multidisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare students to serve as leaders in developing sustainable practices in their communities. Through the minor, students examine the core theories, principles, and practices of sustainability and understand how these apply across disciplines; learn to engage in collaborative dialogue with those from different backgrounds and perspectives; and develop skills for quantitative problem-solving while learning technical and social approaches to sustainability. The minor requires 10 credit hours and a two-credit independent study.
Our mission is to train students at the University of Notre Dame with the personal and professional skills to:

1) Comprehend, appreciate, integrate, and contribute to diverse fields of knowledge to solve present and looming national and international problems requiring the responsible and equitable use of natural resources
2)Converse and collaborate effectively on sustainability with others from widely different backgrounds and perspectives
3) Provide local, national, and international leadership that incorporates sustainability thinking when addressing wide-ranging global problems of the 21st century.

The Energy Studies minor is open to all undergraduate students and prepares them to become successful leaders in the world of energy. Students have the opportunity to learn from both technical and non-technical courses to understand how to pursue a sustainable energy future. Course topics include the physics of energy, the links between ethics and energy use, how to assess alternative energy technologies, and the influence of geopolitics, economics, and public policy on the future of energy. The minor is offered through Notre Dame Energy and requires five courses and a one-credit capstone class.

The Resiliency and Sustainability of Engineering Systems minor is designed to prepare students of all disciplines to understand how their design decisions impact built and natural engineering systems. It prepares students to recognize and assess the interactions within and between critical infrastructure, engineering networks, social systems, and the environment. Students will also gain the skills necessary to work closely and communicate with planners, decision makers, and the general public in the pursuit of sustainable and resilient global development. The minor is offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences and requires five courses and a one-credit capstone experience.