About Us

The Department of Environmental Engineering was established in January 1973 in response to

the growing concern over the environment and the need for fully qualified engineers capable of
undertaking professional responsibilities for optimum development and prudent management of
water, air and land resources. This department evolved from the Sanitary Engineering division of
the Civil Engineering Department, which had been offering graduate courses in this field since
1967.

The mission of the Environmental Engineering Department is to provide the high quality
environmental engineering education as required by the industry and the public; to advance the
understanding and application of the principles of environmental science and engineering; to
enhance and maintain sustainable economic development efforts and to improve the well-being of
the society in general through teaching, research and community outreach programs. This mission
is consistent with the broader mission of the Institution.

The graduates of the B.S. program of METU Department of Environmental Engineering, after few
years following graduation, are environmental engineering professionals who meet the
following Program Educational Objectives:

1. Graduates will identify and contribute to the solution of current and emerging environmental
problems in a creative and independent manner.
2. Graduates will participate in research and technology development programs.
3. Graduates will function in diverse areas of environmental engineering practice at national and
international levels.
4. Graduates will pursue leadership positions in both public and private organizations.

The Student Outcomes of the Environmental Engineering Department are such that

a) Graduates will have an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
b) Graduates will have an ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and
interpret data
c) Graduates will have an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs
with realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and
safety, manufacturability and sustainability
d) Graduates will have an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
e) Graduates will have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
f) Graduates will have an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
g) Graduates will have an ability to communicate effectively
h) Graduates will have the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context
i) Graduates will have recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
j) Graduates will have knowledge of contemporary issues
 k) Graduates will have an ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools
necessary for engineering practice

Annual Undergraduate Student Enrollment and Graduation Data for the Last 6 years

Academic Year Total Enrollment Total Graduation

2016-2017 283 -
2015-2016 279 50
2014-2015 266 43
2013-2014 258 36
2012-2013 237 35
2011-2012 244 46
2010-2011 241 49

The Department offers the degrees in

 Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

 Master of Science (M.S.)
 Philosophy of Doctor (Ph.D.)

The programs are designed with consideration of the modern concepts of environmental
engineering education, as well as to encourage the development of individual initiative and
resourcefulness with emphasis on responsibility and good judgement.

As a part of the undergraduate program, students are required to complete two summer practies
each lasting 20 working days as approved by the department and to prepare reports of their
activities, subject to the approval of the department. Students successfully completing the four year
program are awarded the degree of B.S. in the Environmental Engineering.

The goal of the graduate programs leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees is two folds. First is to
establish active research and technology development programs for identification and solution of
current and future environmental and engineering problems. Second is to provide trained human
resources with advanced technical knowledge capable of making decisions and directing projects
towards solutions of complex environmental problems.

The graduate program offers research opportunities and advanced course work to qualified
students in the following specific areas: water supply engineering, wastewater engineering, air
pollution and control, water quality management, soil and ground water pollution, environmental
modeling, environmental impact assessment, environmental chemistry and environmental
microbiology and biotechnology.
ENVE Admission

Application Criteria for ENVE Graduate Program

DEGREE METU EPE ALES B.S. CGPA M.S. CGPA ANNOTATIONS

M.S. 65 70(5) / 75(6) 2.30 1,2,3,4,5,6

Ph.D. 65 75 2.30 3.25 1,2,3,4

Ph.D. on B.S. 65 80 3.25 1,2,3,4

ANNOTATIONS

1. ALES score type have to be quantative.

2. Check fbe.metu.edu.tr for ALES-GRE(old/new)cenversion chart
3. Reference letters (2)
4. Letter of intention (included in the online form)
5. If CGPA > 2.50, ALES score should be minumum 70
6. If CGPA in between 2.30 and 2.50, ALES score should be minumum 75

