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To Engineer, or not to Engineer, that is the question (Civil/Env)


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I am an international student (european, mid 30s) with a BS+MS in Forestry Engineering. Our program was fairly strong (>192 US semester credits) and I think it would equal a degree in Forestry Engineering as a major, with a minor in Civil Engineering.

 

I want to work in water resorces management: planning, distribution, optimization of supply, sutainability, the use of decentralized collection/distribution systems, Low Impact Development techniches, etc. I am also interested in the use of Green Infraestructure as means of ecosystem services provision and mitigation of disturbances. In addition, I am also interested in forecasting and hazard analysis and risk assesment (droughts/floods). I believe I am more interested in what I consider the more 'engineering' aspects (planning, collection & distribution) than in the 'hydrological' ones (supply forecast, impacts of disturbances on the hydrological cycle, etc),  but I would be happy either way. I also think I would be more interested in working for private industry or govt. institutions than in academia.

 

When looking at programs, sometimes it was hard to decide which program I should I apply to since the line between some of them was quite blurry. I found Civil & Environmental programs with tracks focusing on water resources, interdisciplinary programs in Water Resources /Hydrological Sciences and all kinds of programs on Natural Resources/Ecology/Environmental Sciences/Geography/Forestry with concentrations on, again, WR/Hydrology.

 

Leaving everything else out (POI, fit, location, funding), do you think a PhD in Civil Engineering will be much greater than, let's say,  a PhD in Environmental Resources & Policy or Water Resources Science?. Since I am not a US national I'm not fully aware of the different opportunities those degress will provide. Will a chance of better/different opportunities make up for the probably more challenging classes and research?

 

What about for instance, Purdue's degree? It is called Ecological Sciences & Engineering?... that's an odd engineering degree. Would that make much of a difference?

 

Also, feel free to comment on my admittances (so far) if you have any advice.

 

 

Oh, and my BS+MS University is currently having some of its degress ABET-accredited. I do not know if they will accredit mine but there is a chance, meaning that I may also be able to be a licensed engineer thanks to my previous degrees even if my PhD isn't an engineering degree.

 

 

Sorry for the long post and thanks for your help!

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