Overview of Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline encompassing the design, construction, and maintenance of physical and naturally built environments. It is one of the oldest branches of engineering, dating back to the time when humans first devised plans for the construction of elements essential to civilization. It is divided into two main categories: surveying and design, and construction and maintenance.

Career Opportunities Associated with Civil Engineering

The career opportunities associated with civil engineering are vast, ranging from urban designers to stormwater engineers. Civil engineers design and build large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges and railways, as well as green spaces such as parks and gardens. They also apply their knowledge to address urban problems such as air pollution, flooding, and energy usage. Civil engineers focus on creating eco-friendly and cost-effective design solutions for the built environment.

Internship and Co-op Opportunities

The hands-on experience you gain while completing an internship or co-op placement can give you a competitive edge when looking for a full-time job in the civil engineering field. Most internships and co-op placements are available to undergraduate and graduate students in the civil engineering field. Companies often seek civil engineering interns for a variety of projects, such as surveying new construction sites, writing reports, and researching new materials and techniques.

Specialized Tracks or Concentrations within Civil Engineering

There are many different specialized tracks or concentrations within civil engineering. Some of these include structure design, geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, hydrology and water resources engineering, and transportation engineering. Specialized courses in many of these concentrations are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels, allowing students to gain in-depth knowledge in a particular specialization.

How Civil Engineering Prepares Students for Graduate School or Further Education

Civil engineering courses provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue advanced degrees in graduate school. Civil engineering classes are often combined with physics, geology, mathematics, and engineering-related subjects. This combination of courses gives students a comprehensive understanding of the material they are studying and allows them to make the connection between theory and practical applications. This comprehensive training helps students become proficient problem solvers and independent thinkers, skills necessary for success in graduate school.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Civil Engineering

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the civil engineering field by automating certain processes and eliminating redundant manual tasks. AI-enabled systems can help civil engineers quickly and accurately identify potential problems with structures and help model and analyze a structure’s performance. AI can also be used to identify safety risks, locate suitable building sites, and provide engineers with deep insights into the performance of their projects in the field.

The Career Outlook for Civil Engineering

The demand for civil engineers has been on the rise in recent years due to a variety of factors, such as increases in public infrastructure projects and growth in the construction industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment in the civil engineering field will increase by 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, making it a great field for prospective job seekers to explore.

Here are the top reported starting salaries for graduates in Civil Engineering:

University of Southern California, Salary: $75,576

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Salary: $72,381

San Jose State University, Salary: $70,515

University of Virginia-Main Campus, Salary: $70,229

Stevens Institute of Technology, Salary: $69,771

Columbia University in the City of New York, Salary: $69,428

University of California-Berkeley, Salary: $69,327

Northeastern University, Salary: $69,279

Manhattan College, Salary: $68,261

University of Colorado Boulder, Salary: $68,046

For privacy reasons, not all schools report the first year salaries for students who earned their bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.