Ecological Engineering Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Ecological engineering (EcoE) is the design of sustainable systems consistent with ecological principles that integrate human activities into the natural environment to the benefit of both. Our systems-approach to engineering emphasizes diversity, resilience, and adaptation to maintain sustainability. Ecological engineering deals with both fundamental processes and engineering applications on scales that range from microscopic to watersheds and beyond. This discipline is rapidly developing as an important new area of engineering based on the science of ecological systems, with a number of dedicated journals, national and international professional societies, and new application areas emerging over the last decade. The Biological and Ecological Engineering Department at OSU has considerable expertise in this area and is among the national leaders in this discipline.
The Bachelor of Science and Honors Bachelor of Science degrees in Ecological Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.ABET.org.
The EcoE program is the first of its kind nationally, reflecting Oregon’s leadership in this new and exciting multidisciplinary field. The curriculum is divided into an ecological engineering core and a set of upper-division science and engineering electives. The ecological engineering core contains the introductory and upper-division course work that provides the common engineering and scientific basis for our students. The core consists of pre-professional courses, baccalaureate core requirements, required upper-division engineering courses, and required science courses. Selections are made to a total of 23 credits of engineering and science/public policy electives. This organization provides students with considerable flexibility in selecting their degree path.
Graduates with an Ecological Engineering degree will work to optimize the interface between humankind and the environment. Example activities undertaken might include river and wetland restoration, optimizing sensor arrays for ecological monitoring, improving productivity at agricultural and aquaculture facilities, managing the quality and quantity of water leaving farms, urban areas, landfills and industrial sites, and projection and adaptation of natural and anthropogenic systems to global climate and land use changes. Oregon State University has strong programs in many of the basic and engineering sciences that underpin the Ecological Engineering degree program.
Graduates with an ecological engineering skill set may find employment with industrial clients, engineering consulting companies, governmental agencies, and entrepreneurial start-ups.
Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes are posted on the BEE website.
Major Code: 450
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ENGR 100 | THE OREGON STATE ENGINEERING STUDENT | 3 |
ENGR 102 | DESIGN ENGINEERING AND PROBLEM SOLVING | 3 |
ENGR 103 | ENGINEERING COMPUTATION AND ALGORITHMIC THINKING | 3 |
Select one of the following chemistry series: | 15 | |
Series A | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | ||
Series B 1 | ||
GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY | ||
Series C 1 | ||
CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING MAJORS and CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERING MAJORS and LABORATORY FOR CH 202 | ||
COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE | 3-4 |
or COMM 111Z | +*PUBLIC SPEAKING | |
or COMM 218Z | +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
ENGR 211 | STATICS | 3 |
ENGR 213 | STRENGTH OF MATERIALS | 3 |
MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
MTH 254 | VECTOR CALCULUS I | 4 |
MTH 256 | APPLIED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 4 |
Select one of the following math pairs: | 4-7 | |
INTRODUCTION TO MATRIX ALGEBRA and INTRODUCTION TO SERIES | ||
INFINITE SERIES AND SEQUENCES and LINEAR ALGEBRA I | ||
PH 211 & PH 212 & PH 213 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS and *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS and *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 12 |
WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
Additional Courses | ||
BEE 221 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING | 3 |
BEE 222 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING COMPUTATION | 2 |
BEE 270 | ECOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
HHS 231 & HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH and *LIFETIME FITNESS (or any PAC course) | 3 |
SOIL 205 & SOIL 206 | SOIL SCIENCE and *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 4 |
ST 314 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
or ST 421 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS | |
or ST 422 | INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS | |
WR 227Z | *TECHNICAL WRITING | 4 |
Professional Core Courses (62 credits) | ||
BEE 311 | ECOLOGICAL FLUID MECHANICS | 4 |
BEE 312 | ECOHYDRAULICS | 4 |
BEE 313 | ECOHYDROLOGY | 4 |
BEE 320 | BIOSYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND MODELING | 4 |
BEE 322 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS AND TRANSFER PROCESS | 4 |
BEE 361 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY | 3 |
BEE 362 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING MICROBIAL PROCESSES | 3 |
BEE 468 | BIOREMEDIATION ENGINEERING | 4 |
BEE 481 | ^ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN I | 4 |
