Environmental Engineering Science

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Environmental Engineering Science (EES) major (offered through the Engineering Science Program) is an interdisciplinary program pairing engineering fundamentals with courses in the environmental and natural sciences. The EES curriculum provides a broader foundation in the sciences, allowing students to take classes in a variety of departments both inside and outside of the College of Engineering. At the same time, it allows students to focus their studies on environmental issues more than is possible in other engineering programs. EES provides a solid interdisciplinary foundation that is necessary for creating real-world solutions to global environmental challenges, such as providing a robust supply of safe drinking water, and meeting societal demands for energy without causing air pollution or interfering with the Earth’s climate systems.

Admission to the Major

Prospective undergraduates of the College of Engineering will apply for admission to a specific program in the College. For further information, please see the College of Engineering's website .

Admission to Engineering via a Change of College application for current UC Berkeley students is highly unlikely and very competitive as there few, if any, spaces that open in the College each year to students admitted to other colleges at UC Berkeley. For further information regarding a Change of College to Engineering, please see the College's website .

Minor Program

There is no minor program in Environmental Engineering Science.

Other Majors offered by the Engineering Science Program

Energy Engineering  (Major and Minor)
Engineering Mathematics and Statistics  (Major only)
Engineering Physics  (Major only)

Visit Program Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

  1. All technical courses (courses in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, statistics, biological sciences, and computer science) must be taken for a letter grade.

  2. No more than one upper-division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.

  3. A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.

  4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.

Lower-division Major Requirements

MATH 1ACalculus4
MATH 1BCalculus4
MATH 53Multivariable Calculus4
MATH 54Linear Algebra and Differential Equations4
CHEM 1A
  & 1AL
General Chemistry
   and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
or CHEM 4A General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
PHYSICS 7APhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
PHYSICS 7BPhysics for Scientists and Engineers4
ENGIN 7Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers4
CIV ENG 11Engineered Systems and Sustainability3
CIV ENG C30/MEC ENG C85Introduction to Solid Mechanics3
Basic Science Electives: Select three from the following: 2
General Biology Lecture
   and General Biology Laboratory
General Biology Lecture and Laboratory
General Chemistry
CHEM 3A
  & 3AL
Chemical Structure and Reactivity
   and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Chemical Structure and Reactivity
General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis
The Planet Earth
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
1

 CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in Chemistry or a closely-related field.

2

 Approved scores on Biology AP, IB, or A-Level exams can satisfy two of the three Basic Science Electives.

Upper-division Major Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, students may choose up to 12 units of Free Electives, in order to meet the 120 units required for graduation. Free electives can be any technical or non-technical course of the student's interest, offered by any department at UC Berkeley, with no restrictions.

CIV ENG 100Elementary Fluid Mechanics4
or MEC ENG 106 Fluid Mechanics
or CHM ENG 150A Transport Processes
CIV ENG 103Introduction to Hydrology3
or CIV ENG 115 Water Chemistry
MEC ENG 40Thermodynamics3
or ENGIN 115 Engineering Thermodynamics
or CHM ENG 141 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
CIV ENG 111Environmental Engineering3
Select one from the following:
Fluid Mechanics of Rivers, Streams, and Wetlands
Introduction to Hydrology
Groundwater and Seepage
EPS 105
Course Not Available
Biometeorology
EPS 181
Course Not Available
Biometeorology
Advanced Math: Select one course from the following:
Methods of Engineering Analysis
Advanced Programming with MATLAB
Introduction to Analysis
Linear Algebra
Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
Numerical Analysis
Mathematical Methods for Optimization
Introduction to Complex Analysis
Concepts in Computing with Data
Concepts of Probability
Advanced Science Sequence: Choose one of the sequences of 8-10 units (see below)
Cluster courses: Select 12 units (see below for approved list)
Free Electives: Select 12 units of technical or non-technical courses in a field of interest, offered by any department at UC Berkeley

