Environmental Resources Engineering

Find your passion at Cal Poly Humboldt. In the Environmental Resources Engineering program we are designing for the future to support community access to clean water, air, sanitation, and energy and to preserve, protect and restore environments and ecosystems.

We are expanding the definition of environmental engineering so our graduates can create solutions to complex environmental problems that sustain, restore, and protect our natural resources. Our students look for big picture solutions to energy, water, and ecosystem restoration problems.

Why this program?

Where You Learn

The North Coast provides a unique learning lab for engineering students — connecting their education to practical experiences that can’t be found elsewhere.

Through the Lens of Social Justice

Our program provides a sense of care, support and belonging, and better prepares students to approach engineering and natural resources management through a lens of social justice.

Environmental & Societal Improvement

We strive for environmental and societal improvement, demonstrated in our personal passions and the professions that we pursue.


About the Program

The Environmental Resources Engineering program (ERE) is one of the largest, oldest, and most respected ABET-accredited undergraduate environmental engineering programs. Our mission is to prepare engineers to solve complex environmental resources problems. The ERE program strives to educate leaders who will sustain, restore and protect our natural resources and the environment.

We prepare our students to be future leaders by establishing a foundation in both the fundamentals and the big picture. The unique ERE curriculum combines traditional environmental engineering with management of natural resources in applications such as ecological restoration and energy resource management. Our emphasis on hands-on learning also sets us apart from most undergraduate environmental engineering programs. ERE students engage in frequent labs, field trips, and team projects, while enjoying a cooperative learning environment in classes that typically have fewer than 24 students.

ERE students work in teams to solve problems and sharpen critical thinking skills

Find more information on the ERE program on the following pages:

  • Undergraduate Program Strengths
    Details of the major components of our program energy resources, water quality, and water resources.
  • Program Information
    Find the ERE mission statement, program educational objectives, and student outcomes, as well as links to ERE student enrollment, demographic, and degree statistics.
  • Program History
    Find out how many students are in the ERE department or how long a professor has been teaching at Humboldt.
  • Accreditation
    Learn more about our department mission statement and our External Advisory Committee.

Catalog Information


Minor

We offer a minor in Appropriate Technology. 


Facilities

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

The Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the first in the nation to use constructed wetlands for urban wastewater treatment. Active projects include the design of natural treatment systems to treat wastewater and stormwater. 

Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary

Schatz Energy Research Center

The Schatz Energy Research Center promotes the use of clean and renewable energy in our society. The Center has a broad portfolio of domestic and international projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Active research projects include work related to solar energy, hydrogen, and fuel cells, biomass energy, clean transportation, local renewable energy utilization, and energy access for low-income people in developing countries. 

Schatz Energy Research Center

How to Apply

So environmental resources engineering sounds interesting, but you are still not sure if Humboldt is right for you? Explore what Humboldt has to offer to both freshman and transfer students.

Paperwork

For paperwork and forms such as major and minor contracts, course planning guides, semester schedules, course rotations, office hours and more, visit our forms page!

Possible Careers

Students will graduate from Humboldt prepared for work in industry, private practice, or government, or for continued studies in graduate school.

  • Air Pollution Engineer
  • Consulting Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Ecological Engineer
  • Energy Management Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Fisheries Engineer
  • Geo-Environmental Engineer
  • Hydrologist