Question Answer submitted by:Brianna Medema, P.E.

I graduated from a school that offered 5 different engineering concentrations: Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil & Environmental.  The Environmental concentration people took a few chemistry classes but it was mostly a Civil Engineering degree with some Chemical analysis and environmental protection added in.  The Chemical program had classes that worked on Mass & Energy balances and taught process modeling (making new chemicals from other ones, think refinery or chemical manufacturing).  The environmental people did some water treatment classes.

My friends what took the Environmental concentration currently work for municipalities (Cities) and do water treatment, or they are working in labs that test environmental toxins.  My Chemical engineering friends work for oil and gas companies, personal product companies (think shampoo, toothpaste), or explosives (for mining), or Space (rockets, and instrumentation).  My Environmental friends salaries about 60% of what my Chemical friends make.