Civil Engineering Degree Requirements

Civil engineers plan, design and work to improve infrastructure and facilities such as buildings, highways, bridges, railroads, tunnels, dams, power plants and water treatment systems. Becoming a civil engineer requires obtaining a bachelor's degree in civil engineering (BCE) or a bachelor's of science in civil engineering or civil engineering technology.

General Information

Civil engineering degrees are approximately 120 credits depending on the university, and often provide the opportunity for a student to focus on a particular concentration of interest. Concentrations might include construction engineering, environmental engineering, hydraulics, soil mechanics and foundations, structural engineering, transportation, or water resources. The degree requires some general coursework and electives, a great deal of science and math and a structured engineering curriculum along with room for approximately 20 technical elective credits. Students with a specific concentration choose their electives accordingly.

General Coursework

Required coursework outside of the major might include computer science, chemistry, two semesters of physics, three semesters of calculus, two semesters of English composition and a technical writing course. The student also takes a certain number of liberal arts electives such as history, political science and literature.

Civil Engineering Courses

Required civil engineering courses typically include a range of study such as construction methodology, construction management, dynamics, engineering math and statistics, differential equations, environmental engineering, fluid mechanics, geotechnical engineering, materials science, solid mechanics, soil mechanics, statics, structural analysis and design, surveying and transportation engineering.

Practical Experience

Some engineering schools offer a cooperative education program where a student can alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of practical experience in industry. Credit for this work experience may fulfill some of the technical elective requirements.

Master's Degree

Civil engineers can go on to obtain a master's degree in a specific focus such as those commonly offered in the bachelor's degree program. Master's programs typically accept applicants from other engineering fields as well. If the applicant does not have a bachelor's degree in engineering, a number of prerequisites are required, such as calculus and differential equations, statics, dynamics, materials mechanics and fluid mechanics. The master's degrees typically require between 32 and 40 credits, and the student usually completes a thesis or research project.