Civil Engineering
Infrastructure design — bridges, roads, water systems, and structural analysis.
Who It's For
You want to build things that last — bridges, buildings, water systems, and roads. If you are practical-minded, enjoy physics and math, and care about designing infrastructure that keeps communities safe, civil engineering is a great match. Students who think about how things are built in the real world and enjoy fieldwork tend to do well.
If you prefer fast-paced innovation or working primarily with software, civil engineering's longer project timelines and regulatory focus may feel slow. Students who dislike physics, outdoor fieldwork, or detailed calculations with building codes might prefer a different engineering discipline.
How Your High School Classes Connect
How much each subject matters in this degree
Common Coursework
Study properties of concrete, steel, timber, and asphalt used in civil construction.
Analyze how liquids and gases flow through pipes, over wings, and around objects.
Calculate stress, strain, and deformation to predict when beams and shafts will break.
Extend single-variable calculus into 3D with multivariable functions, vectors, and surface integrals.
Solve equations describing how systems change over time, from circuits to population growth.
Measure land positions, elevations, and boundaries using GPS, levels, and total stations.
Analyze forces on objects at rest and in motion to predict how structures and machines behave.
Calculate forces and stresses inside bridges, buildings, and frames to verify they're safe.
Study water flow in pipes and channels, and how rainfall moves through watersheds.
Analyze soil and rock properties to design stable foundations, retaining walls, and tunnels.
Design systems to treat drinking water, wastewater, and air pollution for public health.
Design concrete beams, columns, and slabs reinforced with steel bars to meet building codes.
Size steel beams, columns, and connections for buildings and bridges using design standards.
Design roads, intersections, and transit systems by analyzing traffic flow and safety data.
Plan construction projects by managing schedules, budgets, contracts, and on-site coordination.
Common Next Steps
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Is Civil Engineering right for you?
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