Environmental Engineering Syllabus 2024: Subjects, Semester-wise Syllabus PDF, Top Colleges, Books

Updated on May 11, 2022 10:39 IST
Vidhi Jain

Vidhi JainContent Writer

The role of an environmental engineer is to find solutions for quality issues in air, water, and land, which may pose a threat to life. Applying science and engineering principles to polluted resources can help increase the quality of life.

The Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering course encompasses a broad range of subjects, including physical, chemical, and biological science, as well as civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. When you pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering, you'll learn subjects ranging from microbiology to hydrology. The course is four years long, with two semesters taught per academic year.

Environmental Engineering Syllabus: Important Facts

Some important facts pertaining to Environmental Engineering can be seen below:

  • BTech in Environmental Engineering is an eight-semester course: A BTech Degree in Environmental Engineering focuses more on the research and development aspect of the fields such as environmental particles, their reactions with air and plants, and provides knowledge of pollution and global warming.
  • Scope in India: Environmental engineers have a diverse range of job opportunities. They can work with the central and state pollution control boards as these organisations work towards maintaining clean environments. Jobs at the state level often come with a monthly contractual salary.
  • Environmental Engineering Syllabus in NITs: The National Institute of Technology has many branches in India and is the preferred institute for studying Environmental Engineering. NITs offer MTech in Environmental Engineering. The course covers the following topics:
    • Waste treatment systems
    • Environmental chemistry and microbiology
    • Environmental system design project
    • Solid and hazardous waste management
    • Environmental engineering design project
  • Environmental Engineering Syllabus in IITs: The Indian Institute of Technology is the most reputed university in India for Environmental Engineering.  It offers many core courses in the field. Some of these are listed below:
    • Introduction to Environmental Science
    • Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal Systems Environmntal Quality and Pollution
    • Mass Transfer Inter-media transfer of pollutants
    • Environmental Impact Assessment
    • Brief mention of the development of environmental standards
    • Air pollution control
    • Particles in Environment Formation
    • Solid-liquid transfers
  • General examination pattern: Generally, students are evaluated based on assignments and lab performance. Students also have to sit for a mid-semester exam. However, the final assessment is based on short projects, lab assignments, etc.

DFP-Banner

Environmental Engineering Syllabus: List of Subjects

The list of typical core subjects and typical elective subjects have been listed in the tables available below:

Typical core subjects for Environmental Engineering

Subject title Details

Basic Environmental Engineering and Elementary Biology

The syllabus is a unification of environmental concepts, engineering, and sciences. Students understand the basic principles of environmental particles and develop new solutions, using engineering for the environment, industry, and other fields. It starts with ecology concepts such as the importance of the environment. It then talks about the spiralling rate of population and how human beings now require more land for living. However, this has led to large-scale deforestation, which will destroy the planet. Acid rain, greenhouse effect, smog, environmental pollution, and depletion of the ozone layer are some of the other topics discussed.

Some parts of the syllabus are:

  • Environmental pollution
  • Large-scale deforestation
  • Depletion of the ozone layer
  • Acid rain
  • Creation of greenhouse effect
  • Smog

Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal Systems

Wastewater treatment systems comprise storage tanks, reaction vessels, and sludge tanks. These systems also include equipment such as mixers and watering machines, ph adjustment and polymer make-up units, and filter presses.

Some parts of the syllabus are:

  • Dimensions and units
  • Water sources
  • Water quantity, process description of conventional water treatment  
  • Design of individual unit processes  
  • Water treatment plant layout Sewage Concept
Particles in Environment Formation

The atmospheric particles affect the balance between shortwave and longwave radiation. The climate effects of greenhouse gases can be increased or decreased, depending on if the clouds cause warming (due to an amplified greenhouse effect) or cooling (due to an increased shortwave albedo). Humidity or dust cause an enhancement of IR opacity and, in turn, raise the adequate level of radiative cooling.

Some parts of the syllabus are:

  • Industrial processes
  • Dust storms
  • Natural PM Particles from power generators
  • Sea spray
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

Human activities produce large amounts of solid waste. Inadequate or inappropriate management of these byproducts can have serious public health consequences and harmful effects on the environment. Various categories of solid waste produce different kinds of negative impacts. Much of this subject is devoted to the functional aspects of solid waste management programmes, particularly storage, collection, and disposal of solid waste.

