Civil Engineering (B.C.E.)
At-a-Glance

Minimum hours required for degree: 137 (does not include hours earned in the Engineering Cooperative Education Program and Orientation)

Admission to major: Admission to the Fenn College of Engineering

Hours required for minor: There is no authorized minor in the Civil Engineering degree program.

Evening Program: There is no Civil Engineering evening program; however, many courses required for the degree are offered evenings.

Advising: Each student is assigned a personal adviser who is a faculty member of the department.

The civil engineering profession deals with the design and construction of facilities necessary for the quality of life.

From the pyramids to the space station, Hoover Dam to the Golden Gate Bridge, civil engineers leave their mark on the world. They are responsible for skyscrapers, sports arenas, housing facilities, roads, highways, bridges, dams, lakes, tunnels, airport terminals and runways, rocket-launching support structures, and space stations. Without these projects, as well as air- and water-pollution control systems, solid and hazardous waste disposal facilities, water and waste treatment facilities, sewer and water supply networks, drainage and irrigation systems and land reclamation from the sea, all civil engineering projects, what would our civilization be like?

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department prepares its students to meet the challenges of such projects. Students in the program develop a clear, deep understanding in the areas of structural, environmental, and water resources and geotechnical engineering. They also study transportation, planning, surveying, and construction.

Students develop insights into the physical, economical, sociological, and political constraints which must be considered in engineering analysis and design. Upon completion of the program, the new engineers are able to make a smooth transition to civil engineering practice and research.

Return to top

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Civil Engineering program are consistent with the mission statements and guiding principles of the college and the university. The objectives are to produce graduates who within two to five years after graduation:

1. communicate verbally and in writing effectively
2. demonstrate progressive technical competency
3. acquire and maintain professional registration(s)
4. participate and/or lead as an engineering team member
5. meet realistic project schedule deadlines and budget constraints consistently
6. continue professional growth through activities such as continuing education, graduate school, activities in professional societies and community involvement
7. make decisions that include ethical and societal considerations
8. demonstrate critical thinking skills

Return to top

Special Notes

3-C Policy in ESC courses: Civil Engineering students must earn a grade of C or better in ESC 201, ESC 211, and ESC 301 before registering for any higher-level course for which any of these three courses are a prerequisite.

2-D Rule in CVE courses: Students are limited to two grades of D in Civil Engineering courses and Civil Engineering Technical electives to be eligible for graduation.

Required Civil Engineering Technical Electives: The two required Civil Engineering technical electives must be selected from the available 400-level civil engineering courses. (Note that CVE 450 is for non-engineers in the Environmental Science and Environmental Master's degree program, and should not be taken by Civil Engineering students. It cannot be used as a Civil Engineering technical elective. CVE 451-454 are part of the Surveying Certificate Program, and cannot be used as Civil Engineering technical electives.)

When used as a course prerequisite, Senior Standing means that all required Engineering College and Civil Engineering courses through the junior year must be completed.

Return to top

Program for Civil Engineering

First Year, Fall Semester Credits	Credits
ENG 101 English I	4
MTH 181 Calculus I	4
CHM 261 General Chemistry I	4
CHM 266 General Chemistry Laboratory I	1
ESC 120 Introduction to Engineering Design	2
ESC 100 New Student Orientation *      *Not required for transfer students	1
Total	15-16
First Year, Spring Semester	Credits
ENG 102 English II	3
MTH 182 Calculus II	4
PHY 241 University Physics I	5
ESC 150 Fortran or ESC 151 C Programming	3
CVE 211 Surveying	3
CSC 121 Career Orientation **      **Required for co-op	1
Total	18-19
Second Year, Fall Semester	Credits
MTH 283 Multi. Calc. for Engineers	2
PHY 242 University Physics II	5
ESC 201 Statics	3
ESC 250 Differential Equations for Engineers	3
CVE 212 Surveying Laboratory	2
GenEd Elective	3
Total	18
Second Year, Spring Semester	Credits
ESC 211 Strength of Materials	3
ESC 301 Fluid Mechanics	3
ESC 310 Engineering Statistics and Probability	3
ESC 315 Electrical Engineering Concepts or ESC 321 Thermodynamics	3
ESC 350 Linear Algebra and Numerical Methods in Engineering	3
GenEd Elective	3
Total	18
Third Year, Fall Semester	Credits
CVE 310 Strength of Materials Laboratory	2
CVE 312 Structural Analysis I	3
CVE 361 Hydraulic Engineering	3
CVE 362 Hydraulics Lab	1
CVE 371 Environmental Engineering I	3
ESC 202 Dynamics	3
PHL 215 Engineering Ethics (Writing)	3
Total	18
Third Year, Spring Semester	Credits
CVE 322 Structural Steel Design	3
CVE 331 Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering	3
CVE 332 Geotechnical Engineering Lab	2
CVE 412 Structural Analysis II	3
CVE 473 Environmental Engineering II	3
CVE 474 Environmental Engineering Laboratory	2
Total	16
Fourth Year, Fall Semester	Credits
CVE 422 Reinforced Concrete Design	3
CVE 426 Senior Design	2
Civil Engineering Tech Elective	3
ESC 282 Engineering Economy	3
CVE 429 Foundation Engineering	3
GenEd Elective	3
Total	17
Fourth Year, Spring Semester	Credits
CVE 403 Construction Planning and Estimating	3
CVE 426 Senior Design (Writing)	2
CVE 446 Transportation Engineering	3
Civil Engineering Tech Elective	3
GenEd Elective	3
GenEd Elective	3
Total	17

Return to top