Civil
Engineering Major
What
is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineers play a major role in
the development and management of society¹s physical infrastructure.
They engage in the planning, design, construction and
maintenance of buildings, bridges, dams, airports, highways,
subways, transportation networks, energy resource development
projects, offshore structures, canals, irrigation systems,
subdivisions, harbors and water supply and waste treatment
facilities.
Civil engineers must have expertise
in analysis, design, computer applications, and management.
They work for all levels of government and in a variety
of consulting engineering firms. Civil engineers study
buildings, bridges, their foundations, and highways. They
invent safer and more economical ways of construction,
adapt the natural water supplies to people's needs, and
find ways to control and reduce environmental pollution
and hazardous wastes. Civil engineers must make decisions
and consider a broad range of factors such as required
resources, aesthetic values, and environmental, economic,
legal, sociological, and technological limitations.
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What
are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
MyMajors.com cannot pinpoint your interests
beyond recommending this general major. Various specializations
related to this major may be offered by colleges and universities.
These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest
to you. A few of the specializations related to this field
include, but are not limited to:
Civil
Engineering |
Highway
Engineering |
Civil
or Structural Drafting |
Pavement
Materials |
Environmental
Engineering |
Structural
Engineering |
Geophysical
Engineering |
Water
Resources Engineering |
Geotechnical
Engineering Transportation |
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What
Kinds of Students Major in Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering students are characterized
by their ability to create solutions. Where and how to
build a road, home, civic center, or bridge can be seen
as a problem. These students are able to analyze the information
and develop a suitable solution. Students may like to
build and create projects, to use their hands and draw.
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What
Courses Do Civil Engineering Majors Take?
The required and elective courses you
would take for majors vary considerably among institutions.
Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth
of topics you are likely to experience were you to major
in this field.
Bridge
Engineering |
Environmental
Law |
Computer
Programming |
Civil
Engineering |
Environmental
Microbiology |
Geotechnical
Engineering |
Construction
Management |
Construction
Materials |
Hydraulics |
Construction
Safety |
Pavement
Design |
Highway
& Transportation Engineering |
Earthquake
Engineering |
Project
Scheduling |
Timber
Structures |
Engineering
Economy |
Statistics
Engineering |
Graphics |
Engineering
Hydrology |
Urban
Engineering |
Environmental
Chemistry |
Engineering
Measurements |
Water
and Waste Treatment |
Water
Rights |
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What
Types of Positions do Civil Engineering Majors Take After
College?
These professions and professional organizations
illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for
if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly
related to employment than others, however. You should
consider the likelihood of employment after graduation
carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work
in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work
in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you
should determine what the prospects are for this or any
major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by
the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment
in second major or in a minor.
Construction
Project Manager |
Materials
Engineer |
Construction
Site Inspector |
Structural
Engineer |
Department
of Transportation |
Tunnel
Cost Estimator |
Environmental
Engineer |
Tunnel
Engineer |
Geotechnical
Engineer |
Wastewater
Engineer |
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|
Are you interested in detailed information
about the forecasted demand for a particular profession?
Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions
are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you
to search on a particular job, whether listed here or
not, to give you this information.
Bureau
of Labor Statistics
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Related
Links
If you are interested in learning more
about what professionals in this field do and what kinds
of activities they engage in, you might want to begin
with the following web sites. Also check the departmental
web sites of colleges and universities, which offer this
major.
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University
Departments to Consider
The following institutions are the featured
institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors
and you in your search for the best major available. They
offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for
you to consider.
Other fine institutions offering this
major offer excellent programs to consider.
| For
information on options available to campuses wishing
to see their majors listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Two-Year
College Curriculums to Consider
| Suggest
to your two-year college advisor that their institution's
majors be included to show you their course requirements
and unique resources. Two-year college representatives
should contact admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Want
More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared
by university academic advisement staffs.
More on Choosing Your College Major 
