Developing a body of knowledge for environmental engineering

An environmental engineering (EnvE) body of knowledge (BOK) is currently under development by a Working Group composed of academics, consultants, local and national government employees, and representatives of NCEES and ABET. The EnvE BOK is being developed in close consultation with these and other stakeholders. Our approach to developing the EnvE BOK is guided by expectations of educators and other stakeholders. Our goals are to make the BOK adaptable, in recognition of the fact that environmental engineering is rapidly evolving, and that the BOK should facilitate future needs. The BOK emphasizes the application of fundamental math and science knowledge domains to solving environmental engineering problems. The need for in-depth competence is recognized, but the BOK also needs to be sufficiently flexible to promote innovation. The EnvE BOK focuses on core competencies and knowledge domains integral to the understanding and practice of environmental engineering. It defines the BOK needed to enter the practice of environmental engineering at the professional level in the 21st century. This paper is an interim report on EnvE BOK development with a focus on the outcomes, knowledge domains, and levels of achievement to provide a basis for further input into the EnvE BOK development process.