The academic program in environmental engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, began as a single compulsory subject called “Sanitary Engineering” in 1966, in the Civil Engineering curriculum. Another subject, called “Processes in Sanitary Engineering”, was later added, as an elective subject to the curriculum. When the Department of Civil Engineering started offering its Master’s Degree program, there were 5 subdivisions to choose from; structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering and construction and management engineering. That was the first time students could major in environmental engineering. But they would need to choose at least 9 credits of subjects in other subdivisions to complete the course requirement. Also, when they graduated, they would graduate with the degree of Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering division. The program started admitting students in 1981 with 3 environmental engineering students and 3 environmental engineering lecturers. Classes and laboratory were in the structural engineering building, which was later demolished and replaced by the Boonsom Suwachirat Building (Building 15). Meantime, the division of environmental engineering, through the donation from the Chamnan Penchart family, had a new building called the Chamnan Penchart Building and had used it for lectures and laboratory classes, for staff and administrative offices.
In 1992, a project for the establishment of the Department of Environmental Engineering was set up to draft the curricular for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree level. The budget was granted for the construction of Building 11, in front of the Chamnan Penchart Building, for the Department of Environmental Engineering. Enrolment into the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Engineering began in the academic year 1993. The first class of undergraduate students, which enrolled into the Engineering Faculty in 1992, began their 2nd year in Environmental Engineering division while the first class of the Master’s degree students began enrolment in 1993. In 1996, the university council formally granted approval for the establishment of the Department of Environmental Engineering. In 1997 the department began offering special courses at Master’s degree level and international courses, also at Master’s degree level. These two courses were conducted only on Saturday and Sunday, to provide access to the courses for those with full time job. In 1998, courses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was started. Currently, besides Building 11 and Chamnan Penchart Building, the department also operates a laboratory on the third floor in Building 8 (Laboratory and Research Building) and on the 10th floor of Building 14 (Chuchart Kampoo Building). The department is also, at present, in the process of erecting a new building on the area where the Penchart Building is, and span right through to the old Department of Water Resources Building. When completed, the building will accommodate all the department’s staff, facilities, and activities. Presently, the department has 16 lecturers, 5 academic assistants, 5 administrative staff and 2 cleaning staff. The number of students in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral levels totals XXX students.
