Civil engineers are responsible for design, construction, and operation of our public and private infrastructure, for protecting our natural resources, and for preserving the health and safety of the general public. Civil engineers are vital to our nation’s economic vitality as they provide infrastructure for safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation of people and goods. The curriculum includes fundamental coursework in math and basic sciences, specialized coursework covering the subdisciplines of structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering, as well as general education courses in the humanities and social sciences. Graduates are well prepared to become licensed Professional Engineers.  Graduates are commonly employed by private firms that provide design and consulting services, by construction contractors that build our infrastructure, and by government agencies responsible for specific components of the nation’s infrastructure. Some graduates opt to further specialize within the civil engineering profession by pursuing graduate degrees.

Civil engineering, considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompasses many specialties. The specialties include construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering. Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer. Others may work in design, construction, regulatory, research, or teaching.

Photo from Civil Engineering Basic