Civil Engineering, B.S.

The curriculum for the civil engineering major is designed to prepare students for professional careers and graduate school. Students begin preparing for a civil engineering career during the first semester. CVE 1000 Introduction to Civil Engineering  is offered in the first semester and includes field trips, introduction to the key disciplines of civil engineering and hands-on activities in laboratories. The one-credit CVE 1001 Computer Applications Lab  introduces students to AutoCAD software. During the freshman year, students learn how to use state-of-the-art civil engineering construction equipment and conduct data analyses. Therefore, students are well-equipped to undertake an internship following the freshman year. Emphasis is placed on foundation courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, technical writing, communication skills and engineering mechanics during the first two years.

The curriculum covers the entire breadth of civil engineering and requires students to take courses in all of the six main disciplines of civil engineering (construction engineering, construction management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, water resources engineering). Students are given the flexibility of taking additional courses in the disciplines of their choice by selecting appropriate restricted and design electives. Thus, students not only get broad exposure to all major disciplines of civil engineering but also develop a specialization in selected disciplines. Civil engineering majors are required to take five civil engineering laboratory courses to understand fundamental concepts. Engineering fundamentals are emphasized in all courses so students are well-prepared to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during the senior year. Projects are assigned in each civil engineering design course, which prepares students to find solutions for real-world design problems using appropriate codes and incorporating all design and client-related constraints.

Each student is required to be part of a multidisciplinary design project team that identifies, formulates and designs a real-world project while addressing sustainable societal and global needs. The team provides engineering and construction cost estimates and construction scheduling. Several courses in the curriculum hone student skills in leadership, teamwork, oral and written communication and ethics. Mandatory electives in the humanities and social sciences provide a broader understanding of the professional work environment, human history and culture.

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the civil engineering program are to produce graduates who:

• collaborate in teams and independently appraise and conduct work-related projects to serve their constituents;
• continuously seek professional growth;
• display ethical responsibility and leadership qualities; and
• communicate effectively with their clients, constituents, peers, subordinates and supervisors.