Department of Civil Engineering

The civil engineering program emphasizes the areas of environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and water resources engineering. The required curriculum includes the fundamentals for each of these areas and provides an opportunity for additional learning experiences with technical electives and a major design experience.

Teamwork, problem solving, and design exercises are interwoven throughout the curriculum; culminating in a two-semester, capstone design project during the senior year. Several courses include laboratories which develop experimental, teamwork, and communication skills. Technical reports and/or presentations required in several courses develop knowledge of contemporary issues and life-long learning skills, as well as communication skills. Relevant computer software is used throughout the curriculum. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for a professional license by taking the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation. Students who excel academically are also well qualified to pursue graduate work in civil engineering or a related field.

To encourage undergraduate engineering students to extend their studies to include a graduate degree, the College of Engineering and Mines has combined programs which permit students to earn both Bachelor of Science/Master of Engineering or Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degrees in an engineering discipline. These programs allow students to designate two three-credit hour courses to count for both B.S. and master's degrees. The selected courses must have graduate course standing and must be designated when a student requests admission to the program.