BS in Civil Engineering

Civil engineering graduates qualify for graduate school or professional work in a broad spectrum of engineering activities. The program is well balanced, stressing environmental engineering; engineering mechanics; soil mechanics and foundations; structural analysis and design; surveying and mapping; transportation and traffic engineering; and water resources and hydraulics. Opportunities for civil engineers are expanding due to the need to maintain and enhance the nation’s infrastructure of transportation, water resources, structural, and environmental systems.

The civil engineering program has two comprehensive objectives: to prepare graduates for immediate entry into a variety of professional careers related to civil and environmental engineering and to provide a solid undergraduate foundation in general principles enabling continued education at advanced levels.

The CSU, Chico Civil Engineering program educational objectives are best framed in terms of the following goals for its graduates:

• Secure a professional position in civil engineering and become a licensed engineer.
• Attend graduate school in civil engineering or a related discipline to achieve a graduate degree in a specialty area.
• Engage in lifelong learning through formal and informal professional development.
• Assume management or leadership roles in their respective organization.
• Contribute to society through involvement in service activity.

The Department of Civil Engineering has adopted for the BSCE degree the program outcomes specified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, as listed in Criterion 3 Engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates have:

• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
• An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
• An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
• An ability to communicate effectively;
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
• A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, life-long learning;
• A knowledge of contemporary issues; and
• An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Source: Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs, 2016-2017, Engineering Accreditation Commission, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 2015.