Advanced Science Sequence

CHEM 112A
  & CHEM 112B
Organic Chemistry
   and Organic Chemistry
10
CHEM 120A
  & CHEM 120B
  & CHEM 125
Physical Chemistry
   and Physical Chemistry
   and Physical Chemistry Laboratory
9
EPS 101
  & EPS 108
  & EPS 116
  & EPS 117
  & EPS 124
  & EPS C146
Field Geology and Digital Mapping
   and Geodynamics
   and Structural Geology and Tectonics
   and Geomorphology
   and Isotopic Geochemistry
   and Geological Oceanography
23
EPS C180
  & EPS C181
  & EPS C182
  & GEOG 142
Air Pollution
   and Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics
   and Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory
   and Climate Dynamics
13
ESPM 102A
  & ESPM C103
  & ESPM 111
  & ESPM 112
  & ESPM 120
  & ESPM C128
  & ESPM 131
Terrestrial Resource Ecology
   and Principles of Conservation Biology
   and Ecosystem Ecology
   and Microbial Ecology
   and Soil Characteristics
   and Chemistry of Soils
   and Soil Microbial Ecology
24
MCELLBI 102
  & MCELLBI C112
  & MCELLBI C112L
Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
   and General Microbiology
   and General Microbiology Laboratory
10

Approved Cluster Courses

Air Pollution and Climate Change
ARCH 140Energy and Environment4
BIO ENG C181The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
CIV ENG C106Air Pollution3
CIV ENG 107Climate Change Mitigation3
CIV ENG 108Course Not Available3
EL ENG 134Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Devices4
EL ENG 137AIntroduction to Electric Power Systems4
MAT SCI 136Materials in Energy Technologies4
MEC ENG 109Heat Transfer3
MEC ENG 140Combustion Processes3
MEC ENG 146Energy Conversion Principles3
NUC ENG 161Nuclear Power Engineering4
Biotechnology
BIO ENG C181The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass3
CHM ENG 140Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis4
CHM ENG 142Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering4
CHM ENG 170ABiochemical Engineering3
CHM ENG 170BBiochemical Engineering3
CHM ENG C170LBiochemical Engineering Laboratory3
CIV ENG 112Environmental Engineering Design3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
MCELLBI C112
  & C112L
General Microbiology
   and General Microbiology Laboratory
6
MCELLBI 113Course Not Available4
MCELLBI C116Microbial Diversity3
PLANTBI 120Biology of Algae2
PLANTBI 120LLaboratory for Biology of Algae2
PLANTBI 122Bioenergy2
PLANTBI 180Environmental Plant Biology2
Ecosystems and Ecological Engineering
CIV ENG 113Course Not Available3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
ESPM C103Principles of Conservation Biology4
ESPM C104Modeling and Management of Biological Resources4
INTEGBI C149Molecular Ecology4
INTEGBI 151Plant Physiological Ecology4
INTEGBI 151LPlant Physiological Ecology Laboratory2
INTEGBI 152Environmental Toxicology4
INTEGBI 153Ecology3
INTEGBI 153LFCourse Not Available3
INTEGBI 154Plant Ecology3
Environmental Fluid Mechanics
CIV ENG 101Fluid Mechanics of Rivers, Streams, and Wetlands3
CIV ENG 103Introduction to Hydrology3
CIV ENG 105Environmental Fluid Mechanics Design3
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3
EPS 117Geomorphology4
EPS C129Biometeorology3
Geoengineering
CIV ENG 171Introduction to Geological Engineering3
CIV ENG 172Course Not Available3
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3
CIV ENG 175Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering3
CIV ENG 176Environmental Geotechnics3
CIV ENG C178Applied Geophysics3
CIV ENG 281Engineering Geology3
EPS 117Geomorphology4
Water Quality
CIV ENG 112Environmental Engineering Design3
CIV ENG 113Course Not Available3
CIV ENG 114Environmental Microbiology3
CIV ENG 115Water Chemistry3
CIV ENG C116Chemistry of Soils3
CIV ENG 173Groundwater and Seepage3
INTEGBI 152Environmental Toxicology4
ESPM 120Soil Characteristics3

College Requirements

Students in the College of Engineering must complete 120 semester units with the following provisions: 

1.        Completion of the requirements of one Engineering major program  of study. 

2.        A minimum overall grade point average of 2.000 (C average) and a minimum 2.000 grade point average in upper division technical course work required of the major. 

3.        The final 30 units must be completed in residence in the College of Engineering on the Berkeley campus in two consecutive semesters. 

