Environmental Engineering

Globalization, industrialization and climate change have had a significant impact on the natural foundations of life on earth over the past two centuries. A transformation towards more sustainability and CO2-reduced production and behavior is necessary in almost all areas of the economy and society. In this context, the topics of water and energy are the focus of extensive change processes. In order to achieve these goals, engineers are required with

• a profound and interdisciplinary knowledge of environmental, process and energy/building technology
• an extended understanding of complex and systemic interrelationships
• application knowledge to achieve sustainability goals as well as
• high communication and integration skills

The study program aims to qualify students for activities in engineering fields of action in environmental technology or with an environmental focus, taking into account the increasing importance of the sustainable and digital transformation of society and the economy.

The specific objectives of the study program include the acquisition of knowledge and the development of competences

• of the fundamentals of engineering and natural sciences
• for a systemic understanding of natural cycles (water, soil, air) and energy generation and use at the micro, meso and macro levels and their interaction with societal and commercial-industrial activity
• in the area of the Circular Economy
• energy efficiency and recovery in environmental systems (e.g. wastewater, sewage sludge) and buildings
• diverse methods for the analysis, assessment and implementation of environmental science findings, processes and projects
• social and personal competences in the course of practical, project and final theses
• to develop solutions for environmental engineering tasks, taking into account the current state of technology and science

In the first two semesters, students receive a basic education in the fundamentals of engineering and natural sciences. This includes, for example, design, programming, electrical and materials engineering, engineering mathematics and statistics, chemistry, as well as an introduction to business administration and project management. In a special module (Studium Generale + ING Praxis), students have the opportunity to get to know all the focal points of the program in order to decide, for example, on the environmental engineering focal point after completing the 2nd semester.

By selecting the environmental engineering concentration, students in Major 1 determine the subject-specific concentration content (example water: environmental economics/sustainable management, chemistry, reaction engineering, hydraulics/modeling, turbomachinery, environmental analysis) in addition to the more advanced basic subjects (thermodynamics/ fluid mechanics, QM, measurement, data and control engineering, math/chemistry). For in-depth specialization, students can select additional modules as Major 2 (example Water: e.g. Hydrology/Water Extraction, Water Treatment, Circular Economy and Resource Management; example Energy and Building Technology: Sustainable Building Technology, Heating and Ventilation Technology, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, Building and Plant Simulation).

To ensure that the program meets both the diversity of students' interests and the increasingly interdisciplinary requirements of the working world, students can add four supplementary modules from different disciplines in the minor area. Here, for example, the study program can be supplemented with economic (e.g. innovation/foundation, corporate management/human resources management), energy-related (energy-efficient building management and engineering) or IT subjects (information technology).

In addition to teaching specialized knowledge and methods, the program is strongly practice-oriented. A high level of practical relevance is the content of the various subject modules (e.g. practical examples, through lectures by external company representatives, excursions and group work) as well as in the special practical modules "Company/Research Project", the practical work in the 7th semester and the final bachelor thesis.

Upon graduation, students will possess the following skills and knowledge:

• Understanding, analysis and derivation of action in environmental engineering tasks.
• Development and evaluation of solution concepts in the form of e.g. feasibility studies, design plans and specifications based on the learned state of knowledge/technology
• Use of modern planning and analysis tools, e.g. simulation and calculation tools, CAD
• Ability to evaluate solutions from a sustainability point of view (ecology, economy, socio-technology)
• Ability to effectively and efficiently use digitalization in terms of necessity and feasibility
• Targeted use of communicative means while classifying one's own role

Environmental engineers are a group of experts who are increasingly in demand. Already today, and increasingly in the future, there are specialist positions to be filled in both the water and energy sectors that require the aforementioned qualifications and competencies. Due to the broad orientation in technical and social-methodical aspects, the students are trained for different activities with an engineering focus. Depending on the selection of focal points in Major 1 and Major 2 as well as in the complementary expertise provided by the minor modules, fields of activity open up in research institutions, universities, research and development departments in trade and industry, in specialist departments of local, regional and national authorities or non-profit organizations. Possible job profiles here range from planning and project management activities to supervisory functions and research activities to product development and sales. In addition, the minor also supports a career in self-employment.