BEE 482 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN II | 3 |
BEE 483 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN III | 2 |
Professional Skills Courses | ||
BEE 415 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 1 |
FE 208 | FOREST SURVEYING | 4 |
FE 257 | GIS AND FOREST ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS | 3 |
Science and Public Policy | ||
AEC 250 | *INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY | 4 |
or ECON 201 | +*INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS | |
Ethics | ||
Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
*ETHICS | ||
*ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS | ||
*WORLD VIEWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES | ||
Additional Perspectives and Synthesis Courses | ||
*Biological Science | 4 | |
*Difference, Power & Discrimination | 3 | |
*Cultural Diversity | 3 | |
*Literature and The Arts | 3 | |
*Western Culture | 3 | |
*Science, Technology & Society | 3 | |
*Contemporary Global Issues | 3 | |
Upper-Division Science and Engineering Electives (23 credits) 2 | ||
Engineering Electives | ||
Select at least 10 non-blanket credits from the following courses: | 10-14 | |
RESEARCH | ||
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP | ||
IRRIGATION SYSTEM DESIGN | ||
RIVER ENGINEERING | ||
NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL | ||
OCEAN ENGINEERING | ||
GIS IN WATER RESOURCES | ||
COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE | ||
HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING DESIGN | ||
OREGON LAND SURVEY LAW | ||
PROPERTY SURVEYS | ||
SLOPE AND EMBANKMENT DESIGN | ||
CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING GRAPHICS AND DESIGN | ||
DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES | ||
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESSES | ||
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL | ||
FATE AND TRANSPORT OF CHEMICALS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS | ||
SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT | ||
FOREST ROUTE SURVEYING | ||
SOIL ENGINEERING | ||
SOIL MECHANICS | ||
HARVESTING PROCESS ENGINEERING | ||
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM REMOTE SENSING | ||
WATERSHED PROCESSES | ||
FOREST WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
TECHNIQUES FOR FOREST RESOURCE ANALYSIS | ||
Science and Public Policy Electives | ||
Select at least 9 non-blanket credits from the following courses: | 9-13 | |
*NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW | ||
*INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL SCIENCES | ||
PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL FOODS TECHNOLOGY | ||
*CONTENTIOUS SOCIAL ISSUES IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE | ||
ADVANCED PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL FOODS TECHNOLOGY | ||
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL INITIATIVES | ||
*ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, SUSTAINABILITY AND BUSINESS | ||
ELEMENTARY BIOCHEMISTRY | ||
*HUMAN IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS | ||
*HUMAN ECOLOGY | ||
PLANT STRUCTURE | ||
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY | ||
PLANT ECOLOGY | ||
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS | ||
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | ||
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
THEORIES OF CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT | ||
BARGAINING AND NEGOTIATION PROCESSES | ||
THIRD PARTIES IN DISPUTE RESOLUTION: MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION | ||
^FOREST OPERATIONS REGULATIONS AND POLICY ISSUES | ||
*GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK | ||
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION | ||
*CONSENSUS AND NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
SILVICULTURE PRINCIPLES | ||
FOREST RESOURCE ECONOMICS I | ||
^FOREST POLICY | ||
DAIRY PROCESSING | ||
DAIRY PROCESSING LABORATORY | ||
FOOD LAW | ||
CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF BEER | ||
PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF BEER and PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF BEER LABORATORY | ||
CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF WINE | ||
FERMENTATION MICROBIOLOGY | ||
PRINCIPLES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION | ||
INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT | ||
*ENDANGERED SPECIES, SOCIETY AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
^WILDLIFE IN AGRICULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
FRESHWATER ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION | ||
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES | ||
WETLANDS AND RIPARIAN ECOLOGY | ||
*EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE | ||
SURFACE PROCESSES | ||
APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY | ||
GLACIAL GEOLOGY | ||
HYDROGEOLOGY | ||
*FOUNDATIONS OF GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE AND GIS | ||
CARTOGRAPHY | ||
REMOTE SENSING: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS | ||
SNOW HYDROLOGY | ||
PERMACULTURE DESIGN AND THEORY: CERTIFICATE COURSE | ||
CROP PRODUCTION IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST AGROECOSYSTEMS | ||
^APPLIED ECOLOGY OF MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS | ||
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE | ||