4.        All technical courses (math, science & engineering), required of the major or not, must be taken on a letter graded basis (unless they are only offered P/NP). 

5.        Entering freshman are allowed a maximum of eight semesters to complete their degree requirements.  Entering junior transfers are allowed a maximum of four semesters to complete their degree requirements. Summer terms are optional and do not count toward the maximum. Students are responsible for planning and satisfactorily completing all graduation requirements within the maximum allowable semesters. 

Humanities and Social Science Requirement
To promote a rich and varied educational experience outside of the technical requirements for each major, the College of Engineering has a Humanities and Social Sciences breadth requirement, which must be completed to graduate. This requirement is built into all the Engineering programs of study. The requirement includes two approved reading and composition courses and four additional approved courses, within which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. 

1.        Complete a minimum of six courses (3 units or more) from the approved Humanities/Social Sciences (H/SS) lists

2.        Two of the six courses must fulfill the  Reading and Composition Requirement. These courses must be taken for a letter grade (C- or better required), and MUST be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year (4th semester of enrollment). The first half of R&C, the “A” course, must be completed by the end of the freshman year; the second half of R&C, the “B “course, by no later than the end of the sophomore year. For detailed lists of courses that fulfill Reading and Composition requirements, please see the Reading and Composition page in this bulletin. 

3.        The four additional courses must be chosen from the H/SS comprehensive list. These courses may be taken on a Pass/Not Passed Basis (P/NP).

4.        At least two of the six courses must be upper division (courses numbered 100-196).

5.        At least two courses must be from the same department and at least one of the two must be upper division. This is called the *Series requirement. AP tests can be combined with a course to complete the series requirement. For example, AP History (any) combined with an upper division History course would satisfy the series requirement

6.        One of the six courses must satisfy the campus American Cultures Requirement. For detailed lists of courses that fulfill American Cultures requirements, please see the American Cultures page in this bulletin. 

7.        A maximum of two exams (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A-Level) may be used toward completion of the H/SS requirement. Visit this link

8.        No courses offered by an Engineering department (IEOR, CE, etc.) other than BIOE 100, CS C79, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 130AC, 157AC, ME 191K and ME 191AC may be used to complete H/SS requirements.

9.        Courses may fulfill multiple categories. For example, if you complete City and Regional Planning 115 and 118AC that would satisfy the series requirement, the two upper division courses requirement and the American Cultures Requirement.

10.     The College of Engineering (COE) uses modified versions of five of the College of Letters and Science (L&S) breadth requirements lists to provide options to our students for completing the Humanities and Social Science requirement. Our requirement is different than that of L & S, so the guidelines posted on the top of each L & S breadth list do NOT apply to COE students.

11.     Foreign language courses MAY be used to complete H/SS requirements. L & S does not allow students to use many language courses, so their lists will not include all options open to Engineering students. For a list of language options, visit http://coe.berkeley.edu/FL

*NOTE: for the Series Requirement: The purpose of the series requirement is to provide depth of knowledge in a certain area. Therefore, a two-course sequence not in the same department may be approved by petition, in cases in which there is a clear and logical connection between the courses involved. 

Plan of Study

For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), please see the Major Requirements tab.

Freshman
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Chemistry: CHEM 1A & CHEM 1AL, or CHEM 44CIV ENG 113
MATH 1A4ENGIN 74
Reading & Composition course from List A4PHYSICS 7A4
Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4MATH 1B4
 15-16 15
Sophomore
FallUnitsSpringUnits
MATH 534MATH 544
PHYSICS 7B4Two Basic Science Electives8
Basic Science Elective4CIV ENG C30 or MEC ENG C853
Reading & Composition course from List B4 
 16 15
Junior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
CIV ENG 100, MEC ENG 106, or CHM ENG 150A3-4MEC ENG 40, ENGIN 115, or CHM ENG 1413
CIV ENG 1113Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4
CIV ENG 103 or 1153Math/Computing Elective3-4
Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4Cluster courses6
 12-14 15-17
Senior
FallUnitsSpringUnits
Cluster courses3Cluster courses3
Advanced Science sequence4Advanced Science sequence4
Free Electives8Humanities/Social Sciences course3-4
 Free Electives4
 15 14-15
Total Units: 117-123

Courses

Environmental Engineering Science

ENGIN 7 Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers 4 Units

Elements of procedural and object-oriented programming. Induction, iteration, and recursion. Real functions and floating-point computations for engineering analysis. Introduction to data structures. Representative examples are drawn from mathematics, science, and engineering. The course uses the MATLAB programming language. Sponsoring departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

ENGIN W7 Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers 4 Units

Elements of procedural and object-oriented programming. Induction, iteration, and recursion. Real functions and floating-point computations for engineering analysis. Introduction to data structures. Representative examples are drawn from mathematics, science, and engineering. The course uses the MATLAB programming language.