ENVE Graduate Program

The goal of the graduate programs is two folds. First is to establish active research and
technology development programs for identification and solution of current and future
environmental and engineering problems. Second is to provide trained human resources with
advanced technical knowledge capable of making decisions and directing protects towards
solutions of complex environmental problems. The graduate programs offers two major areas of
specialization, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Technology. These specialization
programs in the department complement each other to an extent not commonly seen in many
other scientific disciplines. Under the two major graduate programs research oppurtunities and
advanced course work are offered to qualified students in the following specific areas: water
supply engineering, wastewater engineering , air pollution and control, water quality
management, soil and groundwater pollution, environmental modeling, environmental impact
assessment, environmental chemistry and environmental microbiology and biotechnology.
M.S. in Environmental Engineering Program

Courses Codes Course Name Credits

ENVE 500 5600500 M.S. Thesis NC

ENVE 598 5600598 Graduate Seminar (0-2) NC

ENVE 599 5600599 Graduate Seminar (0-2) NC

7 Elective Courses

Total minumum Credit :21 Number of Courses with credit (min): 7

Ph. D. in Environmental Engineering Program

Courses Codes Course Name Credits

ENVE 600 5600600 Ph.D. Thesis NC

 7 Elective Courses

Total minumum Credit :21 Number of Courses with credit (min): 7

Graduate Courses

Courses Codes Course Name Credits

ENVE
5600501 Pollition Control in Sea Environment I (3-0)3
501

ENVE
5600502 Modeling Soil and Groundwater Pollution (3-0)3
502

ENVE
5600503 Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment (3-0)3
503

ENVE
5600504 Pollution Transport in River Systems (3-0)3
504

ENVE
5600505 Industrial Air Pollution Control (3-0)3
505
ENVE
5600506 Advances in Water Supply Engineering (3-0)3
506

ENVE
5600507 Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment (3-0)3
507

ENVE
5600508 Advanced Atmospheric Dispersion (3-0)3
508

ENVE
5600509 Contaminated Site Remediation (3-0)3
509

ENVE
5600510 Principles of Risk Assessment and Management (3-0)3
510

ENVE
5600513 Atmospheric Chemistry (3-0)3
513

ENVE
5600531 Environmental Applications of Biomolecular Engineering (3-0)3
531

ENVE
5600532 Environmental Biotechnology (3-0)3
532

ENVE
5600534 Chemical Treatment Techniques (3-0)3
534
ENVE
5600535 Advanced Biological Treatment (3-0)3
535

ENVE
5600538 Advanced Environmental Chemistry (3-0)3
538

ENVE
5600539 Environmental Systems Engineering (3-0)3
539

ENVE
5600541 Anaerobic Treatment of Wastes (3-0)3
541

ENVE
5600547 Marine Pollution (3-0)3
547

ENVE
5600573 Fate of Poluutants in the Environment (3-0)3
573

ENVE
5600573 Energy and Environment (3-0)3
707

ENVE Heuristic Optimization and Modeling of Environmental

5600740 (3-0)3
740 Systems

ENVE
56007xx Special Topics in Environmental Engineering (3-0)3
7xx
 (4-2)
ENVE8xx 56008xx Special Studies
NC

ENVE (4-2)
56009xx Advanced Studies
9xx NC

ENVE Graduate Courses

ENVE 500, M.S. Thesis, (non-credit)

Program of research leading to M.S degree arranged between student and a faculty member.
Students register to this course in all semesters while the research program or write-up of thesis is
in progress.

ENVE 501, Pollution Control in Sea Environment I, (3-0) 3

Hydrodynamic/oceanographic characteristics(current, turbulent mixing, density, structure, etc.) .

Waste dispersion characteristics. Turbulent diffusion / dispersion theories. Turbulent diffusion /
dispersion measurements. Dilution and mixing of pollutants and heated discharges from sea
outfalls. Jet and plume mixing. turbulent buoyant jets in uniform and stratified environments.
Technical Elective

ENVE 502, Modelling Soil and Groundwater Pollution, (3-0) 3

Mathematical models for flow and transport of contaaminants in soil and groundwater systems.
Analytical and numerical solutions of mathematical models. Stochastic aspects of subsurface flow
and contaaminant transport. Case studies and applications of selected computer programs to
investigate problems of various complexity. Current research topics and directions.
Technical Elective
ENVE 503, Industrial Water and Wastewater Treatment, (3-0) 3

