A series of fourteen-week pilot courses were developed to introduce freshman engineering students to a "realistic engineering" experience through the design analysis of an environmental related problem. In addition to homework assignments, the students were required to make an oral presentation and to turn in a written report on their solution to the design problem. Student evaluations indicate that the course is well received and is a worthwhile experience. This type of offering is ideal for interdisciplinary collaboration by faculty. In this pilot study faculty from Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, and Environmental Science team-taught the course. These course offerings require very little resource investment and are easily transportable to other institutions.