Dec 26, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Civil Engineering Major


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BS degree

Civil and environmental engineering requires a preparation with breadth as well as depth. Each student’s program includes a sequence of technical electives that combine engineering sciences and engineering design that culminates in a major design experience. The curriculum is also designed to include courses in the humanities and social sciences.

Calculation of the GPA in the Civil Engineering Major

In order to graduate, students must have at least a 2.000 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken at the university.

Students must also have at least a 2.000 cumulative GPA in the major. For purposes of this computation, all courses taken by CEN majors in CEN and EGR are included. Any additional CEN courses taken by a student beyond those required in the program description in the catalog (such as extra CEN technical electives) will not be counted toward the cumulative GPA in the major. 

Requirements


First Year


Second Year


First Semester: 17 credits


  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credit (see Footnote 2 below)

Second Semester: 16 credits


  • BIO/BNG Requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 4 below)
  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credit (see Footnote 2 below)

Third Year


First Semester: 16 credits


  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Second Semester: 14 credits


  • Technical Electives - 9 credits (see below)

Fourth Year


First Semester: 14 credits


  • Technical Electives - 9 credits (see below)

Second Semester: 14 credits


  • Technical Electives - 9 credits (see below)
  • University Studies Requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Technical Electives


Students are required to take 27 credits of Technical Electives as follows:

12 cr. CEN Core Technical Electives


Must select any 4 of the following 5 core course options:

15 cr. CEN Technical Electives


To satisfy the 15 credits of general Technical Electives required (beyond the Core Technical Elective requirement), students may choose from any of the following:

  • Any of the allowed Core Technical Electives, which are not used to satisfy the Core requirements.
  • Any CEN course offered at the 400 level, which is not used to satisfy another requirement.
  • Any CEN course offered at the 500 level or above, with permission of the course instructor.
  • Up to 3 credits of the 15 credit requirement may be satisfied by a Science Elective. A Science Elective can be any BIO, BNG, CHM, MLS, or MAR course; any PHY course numbered above 150; or EGR 411. Independent study, seminars, and courses used to satisfy other CEN requirements do not qualify. If BIO 143 or BNG 255 was used to satisfy the BIO/BNG Requirement, then it may not be used as the Science Elective.

Environmental Resources Engineering Concentration


The Environmental Resources Engineering (ERE) Concentration is offered to students who wish to expand their education with an emphasis on environmental concerns, assessment of the environmental impact of new or existing products or processes, methods for solving problems resulting from pollution in the air, water, or earth, and the management of energy and resources, in order to minimize pollution in the environment. Students should declare their intention during the junior year and must earn a grade of C- or better in both CEN 303 and CEN 304 in order to then enroll in the List B and List C courses as well as to have the concentration appear on the transcript of record.

Educational Objectives

Graduates with the Environmental Resources Engineering Concentration will:

  1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge within environmental engineering and an awareness of potential social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of environmental resources engineering practices.
  2. Appreciate the contribution of environmental resources engineers to the benefit of society and the responsibilities of a professional environmental engineer.
  3. Have the necessary qualifications for employment in environmental resources engineering and related professions, for entry into advanced studies, and for assuming eventual leadership roles in their profession.
  4. Be familiar with current and emerging environmental resources engineering and global issues, and have an understanding of ethical and societal responsibilities.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the Environmental Resources Engineering Concentration will be able to:

  1. Analyze and design environmental resources engineering systems using the needed technical skills.
  2. Apply multidisciplinary approaches including engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, geosciences, and biology to manage the unique challenges and balance the competing social, political, economic, and technical goals of environmental problems and solutions.
  3. Work on multidisciplinary teams to solve environmental resources engineering problems.

 

ERE Requirements


The ERE Concentration consists of completing both CEN 325 and CEN 411 as well as a combination of courses from three lists. Students are required to take two courses from List A, two courses from List B, and three courses from List C. Students will also complete a capstone design project having an environmental resources engineering emphasis.

List A: Two courses required.

Note: Student can not use both CEN 307 and CEN 408 to meet the requirement.

List B: Complete EGR 411 and one additional course. Each course must be passed with a C or better.

List C: ERE Technical Electives. Three courses required. Each course must be passed with a C or better.

  • CEN 414 Hazardous Waste Management Credits: 3
  • CEN 455 Sustainable Infrastructure Credits: 3

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam


In addition to the curriculum requirements, all Civil Engineering majors must take the Civil Fundamentals of Engineering Exam by the spring semester of their senior year.

Total Credits: 123


Footnotes


[1] CHM 153, PHY 111, and PHY 112 may be used in place of CHM 151, PHY 113, and PHY 114, respectively.

[2] See University Studies 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B requirement.

[3] EGR 241, EGR 242, and CEN 202 must be passed with a C- or better to satisfy the degree requirement.

[4] BIO/BNG Requirement must be either BIO 143 or BNG 255. Satisfies University Studies 2B requirement.

[5] To be eligible to enroll in CEN 491, students must have completed 4 of the following 5 core groups:

  • CEN 209 + CEN 334
  • CEN 305 + CEN 323
  • CEN 306 + either CEN 307 or CEN 408 (as prerequisite or corequisite)
  • CEN 303 + CEN 325
  • CEN 304 + enrolled in CEN 411

University Studies Requirements for Civil Engineering


Degree candidates for the B.S. degree in Civil Engineering must satisfy the University Studies requirements, as described in the Academic Policies section of this Catalog.

  • University Studies requirements in Clusters 1, 2, 4C, and 5 are automatically satisfied by the courses shown as required for this major.
  • The University Studies requirements in Clusters 3, 4A, and 4B may be fulfilled by selecting courses from the approved lists in each cluster.

University Studies Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Civil Engineering will meet their departmentally-determined University Studies requirements as follows:

Math Placement


Students not starting in Calculus (MTH 153) will be placed in Pre-Calculus (MTH 150) or Pre-Calculus Enhanced (MTH 150E) or Introductory & Intermediate Algebra (MTH 100) in the first semester. This delays the start of Calculus a semester or more, which may then extend the program beyond four years. 

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