Industrial wastewater and sludge treatment with special reference to hazardous wastes. Case
studies for various industries; characteristics and composition of the wastes and availability of
waste treatment technology. Radioactive and thermal pollution contarol.
Technical Elective

ENVE 504, Pollution Transport in River Systems, (3-0) 3

Introduction to Advanced River Water Quality Models. General Model Formulation Structures.
Constituent Reactions and Interrelationships. Computer Applications to Selected Cases.
Uncertainty Analysis.
Technical Elective

ENVE 505, Industrial Air Pollution Control, (3-0) 3

Air pollution indices. Planning industrial air pollution surveys; sources, inventories, emission
factors, other factors, stack sampling; isokinetic sampling, sampling trains. Area sampling for
industrial pollutants. Air quality monitoring design for industrial areas. Various strategies for
industrial air pollution contarol.
Technical Elective

ENVE 506, Advances in Water Supply Engineering, (3-0) 3

Use of computer models for pipe sizing of distrubition network design; Computer analysis of pipe
networks(Lopp and Node Methods; Optimization of Networks with a Discrete Methods; Extended
Period Simulation) . Treatment of waters which requires non-standard(special techniques)
approaches.
Technical Elective

ENVE 507, Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment, (3-0) 3

Purpose and benefits of advanced treatment; processes for solids removal. Processes for nutrient
removal. Membrane processes, biological-chemical treatment, physical- chemical treatment.
Selecting and combining unit processes to obtain the desired water quality.
Technical Elective

ENVE 508, Advanced Topics in Atmospheric Dispersion, (3-0) 3

Review of dispersion characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer. Complex models of

dispersion. Numerical modelling techniques. Heavy gas dispersion. Effects of clouds in dispersion.
Deposition of pollutants on soil and water. Complex terrain dispersion. Effects of buildings on
dispersion. Dispersion in buildings. Design of monitoring programs for atmospheric air quality.
Technical Elective

ENVE 509, Contaminated Site Remediation, (3-0) 3

Properties of contaaminants, phase distribution, source contarol; site characterization and

monitoring(vadose zone and aquifer characteristics, the extent of contaamination) ; in situ soil and
groundwater remediation technologies e.g., pump and treat, capture zone analysis, permeable
reactive barriers, air sparging, soil vapor extraction, bioventing, land treatment, monitored natural
attenuation; design, operation and performance assessment of the remedial systems; remedial goal
and risk assessment; assessment of remedial alternatives, cost analyses; case studies and computer
application on remedial systems.
Technical Elective

ENVE 510, Principles of Risk Assessmentand Management, (3-0) 3

Assessment of acute hazards of toxic and flammable materials used in chemical industries. Hazard
identification using fault trees, and consequence assessment using mathematical models. Physical
principles of consequence modelling. Estimation of industrial risks and comparison with other
commonly understood risks. Risk management decision making in design of chemical industries
and land use planning.
Technical Elective

ENVE 513, Topics in Atmospheric Chemistry, (3-0) 3

Description of the atmosphere. Greenhouse effect. Stratospheric ozone. Photochemical smog. Acid
rain. Brief introduction to atmospheric aerosols.
Technical Elective

ENVE 531, Environmental Applications of Biomolecular Engineering, (3-0)3

Problems posed by natural and engineered environments for monitoring microorganisms;

advantages and pitfalls of molecular techniques for microbial community analyses, FAME, PCR,
16S/18S rRNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and relationship between phylogenetic
information and ecological function of the microbial communities; profiling of complex microbial
populations by DGGE, TTGE, SSCP, RAPD, ARDRA, T-RFLP, LH-PCR, and RISA;
enumeration, identification and monitoring of pollutant-degrading bacteria by using nucleic acid
probes, FISH, MAR, and SIP; application of omic technologies and post-genomic approaches in
environmental engineering.
Technical Elective

