School of Visual & Built Environments

What is Civil Engineering?

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, “civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society– our roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, seaports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to name just a few.”

About this Program

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (CIVE) program prepares students for productive careers in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on at least four areas of Civil Engineering, including and not limited to:

• Structural Analysis and Design
• Transportation Engineering
• Construction Engineering and Management
• Water and Waste Water Engineering
• Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
• Pavement and Materials Engineering. 

What You Will Learn

Students will take courses that involve civil engineering materials, soil mechanics, fluid mechanics, construction management, transportation engineering, and concrete and steel design. Laboratory experiments and computer-aided engineering tools are integrated into the program. Students will also study engineering design theories and will acquire numerous engineering design experiences.

Your Opportunities

The civil engineering curriculum will culminate with a capstone design project experience. The capstone design project experience will require students to draw from their previously acquired knowledge in mathematics and the engineering sciences to solve engineering design problems supplied by external customers.

This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).

Job Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor- Occupational Outlook Handbook: “Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2016 to 2026. As infrastructure continues to age, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild bridges, repair roads, and upgrade levees and dams as well as airports and building structures of all types;” and “the median annual wage for civil engineers was $83,540 in May 2016. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $132,880.

Campus Tour

Interested in taking a tour of the EMU Campus? Take a 15-stop virtual tour and don't forget to stop at Sill Hall (stop #12) - home of the GameAbove College of Engineering & Technology.