Engineering the Future | Part One

Find Solutions to the World’s Most Pressing Environmental Issues

Environmental Engineering, a new major at Tandon School of Engineering, was launched to meet the moment. As climate change, forever chemicals, and spiraling energy usage pose mounting risks to human health and the world around us, this program aims to equip the next generation of engineers to confront our most critical environmental issues.

For André Butler, industry professor of civil, urban, and environmental engineering, the program’s setting is just as important as its curriculum. “There is no laboratory anywhere on the planet like New York City,” he says. With over 20 million people living in the metropolitan area, the city offers unparalleled resources for students eager to address today’s most urgent issues.

What’s more, the degree marks an opportunity for NYU students to study traditional environmental engineering issues alongside contemporary challenges. For example, students examine drinking water treatment as well as strategies to build climate resilience.

“As environmental engineers, we’re interventionists,” says Andrea Silverman, institute associate professor of civil, urban, and environmental engineering. “We don’t just study problems—we think about solutions to try to fix them. And we are working to help a new generation think the same way.”

The program combines engineering fundamentals with interdisciplinary exploration and experiential learning. Students tackle topics like hydrology and water resources, environmental chemistry and microbiology, air pollution control, and treatment technologies that prevent and remediate contamination. Additionally, they explore policy, sustainability, and the public health impacts of environmental challenges. At the same time, case studies focus on real-world issues such as water quality and the energy demands of artificial intelligence.

Environmental Engineering majors prepare for their professional careers through internship opportunities at leading environmental engineering companies and connections with incubators like the Urban Future Lab, which supports start-ups focused on sustainable initiatives.

Learn How to Design, Build, and Maintain Infrastructure

Surrounded by the skyline, bridges, and subways of New York City, Civil Engineering majors at NYU don’t just learn about infrastructure—they witness it in action.

“Being in New York City adds an unparalleled level of relevance to everything civil engineering students learn in the classroom,” says Martina Deligio Bardon, Class of 2026. “Some of the world’s most iconic infrastructure surrounds NYU, so the city isn’t only a backdrop, but a source of motivation.”

While the city itself offers unmatched resources, so does NYU Tandon. In courses like Introduction to Engineering and Design, required for all engineering majors, students engage with digital design and modeling tools from day one. Students can also explore and experiment across disciplines before focusing on specialized courses within their major, such as Transportation Engineering or Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics.

Martina, who concentrated in construction management, shares, “What drew me in was the program’s interdisciplinary approach. I wanted to understand all the subdisciplines within civil engineering before narrowing my focus. At NYU, you’ll find countless opportunities to dive in and discover what interests you—from student clubs and site visits to industry networking events and Vertically Integrated Projects.”

Real-World Experience, Faculty Support, and a Global Approach

Central to the curriculum is seeing engineering principles come to life in the real world. “We went to see a high-rise being built in New Jersey,” says Yousef Abukwaik, a senior in the program. “With civil engineering and construction in general, a lot of it has to do with your field knowledge. We’re given tons of opportunities to gain exposure thanks to our department chair and our other professors.”

For Yousef, faculty mentorship has been key. “I saw professors who were integrated into the industry,” he explains. Over the summer, he worked with Professor Mohamad Awada on human-centric construction practices, surveying thousands of articles on sleep quality. He also studied the accessibility of public transportation with Professor Debra Laefer, assessing how people with disabilities navigate subway stations.

Meanwhile, Martina found her global experiences to be the most impactful part of her education. She spent a semester studying abroad at NYU London, where she pursued a minor in Urban Design and Architecture Studies. “I think that NYU’s support system and global reach are what make the program stand out the most,” she says.

More Engineering Pathways at NYU

At our degree-granting campuses across the globe, you can find the engineering major that’s right for you.

New York City:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

NYU Abu Dhabi

• Bioengineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• General Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

NYU Shanghai

• Computer Systems Engineering
• Electrical and Systems Engineering