ENVE 532, Environmental Biotechnology, (3-0) 3

Advanced biological reactors, enzyme reactors, treatment with immobilized cells and enzymes,
biodegradation of unusual compounds and tests for biodegradability, effect of metals on biological
kinetics, biological recycling of mineral wastes and residues, thermophilic microorganisms and
their application to waste treatment.
Technical Elective

ENVE 535, Advanced Biological Treatment, (3-0) 0

Review of biological treatment processes. Mechanism, kinetics and microbiology of nutrient

removing activated sludge.IAWQ Task group models for nutrient removing actived sludge.
Calibration techniques for the Task group models. Hands-on practice with SSSP and ASIM
computer models. Microbiology of bulking and population dynamics of activated sludge.
Sequencing batch, GAC and PAC activated sludge.
Technical Elective

ENVE 538 - Advanced Environmental Chemistry, (3-0) 3

Nature and properties of environmental chemistry. Ingradients of environmental chemical work,
sampling and sample storage, analysis method adoption and standard methods of analysis,
chemical for environmental analysis, their grades and purification techniques primary standards in
env. chemical work. Case studies.
Technical Elective

ENVE 539, Environmental Systems Engineering, (3-0) 3

Handling and treatment of engineering data. Experimental design. Systems approach to problem
solving. Formulation of management models. Linear and non linear programming. Selected
applications in water, air, and soil quality management, solid and hazardous waste management.
Technical Elective

ENVE 541, Anaerobic Treatment of Wastes, (3-0) 3

Chemistry, microbiology. Environmental requirements and control conditions for anaerobic

treatment. Toxic materials and their control. Process design. Anaerobic treatment of organic
wastes. Advances in anaerobic pond system design. Anaerobic treatment modeling. Energy
recovery, effluent treatment of wastes. Anaerobic sludge treatment, utilization of digested sludge.
Biogas recovery from anaerobic treatment plants.
Technical Elective

ENVE 547, Marine Pollution, (3-0) 3

Present health of the oceans. The need of contarol of pollution due to potentially harmful
substances in the ocean. Definition of potentially harmful substances; Inorganics, organics,
radioactive matter, solid waste. Marine environment as a waste receiving body Environmental
capacity. Potential impairment of marine ecosystems and water uses. Case studies.
Technical Elective

ENVE 573, Fate of Pollutants in the Environment,(3-0)3

Fundamental concepts regarding the fate of a pollutant once released into the environment.
Classification of pollutants, equilibrium partitioning between gaseous, liquid and solid phases:
vapor pressure, solubility in water, air-organic solvent, air-water partitioning, organic liquid-water
partitioning, sorption, solid-water distribution, partitioning to living media. Abiotic and biotic
transformation processes: hydrolysis, redox and photochemical reactions, biodegradation.
Transport of pollutants and modeling concepts. Case studies.
Technical Elective

ENVE 598, Graduate Seminar, (0-0) (non-credit)

It is a proposal seminar given by the M.S. Candidate either in the second or third term of the
graduate study. If available, the candidate may present the initial findings of his/her thesis. Credits
will be given upon the completion of the seminar.

ENVE 599, Graduate Seminar, (0-0) (non-credit)

This is a second graduate seminar course in the M.S. program. Students register to this course in
all semesters except the semester that they registar to ENVE 598 to give their proposal seminar.
Atendance is required in this course.

ENVE 600, Ph.D. Thesis, (non-credit)

Program of research leading to Ph.D. degree arranged between student and a faculty member.
Students register to this course in all semesters while the research program or write up of thesis is
in progress.

ENVE 707, Energy and Environment, (3-0)3

Energy resources in the world and in Turkey. Efficient use of resources, energy conversion
technologies and their general environmental impacts, traditional and advanced energy conversion
technologies based on fossil fuels, renewable energies and applications, sustainability in energy
production. Green House Problem, CO2 capture and CO2 sequestration technologies, recent
advances in research in this field. Comparative analysis of the existing systems with new systems
and case studies on specific applications.
Technical Elective
ENVE 740, Heuristic Optimization and Modeling of Environmental Systems, (3-0)3

Introduction to heuristic optimization and modeling techniques; genetic algorithms; ant colony
optimization; neural networks; simulated annealing; case studies on application of heuristic
optimization and simulation methods to environmental engineering problems including air
pollution control, groundwater remediation, solid waste management, water quality management.
Technical Elective

ENVE 7xx, Special Topics in Environmental Engineering, (3-0) 3

Courses not listed in the catalogue are given as Special Topics courses. Contents vary from year
to year according to interest of students and instructor in charge. Courses include various
environmental engineering topics.