Some parts of the syllabus are:

  • Identification and clarification of hazardous waste    
  • Storage and collection  
  • Transfer and transport
  • Physical and chemical treatment
  • Biological treatment

Typical Elective Subjects for Environmental Engineering

Subject title Details

Microbial Tech And Biotechnology

Microbial biotechnology uses non-human or non-plant microbes for purposes such as synthesis, cellulose production, bio-isolation, and knowledge. The field of microbial biotechnology also covers methods of manipulation and control such as gene knockout.

Environmental Engineering Syllabus in Detail

The syllabus for BTech in Environmental Engineering may vary from one university to the other, but the subjects are more or less the same. Here is a general overview of the core or elective subjects taught from the first to the eighth semester in the course:

Semester Core/Elective Subject title Details
1 and 2 Introduction to Environmental Particles and Effects Introduction to Environmental Particles and Effects The size of the particles is very important when it comes to health. The smaller they are, the greater their potential to cause breathing issues or enter your blood or lungs. The smallest size can be 10 micrometres.

Fine particulates (PM2.5) have been found to be the main cause of haze, or reduced visibility, in some parts of the US. The issue has been even more pronounced in wilderness areas and national parks.

In most cases, plants and vegetation can also be affected by acid properties.
3 Environmental Chemistry & Microbiology Environmental Chemistry & Microbiology The objective of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge of environmental chemistry and microbiology and allow them to use that for understanding and solving environmental problems. Some of the topics covered in Environmental Chemistry are a review of basic concepts, equilibria, equilibrium constants and activity, kinetics, and acidity versus alkalinity. Primary topics discussed in environmental microbiology are microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and other higher forms. There are several types of viruses as well. These microscopic organisms cause diseases in human beings. Fortunately, they can be controlled with proper measures. Microbes are not just pollutants, but also energy sources.
4 Water Resources Engineering Water Resources Engineering Hydraulics and water resource engineering are concerned with designing water systems. This includes designing bridges, dams, channels, canals, and levees.
4 Environmental  Hydraulics Environmental Hydraulics Environmental hydraulics is the scientific study of natural water flows and their related transport and transformation processes in environmental systems.
5 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Hazardous waste can be taken care of by following biological, chemical, physical and thermal methods. Chemical methods include chemical reactions such as ion exchange, precipitation, and oxidation-reduction. Biological methods involve microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. Physical methods treat the waste by grinding it into a powder or boiling it before releasing it into the environment (in-situ treatment). High-temperature incineration can detoxify particular organic wastes and burn off toxic combustion gases.
5 Geotechnical Engineering Geotechnical Engineering As an undergraduate student, one would study Rock Mechanics, Soil-Structure Interactions, Ground Improvement Techniques, Plastic Equilibrium in Soils, Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Foundation Dynamics, and Risk and Reliability in Geotechnical Engines.
6 Wastewater Engineering Wastewater Engineering There are three types of sewage wastewater: industrial sewage, domestic sewage, and stormwater. Domestic sewage is also called a sanitary sewer. Industrial sewage is water used in manufacturing.
7 Advance  Water and Wastewater Treatment Advance Water and Wastewater Treatment There are a variety of technologies that are used for desalination, but the most important of these are reverse osmosis (RO), ion exchange (IX), electrodialysis (ED), and electrolysis.  
8 Environmental Project Environmental Project Students work on real-world projects comprising environmental study, analysis of particles, the study of pollution levels, etc.

Environmental Engineering Syllabus for Distance Programme

Students who can’t afford full-time courses can get their degrees through distance education. Students who don’t meet the eligibility requirements for full-time courses can also opt for a distance/part-time programme. The syllabus of the distance education programme is similar to the regular one. The evaluation format (20% for internal assessment and 80% for the end semester examination) is also similar.

The top colleges for distance education are MIT Manipal, COEP Pune, BIT Mesra, Manav Bharti University, Sikkim Manipal University, Delhi University, and Vinayaka Mission University.

