The undergraduate Civil Engineering program provides a solid base in the physical sciences, mathematics, engineering fundamentals, and design and management concepts. The All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) provides a broad background in communication, liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences. In addition to offering courses in the various sub-disciplines of Civil Engineering, the Civil Engineering curriculum covers design practices, information technology, technical communications, project management, and engineering ethics. The program culminates in a year-long, term-based, senior capstone design experience. Preparation for high-level professional practice is emphasized. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step toward registration as a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), an important professional credential for civil engineers. Thus, students in this major are encouraged to take the FE exam prior to graduation. 

Participation in internships, volunteer activities, professional organizations, and cooperative education opportunities is highly recommended to enhance practical training and development. Graduates who pursue advanced studies are prepared for higher level technical responsibilities.

The educational outcomes and objectives of this major can be found on the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website. The Civil Engineering major is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

  1. Identify, analyze, formulate, and design solutions to Civil Engineering problems, both independently and in a team environment;
  2. Apply considerations of technical, legal, regulatory, social, environmental, and economic factors towards managing multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary projects;
  3. Communicate effectively in both technical and non-technical settings with co-workers, professional clients, and the public; and
  4. Demonstrate commitment and progress in lifelong learning, professional development, and leadership, including participation in continuing education courses, workshops, and/or graduate study, and the pursuit of licensure as a Professional Engineer.

Potential Occupations

Students who obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from CSU are prepared to solve some of the world's most challenging problems involving critical climate change, resiliency, and sustainability. Graduates will be able to repair, redesign, and rebuild aging infrastructure around the world, from highways and buildings to water systems and disaster mitigating structures. Employment opportunities will be plentiful for the foreseeable future. 

Civil engineers are employed in many different organizations, including small and large consulting firms, local, state, and federal governmental agencies, and industrial companies such as construction, petroleum, mining, and aerospace firms. Civil engineers also may find opportunities in specialized design, research, and teaching.

Some possible job titles for graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (BSCE) include, but are not limited to, civil engineer, transportation engineer, hydraulic engineer, water resources engineer, structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, geoenvironmental engineer, groundwater engineer, hydrologist, urban/regional planner, infrastructure engineer or manager, contract administrator, construction engineer or manager, building construction inspector, facilities engineer or manager, industrial transportation specialist, industrial designer/engineer, construction materials engineer, irrigation engineer, mining engineer, mining and petroleum research engineer, technical sales engineer, and educator.

Effective Fall 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A1
CIVE 102Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engr 3
CIVE 103Engineering Graphics and Computing 3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B4
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)1B4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)3A5
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
 Total Credits 30
Sophomore
 
CHEM 113General Chemistry II 3
CIVE 202Numerical Modeling and Optimization 3
CIVE 203Engineering Systems and Decision Analysis 3
CIVE 260Engineering Mechanics-Statics 3
CIVE 261Engineering Mechanics-Dynamics 3
CIVE 360Mechanics of Solids 3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists III 4
MECH 237Introduction to Thermal Sciences 3
Science Technical Elective (see list below) 3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3C3
 Total Credits 34
Junior
 
CIVE 300Fluid Mechanics 3
CIVE 301Fluid Mechanics Laboratory 1
CIVE 302Evaluation of Civil Engineering Materials 3
CIVE 303Infrastructure and Transportation Systems 3
CIVE 322Basic Hydrology 3
CIVE 355Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIVE 356Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory 1
CIVE 367Structural Analysis 3
CIVE 467Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures 3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations 4
Advanced Writing23
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 33
Senior
 
CIVE 401Hydraulic Engineering 3
CIVE 402Senior Design Principles4A,4B3
CIVE 403Senior Project Design4C3
CIVE 438Fundamentals of Environmental Engr 3
CIVE 466Design and Behavior of Steel Structures 3
Civil Engineering Technical Electives (see list below) 15
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 33
 Program Total Credits: 130

Science Technical Electives  – Select a minimum of 3 credits

BSPM 102Insects, Science, and Society (GT-SC2)3
BZ 110Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)3
BZ 120Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)4
ESS 210/GR 210Physical Geography3
GEOL 120Exploring Earth - Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
GEOL 122The Blue Planet - Geology of Our Environment (GT-SC2)3
GEOL 150Physical Geology for Scientists and Engineers4
HORT 171/SOCR 171Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3)3
LAND 220/LIFE 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)4
MIP 149The Microbial World3
NR 120AEnvironmental Conservation (GT-SC2)3
NR 130Global Environmental Systems (GT-SC2)3
NR 150Oceanography (GT-SC2)3
SOCR 240Introductory Soil Science4

Civil Engineering Technical Electives – Select a minimum of 15 credits

Select a minimum of 9 credits from the Engineering Technical Electives; a maximum of 6 credits may be selected from the Additional Technical Electives. Only 3 credits of a 4- or 5-credit course will apply toward this requirement.