ENVE 8xx, Special Studies, (4-2) (non-credit)

M.S. students choose and study a topic under the guidance of faculty member, normally his/her
supervisor.

ENVE 9xx, Advanced Studies, (4-0) (non-credit)

Graduate students as a group or a Ph.D. student choose and study advanced topics under the
guidance of a faculty member, normally his/her supervisor.
Why ODTÜ?


THE MISSION STATEMENT OF ODTÜ

The mission of the Middle East Technical University is to reach, produce, apply and promote
knowledge, and to educate individuals with that knowledge for the social, cultural, economic,
scientific and technological development of our society and humanity. This is to be done by
bringing teaching, research and social services up to universal standards.

BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. Scientific Approach
It is unconditionally accepted that a university's mission is to ensure the understanding of current
knowledge and the discovery of new knowledge. On this subject, there should be no hindrance to
the discovery and sharing of new knowledge. An environment should be created in which
research, creativity and student self-development can be fostered.
2. Academic Freedom
The right to determine how, to whom, and by whom knowledge is taught is paramount. The
university is opposed to dogmatic thoughts and ideas, under the principle of the scientific
approach. The right to honest inquiry and legal protest is acknowledged and guaranteed by law.
3. Interdisciplinary Approach
Interdisciplinary education and research are encouraged. The university enables academic staff to
work on educational and research projects with educational centres and institutes outside their
own academic units.
4. Lifelong Education
The university encourages lifelong education for its own staff, graduates, and people from all
walks of life, and provides these people with new scientific knowledge. In order for the people of
our country to benefit more effectively and efficiently from ODTÜ's experience and culture, the
university develops and applies exemplary educational models.
5. The Training of Qualified People
For the good of society, the university aims to develop students with humane and moral values,
the skills for leadership, open-mindedness, and the habit of continuously re-educating
themselves. Graduates are oriented to employ the skills they have learned at ODTÜ in their
workplaces. Students are encouraged to become scientists, and thus be among the nation's most
important human resources.
6. Student Support
The duty to provide the necessary support in order to prevent those students with material
difficulties from being deprived of higher education is acknowledged.
7. Communication with Society
The university aims to continue performing its functions in order to benefit every sector of
society and remain in contact with its environment. The university is concerned with the finding
and promoting of solutions to the problems of our nation, region and the international
community. It plays a prominent role in providing communication in scientific, cultural and
social fields.
8. Involved Administration
The university encourages its academic staff, departments and administrative units to prepare,
assess and continuously evaluate plans and concrete strategies in order to keep up with rapid
change and globalization. To this end, an administrative policy which is based on knowledge, the
delegation of duties and responsibilities, democratic principles, involvement, dynamism,
flexibility and transparency is pursued. Respect for the individual and tolerance are our foremost
concerns.

Language of Instruction
The language of instruction at ODTÜ is English.

Students
Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), a state university founded in 1956, currently has
about 26,500 students.
Undergraduate and graduate students from many countries attend a semester or a year-round at
ODTÜ as "Special Student" or "Exchange Student". Middle East Technical University is
currently conducting Student Exchange Program activities with many foreign universities.

Academic Programs
ODTÜ has 40 undergraduate programs within 5 faculties. Additionally, there are 5 Graduate
Schools with 104 masters and 66 doctorate programs and a "School of Foreign Languages"
which includes the English Preparatory Department. 15 undergraduate programs and 3
graduate programs are offered in connection with ODTÜ Northern Cyprus Campus.