Specialisations offered in Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering is an umbrella term used for covering expansive topics such as air particles, geological aspects, engineering, waste management, and many more. The applications of this course spread far and wide to sectors such as agriculture, animal husbandry, pollution control, energy production and conservation, eco-conservation, vaccines, insecticides, development of sewage systems, and fertilisers.

Specialisation Subjects Details
Wastewater Management
  • Sludge Treatment   
  • Physical Water Treatment
  • Chemical Treatment
  • Sewage System Analysis
  • Water Channel Analysis
  • Recycling
  • Anaerobic Digestion
Students interested in Waste Water Management often choose this specialisation. You will study several water treatment procedures, analysis of water channels, and waste recycling.

Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

  • Ion Exchange
  • Precipitation
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Toxicity Measurement
Specialisation in Solid and Hazardous Waste Management allows students to learn in detail about plant ion exchange, the definition of waste, and the mechanism of managing solid waste. Upon completion, students get involved in solid and hazardous waste management research.

Water Resources Engineering

  • Designing Bridges
  •  Dams
  •  Channels  Canal  Levees

The specialisation offers a deep insight into the relationships among various water resources.

Books and Authors Related to Environmental Engineering

As environmental engineering is a highly versatile field with many specialisations, students study from a wide range of books during their graduation or postgraduation. Some of the books are listed below

Subject Book title and Author Description
General Environmental Engineering Environmental studies by Prof. R. Rajagopalan  Environmental Studies explains several environmental particles and their impact on human and plant lives.
WasteWater Treatment Waste Water Treatment & Disposal by Metcalf & Eddy  The authors identify and explain the essential principles of wastewater management.
General Environmental Engineering Environmental Engg. by Rowe Peavy This acclaimed book for classical environmental engineering covers basic theoretical information and the study of trends through experiments and reasoning.
WasteWater Treatment Waste Water Treatment by Rao & Dutta  The author breaks the confusing concepts of complex wastewater treatment procedures into easy-to-understand steps in this book.
WasteWater Treatment Waste Water Engg. by B.C. Punmia and Ashok Jain The authors help students strengthen their ability to calculate waste levels in a water body by providing many problems at the end of every chapter.

Entrance Exams for Environmental Engineering

Listed below are the central and state-level exams to secure admission in BTech Environmental Engineering courses at premier institutes in India. The minimum eligibility for these exams is passing the 10+2 examination with a good score. Individually, every exam has a different cutoff requirement for those scores.

The difficulty level of JEE Mains and JEE Advanced exams ranges from moderate to high, with the rest being moderate. To score good marks in these examinations, you should study subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Almost all examinations are conducted in the Multiple Choice Question format.

Top Colleges for Environmental Engineering

Based on the curriculum, choices of electives offered, and in-house placement opportunities, these are the top colleges for Environmental Engineering in India.

College/University/Institution

Links

IIT Bombay

https://www.esed.iitb.ac.in/

MIT Manipal

https://manipal.edu/mit/program-list/mtech/mtech-environmental-engineering.html

DTU Delhi

http://www.dtu.ac.in/Web/Departments/Environment/about/

MSU Baroda

https://www.msubaroda.ac.in/asset/storage/files/ME CIVIL - ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.pdf

AKS University

https://www.aksuniversity.ac.in/index.php/academics/life-sciences-technology/environmental-science

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Uttar Pradesh

http://www.northhilleducation.com/top-institute/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/310-dr-a-p-j-abdul-kalam-technical-university-daktu/engineering/b-tech-environmental-engineering

IIT Madras

https://civil.iitm.ac.in/ewre/

LDCE, Ahmedabad

http://ldce.ac.in/departments/environmental-engineering

JMI, New Delhi

https://www.jmi.ac.in/aboutjamia/departments/environmentalscience/

College of Engineering, Kolhapur

https://www.kitcoek.in/agnis_upload/academics/online-syllabus/4- ENV-ENGG_T-Y-B-Tech Syllabus 2019-20 (1).pdf

DFP-Banner

Environmental Engineering Syllabus: FAQs

Q What is the scope of Environmental Engineering?

