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

[Shake]

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!

[summoner]

"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"

 

In the US a PhD in Civil Engineering will provide much greater opportunities than a PhD in environmental resources.  I can't really think of any job that would hire someone with the latter degree that wouldn't also take someone with the former, and plenty of jobs that would prefer the former.  And I say that as someone who is doing a PhD in environmental policy myself.