Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Engineering is the application of scientific principles and technical knowledge to real-world problems. Civil engineering is the segment of the engineering profession that strives to provide for the basic needs of humanity. The civil engineer is involved with the physical environment through the planning, design, construction, and operation of building and housing systems, transportation systems, and systems for the protection and use of air and water resources.
The civil engineering student has the opportunity to obtain a broad background in mathematics and the physical sciences and their applications to all areas of civil engineering. This flexible curriculum allows the student to elect eighteen semester hours of approved technical coursework to emphasize the areas of civil engineering of most interest to the student. In addition, courses in the humanities and social sciences are included.
To excel as a civil engineer, a student should have an aptitude for mathematics and science, an interest in the practical application of technical knowledge to societal problems, the motivation to study and prepare for engineering practice, and the desire to be a professional. Civil engineering graduates of the University may seek a wide variety of positions in planning, design, and construction with government agencies, industry, and private consulting firms. Those who plan to pursue graduate work in engineering, or in other professions such as business, medicine, law, or journalism, have an excellent base on which to build.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the civil engineering program should attain the following outcomes:
- 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 multidisciplinary 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 what impact engineering solutions have in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
- Knowledge of contemporary issues
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Program Educational Objectives
Graduates of the civil engineering program should solve civil engineering problems within a greater societal context. They should:
- Act professionally and ethically
- Apply knowledge, strong reasoning, and quantitative skills to design and implement creative and sustainable solutions
- Engage in lifelong learning in order to meet the challenges facing the profession
- Exhibit strong communication, interpersonal, and resource-management skills as leaders in the civil engineering profession
Curriculum
Course requirements are divided into three categories: basic sequence courses, major sequence courses, and other required courses. In addition, each student must complete the University’s core curriculum . In some cases, a course required as part of the basic sequence may also be counted toward the core curriculum; these courses are identified below. To ensure that courses used to fulfill the social and behavioral sciences and visual and performing arts requirements of the core curriculum also meet ABET criteria, students should follow the guidance given in ABET Criteria .
In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics and leadership flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the US flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics and leadership flag and one writing flag are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Students are advised to fulfill the second writing flag requirement with a course that meets another requirement of the core curriculum, such as the first-year signature course. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule .
Enrollment in major sequence courses is restricted to students who have received credit for all of the basic sequence courses and have been admitted to the major sequence. Requirements for admission to a major sequence are given in Admission to a Major Sequence . Enrollment in other required courses is not restricted by completion of the basic sequence.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Sequence Courses | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I (part II science and technology) | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Civil Engineering | ||
| C E 301 | Civil Engineering Systems | 3 |
| C E 311K | Introduction to Computer Methods | 3 |
| C E 311S | Probability and Statistics for Civil Engineers | 3 |
| C E 319F | Elementary Mechanics of Fluids | 3 |
| Engineering Mechanics | ||
| E M 306 | Statics | 3 |
| E M 319 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus (mathematics; quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| Mechanical Engineering | ||
| M E 210 | Engineering Design Graphics | 2 |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| PHY 103M | Laboratory for Physics 303K | 1 |
| PHY 103N | Laboratory for Physics 303L | 1 |
| Rhetoric and Writing | ||
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing (English composition) | 3 |
| Undergraduate Studies | ||
| UGS 302 | First-Year Signature Course (some sections carry writing flag) | 3 |
| or UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | |
| Major Sequence Courses | ||
| ARE 323K | Project Management and Economics | 3 |
| C E 324P | Properties and Behavior of Engineering Materials | 3 |
| C E 321 | Transportation Systems | 3 |
| C E 329 | Structural Analysis | 3 |
| C E 341 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| C E 356 | Elements of Hydraulic Engineering | 3 |
| C E 357 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3 |
| C E 333T | Engineering Communication (writing flag) | 3 |
| C E 171P | Engineering Professionalism (ethics and leadership flag) | 1 |
| Level I electives | 15 | |
| Level II elective | 3 | |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| M 427K | Advanced Calculus for Applications I (quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| E M 311M | Dynamics | 3 |
| or M E 320 | Applied Thermodynamics | |
| Approved science elective | 3 | |
| Approved mathematics, science, or engineering science elective | 3 | |
| Remaining Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| E 316L | British Literature (humanities) | 3 |
| or E 316M | American Literature | |
| or E 316N | World Literature | |
| or E 316P | Masterworks of Literature | |
| American and Texas government | 6 | |
| American history | 6 | |
| Social and behavioral science | 3 | |
| Visual and performing arts | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 125 | |
Level I and Level II Technical Electives
The civil engineering curriculum does not require the student to declare a specific technical area option. However, for the guidance of students with particular interests, level I electives in civil engineering are listed in areas of specialization. The fifteen semester hours of level I electives must be chosen from the following civil engineering and architectural engineering courses; in special cases, with the written permission of the department chair, this requirement may be relaxed, provided the student demonstrates in advance that the courses to be substituted for civil engineering or architectural engineering courses are part of a consistent educational plan. To provide a broad general background, at least one technical elective from each of three different areas of specialization must be included in each student's program.
Each student must take at least one technical area option level II elective. Level II electives may be substituted for technical area option level I electives, but the requirement of at least one technical elective from each of three different areas of specialization still applies.
The following lists reflect current course offerings and are subject to change by the faculty. Current lists are available in the departmental undergraduate office.
Level I Electives
Construction Engineering and Project Management
Architectural Engineering 358, Cost Estimating in Building Construction
Architectural Engineering 366, Contracts, Liability, and Ethics (carries an ethics and leadership flag)
Construction Materials
Civil Engineering 351, Concrete Materials
Civil Engineering 366K, Design of Bituminous Mixtures
Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering 342, Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering
Civil Engineering 346, Solid Waste Engineering and Management
Civil Engineering 369L, Air Pollution Engineering
Civil Engineering 370K, Environmental Sampling and Analysis
Geotechnical Engineering
Civil Engineering 375, Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures
Structures
Architectural Engineering 345K, Masonry Engineering
Architectural Engineering 362L, Structural Design in Wood
Civil Engineering 331, Reinforced Concrete Design
Civil Engineering 335, Elements of Steel Design
Civil Engineering 363, Advanced Structural Analysis
Transportation
Civil Engineering 367P, Pavement Design and Performance
Civil Engineering 367T, Traffic Engineering
Water Resources
Civil Engineering 358, Introductory Ocean Engineering
Civil Engineering 374K, Hydrology
Civil Engineering 374L, Groundwater Hydraulics
Level II Electives (Design)
Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering 364, Design of Wastewater and Water Treatment Facilities (carries an independent inquiry flag)
Geotechnical Engineering
Civil Engineering 360K, Foundation Engineering (carries an independent inquiry flag)
Structures
Civil Engineering 362M, Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (carries an independent inquiry flag)
Civil Engineering 362N, Advanced Steel Design (carries an independent inquiry flag)
Transportation
Civil Engineering 367G, Design and Evaluation of Ground-Based Transportation Systems (carries an independent inquiry flag)
Water Resources
Civil Engineering 365K, Hydraulic Engineering Design (carries an independent inquiry flag)