PRECISION AGRICULTURE | ||
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | ||
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
INTRODUCTION TO NUMERICAL ANALYSIS | ||
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
APPLIED ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
APPLIED PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | ||
ESTUARINE ECOLOGY | ||
PRINCIPLES OF RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS | ||
ECOLOGY OF SHRUBLAND ECOSYSTEMS | ||
RNG 355 | ||
RANGELAND RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT | ||
RIPARIAN ECOHYDROLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | ||
BIOLOGY OF SOIL ECOSYSTEMS | ||
INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS and INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL STATISTICS | ||
*SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT | ||
*SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES | ||
CHEMICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
INDUSTRIAL MARKETING OF WOOD PRODUCTS | ||
*BIODIVERSITY: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND CONSERVATION | ||
Total Credits | 182 |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
- +
Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards
- 1
Series B and C are restricted to transfer students only. Either series is accepted for internal and external transfer students who have completed the sequences prior to transferring. Total chemistry credits for those students must total 15. Please talk with a program advisor if additional chemistry credits are needed. Transfer students who have not completed either series B or C prior to transferring must complete series A
- 2
Upper-Division Science and Engineering Electives must total 23 credits, with a minimum of 10 credits from Engineering and a minimum of 9 credits from Science and Public Policy
Major Code: 450
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ENGR 100 | THE OREGON STATE ENGINEERING STUDENT | 3 |
MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
CH 231 & CH 261 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 5 |
WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
Credits | 16 | |
Winter | ||
ENGR 102 | DESIGN ENGINEERING AND PROBLEM SOLVING | 3 |
MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
CH 232 & CH 262 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 5 |
COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or +*PUBLIC SPEAKING or +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGR 103 | ENGINEERING COMPUTATION AND ALGORITHMIC THINKING | 3 |
CH 233 & CH 263 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 5 |
MTH 254 | VECTOR CALCULUS I | 4 |
PH 211 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4 |
Credits | 16 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
BEE 270 | ECOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
PH 212 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4 |
ENGR 211 | STATICS | 3 |
MTH 256 | APPLIED DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 4 |
HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS | 1 |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
BEE 221 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING | 3 |
PH 213 | *GENERAL PHYSICS WITH CALCULUS | 4 |
ST 314 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS FOR ENGINEERS | 3 |
HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
*Biological Science | 4 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
BEE 222 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING COMPUTATION | 2 |
MTH 264 | INTRODUCTION TO MATRIX ALGEBRA | 2 |
MTH 265 | INTRODUCTION TO SERIES | 2 |
ENGR 213 | STRENGTH OF MATERIALS | 3 |
WR 227Z | *TECHNICAL WRITING | 4 |
*Ethics Cluster | 3 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
BEE 311 | ECOLOGICAL FLUID MECHANICS | 4 |
BEE 320 | BIOSYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND MODELING | 4 |
*Difference, Power & Discrimination | 3 | |
Science & Public Policy UD Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Winter | ||
BEE 312 | ECOHYDRAULICS | 4 |
BEE 322 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS AND TRANSFER PROCESS | 4 |
FE 257 | GIS AND FOREST ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS | 3 |
SOIL 205 | SOIL SCIENCE | 3 |
SOIL 206 | *SOIL SCIENCE LABORATORY FOR SOIL 205 | 1 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
BEE 313 | ECOHYDROLOGY | 4 |
BEE 361 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY | 3 |
BEE 362 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING MICROBIAL PROCESSES | 3 |
Engineering UD Elective | 4 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
BEE 415 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | 1 |
BEE 481 | ^ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN I | 4 |
FE 208 | FOREST SURVEYING | 4 |
Engineering UD Elective | 3 | |
Science & Public Policy UD Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Winter | ||
BEE 482 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN II | 3 |
BEE 468 | BIOREMEDIATION ENGINEERING | 4 |
Engineering UD Elective | 3 | |
Perspectives or Synthesis | 3 | |
Perspectives or Synthesis | 3 | |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
BEE 483 | ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN III | 2 |
Additional UD Elective | 3 | |
Science & Public Policy UD Elective | 3 | |
Perspectives or Synthesis | 3 | |
Perspectives or Synthesis | 3 | |
Credits | 14 | |
Total Credits | 182 |