Academic Year
The academic year in ODTÜ is divided into two semesters. The first term of the academic year
generally begins on the last week of September and ends in the middle of January. The second
term begins in the middle of February and ends in mid June. ODTÜ also has a summer
school with regular courses and an International Summer School with courses of special
interest to international students.
International Perspective
Since its foundation, ODTÜ, as an international research university, has been the leading
university in Turkey in terms of depth and breadth of international ties and the amount of funds
generated from international research projects. ODTÜ actively took part in and managed many
Med-Campus, MEDA, COST, Eureka, NASA, NATO, NSF, UN, World Bank, Jean Monnet,
INCO, EUMEDIS, 6th and 7th Framework, Erasmus Mundus ECW, Leonardo and Socrates
projects. ODTÜ has also involved in 59 FP6 projects, 48 of them have already been completed.
Furthermore, 32 FP7 projects are still in execution. ODTÜ has 19 international joint degree
programmes with European and American universities at undergraduate and graduate level.

English as the language of instruction in all its degree programs has greatly facilitated ODTÜ's
efforts to accommodate international students and researchers. ODTÜ hosts
over 1,700 international students from nearly 94 different countries studying toward myriad of
academic degrees.
ODTÜ, with 168 Erasmus agreements and 182 bilateral exchange and cooperation agreements
with universities in third countries (i.e., in Central Asia, Middle East, North America, Australia,
Far East and Pacific Region), annually sends 350 students and 60 teaching staff and hosts 300
students and 50 teaching staff/researchers.

ODTÜ is a member of many associations and networks dealing with international education and
exchange such as EUA, EAIE, IIE, GE3, CEASAR, SEFI, CIEE. ODTÜ actively participates in
AIESEC and IAESTE summer internship programs.

ODTÜ has always sought external assessment, accreditation and certification by international
organizations, and been committed to a "quality culture". The University has completed the
process of "Institutional Evaluation" by the EUA in 2002. As a part of its efforts to ascertain
world-quality education, in 1991 ODTÜ initiated a long-term program to have all its engineering
programs accredited by the United States Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET). The Engineering Faculty now has all its thirteen undergraduate programs accredited by
the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org).

High Standards of Education

ODTÜ strives to maintain a high standard of education by international standards. All
undergraduate programs under the Faculty of Engineering were evaluated by ABET, at ODTÜ's
request. All undergraduate programs were accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of
ABET (www.abet.org).

ODTÜ in Turkey
ODTÜ is one of Turkey's most competitive universities. Each year, among the students taking
the National University Entrance Examination, over 1/3 of the 1000 applicants with the highest
scores attend ODTÜ. Due to high demand towards ODTÜ being so great, most of our
departments accept only the top 1% of approximately 1.5 million applicants taking the National
University Entrance Examination. Over 40% of ODTÜ's students go on to graduate school.
Campus
The campus area is 4500 hectares and the forest area is 3043 hectares, including Lake Eymir,
which is about 20 kilometers from the centrum of Ankara. The lake is available to ODTÜ
students for rowing, fishing, picnicking and general recreational activities. Bus service is
provided from the ODTÜ main campus and locations in the city to the lake.

Life at ODTÜ
The main part of the campus has dormitory capacity of approximately 7000 students who benefit
from a shopping area, banks, post office and many eating places. Also a wide variety of sports
facilities, including gymnasiums, tennis courts, basketball and football fields, jogging trails,
olympic-size indoor swimming pool, and an outdoor swimming pool are available on ODTÜ
campus. Among off campus facilities, ODTÜ has lodges at Elmadag, 30 kilometers from the
ODTÜ campus, and a resort at Uludag near Bursa where mountain climbing and various skiing
activities are possible.

Activities
Throughout the academic year, students can enjoy art exhibitions, concerts, recitals, cinema and
theater events as well as a variety of social and academic activities. The Cultural and Convention
Center hosts many of these events and many more. One of the most favored social activities is
the traditional International Spring Festival held in May.

Living Expenses
Estimated living expenses for students are minimally $500.00 to $600.00 (US dollars) per month.
Books and other administrative fees are approximately $100.00 to $150.00 per semester.
Students in "Special Student Status", pay $225.00 per credit hour.