ENGIN 10 Engineering Design and Analysis 3 Units

This is a is an introduction to the profession of engineering and its different disciplines through a variety of individual design and analysis projects. Hands on creativity,teamwork, and effective communication are emphasized. Common lecture sessions address the essence of engineering design, the practice of engineering analysis, the societal context for engineering projects and the ethics of the engineering profession. Students develop design and analysis skills, and practice applying these skills to illustrative problems drawn from various mechanical engineering topics such as material testing,aerodynamics, controls and design.

ENGIN 10 Engineering Design and Analysis 3 Units

This is a is an introduction to the profession of engineering and its different disciplines through a variety of individual design and analysis projects. Hands on creativity,teamwork, and effective communication are emphasized. Common lecture sessions address the essence of engineering design, the practice of engineering analysis, the societal context for engineering projects and the ethics of the engineering profession. Students develop design and analysis skills, and practice applying these skills to illustrative problems drawn from various mechanical engineering topics such as material testing,aerodynamics, controls and design.

ENGIN 15 Design Methodology 2 Units

Introduction to design methodology, problem definition, and the search for creative solutions. Social, political, legal, and ethical aspects of design solutions. Topics and discussions include the structure of engineering organizations, the product development cycle, mechanical dissection, reverse engineering, patents, failure case studies, product liability, and engineering ethics.

ENGIN 24 Freshman Seminar 1 Unit

The Berkeley Seminar Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all college departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester.

ENGIN 25 Visualization for Design 2 Units

Development of 3-dimensional visualization skills for engineering design. Sketching as a tool for design communication. Presentation of 3-dimensional geometry with 2-dimensional engineering drawings. This course will introduce the use of 2-dimensional CAD on computer workstations as a major graphical analysis and design tool. A group design project is required. Teamwork and effective communication are emphasized.

ENGIN 26 Three-Dimensional Modeling for Design 2 Units

Three-dimensional modeling for engineering design. This course will emphasize the use of CAD on computer workstations as a major graphical analysis and design tool. Students develop design skills, and practice applying these skills. A group design project is required. Hands-on creativity, teamwork, and effective communication are emphasized.

ENGIN 27 Introduction to Manufacturing and Tolerancing 2 Units

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance analysis for fabrication, fundamentals of manufacturing processes (metal cutting, welding, joining, casting, molding, and layered manufacturing).

ENGIN 28 Basic Engineering Design Graphics 3 Units

Introduction to the engineering design process and graphical communications tools used by engineers. Conceptual design of products. Tolerance analysis for fabrication. Documentation of design through engineering drawing. Development of spatial reasoning skills. Basic descriptive geometry. Parametric solid modeling and feature based design. Use of Computer-Assisted Design as a design tool.

ENGIN 39B Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 1.5 - 4 Units

Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

ENGIN 39E Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 1.5 - 4 Units

Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

ENGIN 39F Freshman/Sophomore Seminar 1.5 - 4 Units

Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Enrollment limits are set by the faculty, but the suggested limit is 25.

ENGIN 45 Properties of Materials 3 Units

Application of basic principles of physics and chemistry to the engineering properties of materials. Special emphasis devoted to relation between microstructure and the mechanical properties of metals, concrete, polymers, and ceramics, and the electrical properties of semiconducting materials. Sponsoring Department: Materials Science and Engineering

ENGIN 47 Supplementary Work in Lower Division Engineering 1 - 3 Units

May be taken only with permission of the Dean of the College of Engineering. Students with partial credit in a lower division engineering course may complete the work under this heading.

