Matt H AddedMonday, August 27, 2018 at 3:34 PM Is a environmental engineering degree the better option between that and civil? I am wanting to go to school to be an environmental engineer. I have read many places that if you do civil engineering then you can always do environmental stuff but its not the other way around if you choose environmental engineering. I strictly want to be on the environmental side and i do not have much aspiration to do anything structural or related to the civil side. But others say civil is the better option because it opens up more doors. So my question is this, is getting just an environmental engineering degree worth it or "enough" or should I go with civil and only try for environmental careers? Related to Choosing a Degree, Civil, Energy, Engineering Branches, Environment, Environmental, Preparation for College Areas of Impact Energy, Environment Reset Sort By Default Jennifer Oltman , Mainstay Engineering Group Answered Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 2:39 PM This is an excellent question, if you want to be a environmental engineer, than major in environmental engineering. However, Be clear on the difference between civil and environmental. I have an environmental engineering degree and I practice environmental engineering for many years. I did design dealing with lakes, streams and dams. However, i switched jobs and I made the transition to Civil Engineering and I started doing much different work, which includes stormwater management, utilities and land development. Civil can be quite extensive, and include Structural; Water Resources/Environmental; Construction Management; or Geotechnical. Environmental Engineering is more chemical or ecological based. It can include water and waste water treatment; lake management; groundwater contamination. With an environmental engineering degree you are clearly more experienced and marketable in that field. I'll tell you this, when I went to school, the amount of environmental engineering students to the amount of civil engineering students was drastic. There were 7 of us in my graduating class and hundreds of civil engineers. I believe you would be better following your passion and going for environmental engineering, you will stand out in the crown of Civils!