Emphasis areas at all levels in construction engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, materials engineering and transportation engineering.
Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise construction of many essential facilities and structures such as bridges, dams, interstate highways, and buildings. Service to the community, its development and improvement are fundamental aspects of a civil engineering career. Civil engineers are problem solvers applying the latest in high-tech equipment and sophisticated procedures to address challenges concerning our environment and infrastructure.
Included in the study of civil engineering are courses in environmental engineering that are directly related to the solution of hazardous waste and pollution problems, to providing potable and economical water supply systems, and to maintaining a safe environment. Water resources engineering is related to hydraulic and hydrologic engineering, flood control, rainfall, and runoff prediction and the transport in flows. Studies in geotechnical engineering address the bearing capacities of soils, settlement of foundations, and the design of both deep and shallow foundations. Courses in structural analysis and design are directed toward providing reliable and economical structures such as bridges, buildings, port facilities, and intricate lock and dam facilities. The principles involved in this sequence of courses are also applicable to the design of automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft, and future space structures. Transportation engineering involves the movement of people and cargo from place to place, the design of airports and highways, and traffic studies to maintain efficient flows. Courses in construction engineering include studies in construction techniques, cost estimating, quality control/quality assurance, and contract administration. Materials engineering involves the production, quality control, use, and property analysis of construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, aggregate, wood, masonry, and steel.
Civil engineering is a broad field of endeavor. Because of this breadth, courses are required in each of the seven areas listed above. Although you, as a civil engineer, may specialize within a given area, by the very nature of the profession you will be required to interact with specialists in the other areas. You also may find that you will work with engineers in other disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, or geological engineering in the planning, design, and construction of complex facilities.
Civil engineers also must be effective in communicating with the public. You may be expected to work with property owners, concerned citizens, city officials, attorneys, and even medical doctors for concerns related to public health measures.
The results of your work as a civil engineer will be seen everywhere. Projects in which you will become involved must be economical, provide an adequate factor of safety for the particular use, and provide a reasonable life expectancy. To do this adequately and within a reasonable time frame, you will find that, with the exception of your engineering training, the computer is one of the most important and valuable tools you will use to produce a proper design or to complete a specific project. You may expect that your courses taken in civil engineering will require the use of computer hardware and software related to the different areas of study.
Mission Statement
The civil engineering program will prepare students for professional performance in the global society and for life-long learning and continued professional development in the civil engineering profession through a comprehensive, forward-looking and broad-based curriculum in civil engineering emphasizing fundamentals and practical applications, oral and written communication skills, computer applications skills, and professional practice issues and ethics.
Civil Engineering Program Educational Objectives
- Graduates of the civil engineering program are able to apply their scientific and technical knowledge base as they progress along their career in civil engineering as evidenced by:
- having the preparedness and eligibility to pass the PE examination
- having led a small design team
- being able to independently assess others' work
- being able to integrate their own work with the work of others
- keeping up with technological advances
- Graduates of the civil engineering program are able to identify, formulate, develop, and execute practical, innovative, high quality, and cost efficient solutions for civil engineering problems as evidenced by:
- having led or managed a key project task from start to finish
- having developed a cost-effective creative design or construction ideas that was ultimately adopted
- having completed the design and/or the construction of a significant project that was well put-together
- Graduates of the civil engineering program are ethical professionals who are able to function as part of a professional enterprise while protecting human health and welfare and the environment in a global society as evidenced by:
- an understanding of and the ability to apply design codes
- a recognition and an understanding of the political and regulatory environments
- having maintained active membership in professional societies
- an awareness of current trends and future opportunities in local, regional, and global issues
- an active involvement in organizations that promote global societal well-being
- Graduates of the civil engineering program are professionals whose growth through continuing education, professional development, and professional licensure has positioned them to have a positive impact on regional, national, and global professional communities as evidenced by:
- a pursuit of advanced education
- keeping up with continuing education requirements
- having held positions of increasing responsibility in professional societies or their committees, etc.
- having exhibited increasing responsibility in community involvement through participation in civic /social activities and organizations
- positive experiences involving networking with clients
- Graduates of the civil engineering program are professionals who develop individual and team skills to maximize the benefits of their engineering education by applying it in actual situations as evidenced by:
- an ability to communicate clearly across disciplines as well as across company divisions
- assignment to a leadership or management role
- an ability to resolve conflicts in a group or team setting
- an ability to apply their knowledge in practical situations
- involvement with company marketing and sales operations