Bachelor of Science Degree
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers two Bachelor of Science degrees: one in Civil Engineering and one in Environmental Engineering. The four-year programs leading to these two degrees are listed below. During the first two years, students are in a pre-engineering program. Students must successfully complete the pre-engineering program or, in the case of transfer students, substantially equivalent coursework at another institution before they are accepted into the professional program. Transfer students may apply for permission to take upper-division courses in cases where postponement of these courses will prolong the student’s time to graduate.
Design is a cornerstone of engineering that requires creative thinking, technical knowledge, the ability to organize and solve complex problems, and teamwork. Engineering design activities begin during the first two years and progress in-depth as each student’s proficiency increases. These design activities culminate in a major senior design course, which integrates past engineering coursework into a focused, realistic design project. An important feature of the senior design experience is that students work in teams to complete the project.
The student who is majoring in or planning to major in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering needs to be aware of the College of Engineering requirements concerning admission to the college, pre-engineering program, admission to professional engineering programs, University Studies, and other academic requirements. Additional information concerning these items is given in the College of Engineering write-up. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of these rules and regulations. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam is required for graduation.
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department strongly recommends that students have a high-end calculator, such as an HP calculator, that has the capabilities to do units, matrices, and programs in BASIC. Although not a requirement at this time, CEE students are strongly encouraged to have a modern desktop or laptop personal computer. Since computer technology is changing rapidly, students should seek advice from a knowledgeable professional on hardware and software requirements before purchasing a computer.
Students in the Civil Engineering program must establish proficiency in at least four areas of Civil Engineering. Proficiency is established through a combination of material covered in required courses, as well as by establishing depth through the selection of technical electives. Proficiency must be established in four of the following areas: Environmental Engineering, Fluid Mechanics/Hydraulics, Geotechnical, Structures, Transportation, or Water Resources. The courses must be selected from the approved Technical Elective courses.
Note:
1 Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam is required for graduation. The exam is offered in October and April. Application must be made 120 days in advance. The exam is usually taken during fall semester of the junior or senior year.
2 These courses are required for admission to the Professional Engineering Program (PEP).
3 CEE 3610 and CEE 3870 must be taken concurrently.
4 Students must complete all five of the following Group A Courses. The order in which they are taken will dictate the choice of technical elective courses (as they are prerequisites for various technical elective courses).
5 Civil Engineering students are required to complete a Senior Design elective course concurrent with CEE 4870 . In addition, they must complete four Technical Elective Courses (one of which must be selected from Group B), for a total of 12 credits. Following is a list of Technical Elective Courses and Senior Design Elective Courses.
6 If a student takes all three Engineering Science classes, the third one counts as a technical elective.