ENGIN 92 Perspectives in Engineering 1 Unit

This series of lectures provides students, especially undeclared Engineering students, with information on the various engineering disciplines to guide them toward choice of major. Lecturers describe research activities, how they made their own career choices, and indicate future opportunities. Recommended for all Engineering Science students and required for Engineering undeclared students.

ENGIN 93 Energy Engineering Seminar 1 Unit

Weekly seminar with different speakers on energy-related topics. The goal is to expose students to a broad range of energy issues.

ENGIN 98 Directed Group Studies for Lower Division Undergraduates 1 - 4 Units

Seminars for group study of selected topics, which will vary from year to year. Intended for students in the lower division.

ENGIN 115 Engineering Thermodynamics 4 Units

Fundamental laws of thermodynamics for simple substances; application to flow processes and to nonreacting mixtures; statistical thermodynamics of ideal gases and crystalline solids; chemical and materials thermodynamics; multiphase and multicomponent equilibria in reacting systems; electrochemistry. Sponsoring Departments: Materials Science and Engineering and Nuclear Engineering.

ENGIN 117 Methods of Engineering Analysis 3 Units

Methods of theoretical engineering analysis; techniques for analyzing partial differential equations and the use of special functions related to engineering systems. Sponsoring Department: Mechanical Engineering.

ENGIN 120 Principles of Engineering Economics 3 Units

Economic analysis for engineering decision making: Capital flows, effect of time and interest rate. Different methods of evaluation of alternatives. Minimum-cost life and replacement analysis. Depreciation and taxes. Uncertainty; preference under risk; decision analysis. Capital sources and their effects. Economic studies.

ENGIN 125 Ethics, Engineering, and Society 3 Units

How should engineers analyze and resolve the ethical issues inherent in engineering? This seminar-style course provides an introduction to how theories, concepts, and methods from the humanities and social science can be applied to ethical problems in engineering. Assignments incorporate group and independent research designed to provide students an opportunity to contribute novel findings to the emerging field of engineering ethics while building their analytical and communication skills. This course cannot be used to fulfill any engineering technical requirements (units or courses).

ENGIN 128 Advanced Engineering Design Graphics 3 Units

Advanced graphics tools for engineering design. Parametric solid modeling. Assembly modeling. Presentation using computer animation and multimedia techniques.

ENGIN 147 Supplementary Work in Upper Division Engineering 1 - 3 Units

May be taken only with permission of the Dean of the College of Engineering. Students with partial credit in an upper division engineering course may complete the work under this heading.

ENGIN 157AC Engineering, The Environment, and Society 4 Units

This course engages students at the intersection of environmental justice, social justice, and engineering to explore how problems that are commonly defined in technical terms are at their roots deeply socially embedded. Through partnerships with community-based organizations, students are trained to recognize the socio-political nature of technical problems so that they may approach solutions in ways that prioritize social justice. Topics covered include environmental engineering as it relates to air, water, and soil contamination; race, class, and privilege; expertise; ethics; and engaged citizenship. This course cannot be used to complete any engineering technical or unit requirements.

ENGIN 177 Advanced Programming with MATLAB 3 Units

The course builds an understanding, demonstrates engineering uses, and provides hand-on experience for object-oriented programming as well as exposes a practical knowledge of advanced features available in MATLAB. The course will begin with a brief review of basic MATLAB features and quickly move to class organization and functionality. The introduced concepts are reinforced by examining the advanced graphical features of MATLAB. The material will also include the effective use of programs written in C and FORTRAN, and will cover SIMULINK, a MATLAB toolbox providing for an effective ways of model simulations. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be placed on examples and homework assignments from engineering disciplines.

ENGIN 194 Undergraduate Research 3 Units

Students who have completed a satisfactory number of advanced courses may pursue original research under the direction of one of the members of the staff. Final report and presentation required.

ENGIN 198 Directed Group Studies for Advanced Undergraduates 1 - 4 Units

Group study of selected topics.

Contact Information

Engineering Science Program

Visit Program Website

Program Chair and Faculty Adviser

Robert Harley, PhD

667 Davis Hall

harley@ce.berkeley.edu

College of Engineering Student Services

230 Bechtel Engineering Center

Phone: 510-643-7594

Fax: 510-643-8653

ess@ce.berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Staff Adviser

Mitzi Stevens

stevens3@berkeley.edu