A. Environmental Engineering specialises in improving environmental quality. It uses science and engineering to aid healthy air, water, and land. India is a great destination for environmental engineers qualified in chemical, biological, thermal, radioactive, or mechanical engineering.

Q. What are the subjects in Environmental Engineering?

A. Some subjects covered in B.Tech in Environmental Engineering courses are 
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • Geology
  • Ecology
  • Hydrology
  • Plant Science
  • Mathematics
  • Hydraulics

Q. What is the salary of an Environmental Engineering professional?

A. An environmental engineer can earn an average of INR 1 lakh per month. In government jobs, professionals usually earn INR 12,000-18,000 per month at the start.

Q. Will I get a job after the Environmental Engineering course?

A. After completing BTech in Environmental Engineering, you can follow any of the following careers:
  • Research Scientist
  • Lecturer of Environmental Engineering
  • Production In-Charge
  • Quality Control Officer
  • Water Resource Engineer

Q. Does an Environmental Engineering course have a bright future prospect?

A. Environmental engineers play an essential role in bettering human lives. They design systems that manage water resources, fix water pollution, and remove dangerous bacteria.

Q. Is Environmental Engineering in demand?

A. The job market prospects for environmental engineers are very bright, with an estimate of 4% growth over the next decade.

Q. Is Environmental Engineering a promising career?

A. Environmental Engineers have some of the best job opportunities.

Q. What is the scope after M.Tech in Environmental Engineering?

A. There is a wide range of jobs in educational institutions and research departments in India. Jobs in this field require Mechanical Engineering skills and knowledge of environmental engineering. There are a lot of opportunities in diverse industries such as research institutions, government organisations, and more.

Q. Which IIT is best for Environmental Engineering?

A. The best IITs for environmental engineering are:
  • IIT Delhi
  • IIT Madras
  • IIT Kanpur
  • IIT Bombay

Q. Is JEE required for Environmental Engineering?

A. You'll need to appear for the JEE exam for admission to environmental engineering courses at any top college. 

Q. Can a Physics-Chemistry-Biology student pursue Environmental Engineering?

A. Yes, a Physics-Chemistry-Biology student can pursue Environmental Engineering.

Q. How many years does it take to become an Environmental Engineer?

A. It takes four years totcomplete the course.

Q. What skills do Environmental Engineers need?

A. Environmental engineers need the following skills:
  • Writing
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Imagination for design
  • Reading
  • Problem-solving

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Environmental Engineering. Students interested in pursuing a career on Environmental Engineering, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

22 Jan ' 25 - 24 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

28 Jan ' 25 - 29 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

7 Jan ' 25

GATE 2025 Admit Card

1 Feb ' 25

GATE 2025 Exam (CS1 | AG | MA | CS2 | NM | MT | T...

30 Dec ' 24 - 15 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form

16 Feb ' 25 - 22 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form with late fee

Popular Environmental Engineering Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Environmental Engineering Colleges in India. Learn more about these Environmental Engineering colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
5 Courses
2.69 L - 10 L
17.92 - 19.63 LPA

#2 India Today

3 Courses
3 L
14 LPA

#1 India Today

1 L

Top 25 in India

4 Courses
1.23 L - 6.87 L
4.3

#7 India Today

2 Courses
20 K - 8 L
17 - 19 LPA

#3 The Week

3 Courses
20 K - 10 L
21.28 LPA

#4 India Today

Popular Private Environmental Engineering Colleges in India

1 Course
2.2 L
3.8 LPA
1 Course
1.1 L
5 LPA
1 Course
1.68 L
4.05 LPA
1 Course
1.33 L
2.0
1 Course
62.82 K
6.5 LPA
1 Course
8.1 K
1.4 LPA

Popular Environmental Engineering UG Courses

Following are the most popular Environmental Engineering UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Environmental Engineering PG Courses

Following are the most popular Environmental Engineering PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 days ago

Environmental Engineering courses basically focus on improving the overall quality of the world around us and coming up with solutions to environmental problems. Along with the Engineering curriculum, students get to study a lot about Soil Science, Biology, Chemistry as well as Mathematics.

Some of t

...more

V

Vidhi Jain

Contributor-Level 7