The Ph.D. degree is awarded in recognition of demonstrated scholarly competence and ability to conduct and report original and significant research in Environmental Engineering. The field of Environmental Engineering has long been known for its breadth and ability to adapt to the new technological, societal, and global problems facing the environment. Major research areas include water quality engineering, air quality engineering, fate and transport of contaminants in the environment, environmental biotechnology and nanotechnology, waste management, sustainability and ecological engineering, surface water hydrology and hydraulics, groundwater hydrology, water reuse, green engineering, renewable energy, fate of emerging contaminants, and humanitarian engineering with a focus on the developing world. Graduates of the major are prepared for careers in academia, governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), or private industry and firms involved in planning, design, research and development, or policy.