Revised 7 September 2004

The mission of the environmental engineering undergraduate program is to provide students a broadly based yet rigorous education in the fundamental subjects central to the field, in a milieu that fosters a spirit of intellectual inquiry and the development of problem-solving skills required to address the open-ended issues characteristic of environmental engineering problems. The fundamental subjects include the physical, chemical, biological, and social sciences; mathematics; engineering science; the principles of environmental engineering; and the art and science of engineering design. This training is meant to prepare students for future employment as professional engineers, and for subsequent training at the graduate level, either in Environmental Engineering, other engineering and scientific fields, or professions such as business, law, public health, and medicine.

The general objectives of the undergraduate program in environmental engineering are to provide an education in environmental engineering that will prepare our graduates for:

1. Successful application of engineering knowledge and methods,
2. Leadership in identifying and solving environmental problems,
3. Graduate education in engineering and science,
4. Diverse, alternative career choices, and
5. The highest standards of professional ethics and service.

Opportunities in environmental engineering are diverse and each student is unique, so we expect that the program objectives will not be achieved in the same way by all students. Our graduates may work as professional engineers or study at the best graduate and professional programs. Others may use their training to promote public health or improve environmental management. In all cases, we expect that the students’ motivation, knowledge and skills will be manifest in achievements that improve the environment, our understanding of how it works, and the practice of environmental engineering. Subsequent sections of the self-study document how we will evaluate the success of our students in achieving the Program Educational Objectives.

The mission statement of the Johns Hopkins University stresses the goal of educating students and cultivating their capacity for life-long learning.1 The environmental engineering mission statement and specific objectives have been developed in order to contribute to the accomplishment of this mission. Particularly noteworthy is objective 4, which addresses the development of independent study skills for life-long learning. Objective 9, which in part concerns involvement in professional and technical activities, also supports this part of the University mission. The Whiting School of Engineering mission statement declares that one of its missions is to propagate engineering knowledge through educational programs, while its vision statement affirms a goal of producing graduates who will be leaders in business, government and academia through use of their problem solving skills and engineering knowledge.2 The set of environmental engineering objectives has, again, been developed specifically to support this mission.

More specific institutional goals are contained in the University’s Mission and Vision Statement for Undergraduate Education. 3 Among these institutional goals are:

Critical thinking, effective writing, and competent oral communication (supported by Environmental Engineering objectives 4 and 6);

Educational breadth that is demonstrated by familiarity with the subject content and approaches to understanding the world carried out by humanists, natural scientists and engineers, and social scientists (supported by Environmental Engineering objectives 3, 6, and 7);

Intellectual depth that demonstrates a mastery at a high technical level of the findings and methods of a field of choice for advanced study and a mastery of discipline standards as defined by appropriate national professional organizations (supported by Environmental Engineering objectives 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8);

Possession of technological literacy (supported by Environmental Engineering objectives 1, 2, 3, and 5);

Experience with the process of knowledge creation and understanding of the research enterprise, especially as it is implemented in the majors (supported by Environmental Engineering objective 8);

Appreciation for the necessity of continuous professional and personal development in the post- baccalaureate years (supported by Environmental Engineering objective 4); and

Opportunities to develop the habits of community service and civic engagement (supported by Environmental Engineering objective 9).

The primary constituents of the Environmental Engineering undergraduate program are present and prospective undergraduates. Other important constituencies include alumni; employers of environmental engineers; and graduate programs in environmental engineering and other fields. The major need of present and prospective undergraduates is for a program that provides the tools, concepts, and experiences necessary for them to function effectively in the professions and graduate programs they enter, and to prepare them to be informed citizens. Effective functioning requires that students have mastered analytical tools and communication skills, while gaining an appreciation of the social and political context of environmental engineering, the ethical implications of their activities, and the need for lifelong learning. This mix of abilities and perspective background is also what graduate programs and employers desire in their recruits.

1 “The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world” (webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/information_about_hopkins/about_jhu/
mission_statement/index.cfm ).

2 “The mission of the Whiting School of Engineering is to create new knowledge related to engineering disciplines and applications, and to propagate this knowledge through educational programs.” “The vision of the Whiting School of Engineering is to lead the world in creation of new knowledge in chosen areas and applications within engineering. We will produce graduates well positioned to lead business, government, and academia through use of their problem solving skills and engineering knowledge” (engineering.jhu.edu/strategic-plan-2/).

3 “The mission of Johns Hopkins University with respect to undergraduate education is to prepare students to be informed and engaged global citizens. Undergraduates in all programs should hone critical thinking skills and develop their creativity. Those preparing for advanced study or the professions should achieve mastery of their disciplines. Graduates should be ready to engage in a lifetime of learning related both to their chosen careers and to their personal interests.” Then a list of the more specific objectives follows (www.jhu.edu/news_info/reports/cue/chapter4.html).