Hands-on learning is at the heart of this course. Each day, students move beyond theory to actively experiment, build, and test solutions to real environmental challenges. They’ll construct mini water filters, track local air quality, and upcycle materials into functional prototypes. Renewable energy concepts come alive as students design and test solar-powered devices, while hydrology principles are explored through experiments comparing runoff on different surfaces.

The capstone project pushes students to apply all of these skills in a team-based design challenge: creating and testing a prototype that provides a sustainable solution. Working in groups, they’ll model real-world engineering solutions and refine their designs through iterative testing. This active, project-driven approach ensures that students not only understand environmental engineering concepts, but also experience the creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving that define the field.