Engineering Technical Electives – Select 9-15 credits from the following:
CIVE 305Intermediate AutoCAD3
CIVE 330Ecological Engineering3
CIVE 405Sustainable Civil/Environmental Engineering3
CIVE 413Environmental River Mechanics3
CIVE 423Groundwater Engineering3
CIVE 437Wastewater Treatment Facility Design3
CIVE 439Applications of Environmental Engr Concepts3
CIVE 440Nonpoint Source Pollution3
CIVE 442Air Quality Engineering3
CIVE 455Applications in Geotechnical Engineering3
CIVE 458Environmental Geotechnics3
CIVE 502Fluid Mechanics3
CIVE 505Structural Inspection, Management and Repair3
CIVE 507Transportation Engineering3
CIVE 508Bridge Engineering3
CIVE 510Applied Hydraulic System Design3
CIVE 511Coastal Engineering3
CIVE 512Irrigation Systems Design3
CIVE 513Morphodynamic Modeling3
CIVE 514Hydraulic Structures/Systems3
CIVE 519Irrigation Water Management3
CIVE 520Physical Hydrology3
CIVE 521Hydrometry3
CIVE 524/WR 524Modeling Watershed Hydrology3
CIVE 525Water Engineering International Development3
CIVE 529Environmental Organic Chemistry3
CIVE 530Environ Engr at the Water-Energy-Health Nexus3
CIVE 531Groundwater Hydrology3
CIVE 533/BIOM 533Biomolecular Tools for Engineers3
CIVE 538Aqueous Chemistry3
CIVE 540/CBE 540Advanced Biological Wastewater Processing3
CIVE 541Physical Chemical Water Treatment Processes3
CIVE 542Water Quality Modeling3
CIVE 544Water Resources Planning and Management3
CIVE 547/STAT 547Statistics for Environmental Monitoring3
CIVE 549Drainage and Wetland Engineering3
CIVE 550Foundation and Retaining Wall Engineering3
CIVE 555Mining Geotechnics3
CIVE 556Slope Stability, Seepage, and Earth Dams3
CIVE 558Containment Systems for Waste Disposal3
CIVE 559Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering3
CIVE 560Advanced Mechanics of Materials3
CIVE 561Advanced Steel Behavior and Design3
CIVE 562Fundamentals of Vibrations3
CIVE 565Finite Element Method3
CIVE 566Intermediate Structural Analysis3
CIVE 567Advanced Concrete Design3
CIVE 568Design of Masonry and Wood Structures3
CIVE 571Pipeline Engineering and Hydraulics3
CIVE 572Analysis of Urban Water Systems3
CIVE 573Urban Stormwater Management3
CIVE 574Civil Engineering Project Management3
CIVE 575Sustainable Water and Waste Management3
CIVE 576Engineering Applications of GIS and GPS3
CIVE 578Infrastructure and Utility Management3
ENGR 550/MATH 550Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering3
Additional Technical Electives – Select 0-6 credits from the following:
BC 351Principles of Biochemistry4
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry4
CHEM 341Modern Organic Chemistry I3
CON 370Asphalt Pavement Materials and Construction 13
ERHS 446Environmental Toxicology3
GEOL 442Applied Geophysics4
GR 323/NR 323Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation3
LIFE 320Ecology3
MATH 332Partial Differential Equations3
MATH 369Linear Algebra I3
MIP 300General Microbiology3
NR 319Introduction to Geospatial Science4
A maximum of one course may be selected from the following:
FIN 305Fundamentals of Finance 13
MGT 305Fundamentals of Management 13
MKT 305Fundamentals of Marketing 13
1

Students may need to obtain an override or approval from the respective department to take this course.

TO DECLARE MAJOR: Engineering is a controlled major: students are admitted into the major only if they meet established academic standards. Please see competitive major requirements or the advisor in the department for more information. 

TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER: The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. To qualify for graduation, Civil Engineering majors must achieve a minimum 2.000 grade point average at CSU in all courses in engineering, mathematics, physics, and chemistry as well as courses taken as technical electives. 

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:  The curriculum for this major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus.   

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 102Introduction to Civil and Environmental EngrX  3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
MATH 160Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)X 1B4
PH 141Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)X 3A5
 Total Credits   15
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)  3A4
CHEM 112General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)  3A1
CIVE 103Engineering Graphics and ComputingX  3
MATH 161Calculus for Physical Scientists II (GT-MA1)X 1B4
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionX 1C3
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 113General Chemistry II   3
CIVE 202Numerical Modeling and OptimizationX  3
CIVE 260Engineering Mechanics-StaticsX  3
MATH 261Calculus for Physical Scientists IIIX  4
Science Technical Elective (See List on Major Requirements Tab)   3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 203Engineering Systems and Decision AnalysisX  3
CIVE 261Engineering Mechanics-DynamicsX  3
CIVE 360Mechanics of SolidsX  3
MECH 237Introduction to Thermal SciencesX  3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
Social and Behavioral Sciences  3C3
 Total Credits   18
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 300Fluid MechanicsX  3
CIVE 301Fluid Mechanics Laboratory   1
CIVE 302Evaluation of Civil Engineering MaterialsX  3
CIVE 367Structural Analysis X 3
MATH 340Intro to Ordinary Differential EquationsX  4
Advanced Writing  23
 Total Credits   17
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 303Infrastructure and Transportation SystemsX  3
CIVE 322Basic Hydrology   3
CIVE 355Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering   3
CIVE 356Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory   1
CIVE 467Design of Reinforced Concrete StructuresX  3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
CIVE 367 must be completed by the end of Semester 6.X   
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 401Hydraulic Engineering   3
CIVE 402Senior Design PrinciplesX 4A,4B3
CIVE 466Design and Behavior of Steel Structures   3
Civil Engineering Technical Electives (See List on Major Requirements tab)   6
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   18
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CIVE 403Senior Project DesignX 4C3
CIVE 438Fundamentals of Environmental EngrX  3
Civil Engineering Technical Electives (See list on Major Requirements tab)X  9
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   15
 Program Total Credits:   130