BS in Civil Engineering | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2024)

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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

BS in Civil Engineering | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (1)

Curriculum

The undergraduate civil engineering program provides a broad-based civil and environmental engineering education that builds off the Tickle College of Engineering’s engage Engineering Fundamentals Program. Courses in each of the major areas of civil and environmental engineering are offered at the junior and senior level. Through technical electives, students can gain a greater depth of knowledge in specializations of interest. Students desiring an even greater depth of knowledge in an area will typically pursue a master’s degree.

For current civil engineering course descriptions and requirements, visit the UT Undergraduate Catalog.

Curriculum Flow Charts

  • 2014
  • 2105
  • 2016
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  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022

Concentrations

Construction Engineering

The courses of instruction in construction provide a basic understanding of the process needed to construct buildings, highways, bridges, and other structures. Special emphasis is placed on the efficient management of people, materials, and equipment. Graduates of this program are qualified for entry-level management positions in the construction industry,the nation’s largest employer.

Environmental Engineering

The undergraduate courses in environmental engineering emphasize the design, construction, and management aspects of the discipline, focusing on the provision of safe drinking water in adequate quantities, the proper treatment and disposal of wastes, and the assurance of clean air, soil, and water.

Geotechnical and Materials Engineering

The undergraduate courses in geotechnical and materials (natural and advanced) engineering cover principles of soil mechanics, design of shallow foundations, shear strength of soils, soil-structure interactions, and materials of construction. Some of the courses emphasize the importance of laboratory testing to the understanding of engineering behavior of soils and construction materials by offering students hands-on experience.

Structural Engineering

Structural engineers design buildings and bridges. They are concerned with the many forces that act on these structures, such as trucks, wind, snow, and earthquakes.

Transportation Engineering

The undergraduate courses in transportation offer a wide range of topics covering design, analysis, and the planning/management aspects of constructing and maintaining transportation facilities and services.

Water Resources Engineering

The water resources undergraduate courses provides a basic understanding and the necessary tools for managing water to meet our local, state, regional, and national needs. Topics include drainage, urban water and groundwater management, dam design and safety, erosion and sediment control, stormwater modeling, and open channel flow.

Academic Requirements

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPAof at least 2.00 in all civil and environmental engineering courses that are taken at UT and used to satisfy graduation requirements.

No more than four credit hours of civil and environmental engineering courses in which a C- or lower is the highest grade earned may be counted toward graduation. This condition is not applied civil and environmental engineering courses applied to technical elective course requirements. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within their two selected concentrations.

Minors

A minor is not required, but several relevant minors are available. Consult the current undergraduate catalog for minor requirements.

Technical Electives

The following table contains a list of suggested civil engineering technical electives. All 400-500 level Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering courses can be applied towards technical electives.

ConcentrationExample Civil/Technical Electives
ConstructionCE 581, CE 582, CE 583, CE 584
EnvironmentalCE 485, CE 495, Chem 330, Chem 210, Chem 260/268, Envr 511, Envr 513, Geog 411
GeotechnicalCE 531,CE 535; Geology 310, 330, 340, 370, and 471
MaterialsCE 521, CE 522, CE 525
StructuresCE 462, CE 472, CE 474, CE 576
TransportationCE 551, CE 552, Geog 411
Water ResourcesCE 485, CE 495, ENVE 515, ENVE 516, ENVE 526, ENVE 533, CE 485, Geog 411
AllConcentrationsAccounting 200, EF 333, Physics 231, Physics 232, Math 251, ME 231, ME 331, MSE 201, ECE 201, COSC 102, Chem 210, Chem 260/268, EF 305

Policies

  • The technical electives may be a departmental offering, including a graduate course for undergraduate credit. A student must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher or have approval of the instructor to take a 500-level course for undergraduate credit.
  • Unless the course is specifically listed above, the course should be above the fundamental level in its topic area; first-year courses are usually not acceptable.
  • There must be a logical relationship between the course and a major interest area of the student. This category is not a place to put courses already taken which do not have a place elsewhere in the minimum degree requirements.
  • A transfer or first-degree course can be used as a technical elective if it meets these stipulations.
  • An advisor has the prerogative of requiring a student to justify the choice of a technical elective in writing, with that written note going into the student’s file.
BS in Civil Engineering | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2024)

FAQs

Is a bachelor's in civil engineering enough? ›

Civil engineers will pay off their college debt faster than many of their counterparts. A bachelor's degree in civil engineering is enough to start a career in civil engineering.

Should I choose civil or environmental engineering? ›

Both of these degree options and career options are good, but the benefits of choosing a civil engineering degree instead of an environmental engineering degree include having a more versatile education and broader set of career opportunities and seeing more rapid job growth.

What is the most difficult course in civil engineering? ›

Some of the most difficult courses in civil engineering include Engineering Mechanics, Design of Bridges, and Geotechnical Engineering. While all civil engineering courses have their own unique set of difficulties, some courses are considered to be particularly challenging for students.

What is the difference between civil engineering and civil and environmental engineering? ›

Civil Engineering encompasses several areas of focus, including structural, geotechnical, construction, and transportation engineering. Environmental Engineering focuses on areas including water quality, green energy, air quality, and contaminated site remediation. There are some areas of overlap.

Is a bachelor's in engineering enough? ›

As mentioned, to pursue a career as an engineer, a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field is typically required. Some engineering roles, particularly in management positions, may necessitate a master's degree.

Which bachelor's degree is best for civil engineering? ›

Some of the most common specializations include:
  • Structural engineering. Unsurprisingly, structural engineering focuses on structures. ...
  • Architectural engineering. ...
  • Transportation engineering. ...
  • Geotechnical engineering. ...
  • Environmental engineering. ...
  • Hydraulic engineering.

What makes more money, civil or environmental engineering? ›

Environmental Engineers earned an average salary of $101,670 in 2022. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2022: Biochemists made $114,740, Civil Engineers made $97,380, Environmental Engineering Technicians made $58,020, and Environmental Science and Protection Technicians made $53,970.

Can civil engineers work as environmental engineers? ›

Civil engineers' roles overlap with environmental engineers in areas like power generation, treatment infrastructure to produce clean water, waste processing and developing sustainable infrastructure that accounts for the impacts of climate change.

Why study civil and environmental engineering? ›

From combating the climate crisis to reducing the impact of natural hazards to designing solutions that support an equitable future, civil and environmental engineers solve problems and critical challenges to build the world of tomorrow.

What is the easiest branch in civil engineering? ›

Civil engineering degrees are available at multiple levels, but the easiest civil engineering degree to earn for most students will be an associate's degree in civil engineering technology. Associate degrees are undergraduate degrees that typically take two years to complete.

Which year is the toughest in engineering? ›

Sophom*ore year may be considered the most difficult at your school because that is likely the year you begin taking "real engineering" classes and not just math, science, and other general requirements.

Why is civil engineering so hard? ›

In conjunction with the math courses, the major also requires advanced credits in chemistry, geology, and physics. Beyond the general education requirements, most programs offer a variety of civil engineering-specific classes. With such a diverse and important field, there is a lot to learn.

Is civil engineering harder than electrical engineering? ›

Electrical Engineering

Students consider electrical engineering to be the toughest major mostly because of the abstract thinking involved. With majors like civil engineering, you can visually see the effect of what you're designing.

Why environmental engineering is a good career? ›

The work they do can be life-changing for millions of people. Environmental engineers use their broad knowledge of waste management, engineering, and the sciences, such as chemistry, biology, and soil science, to improve human and ecological health through innovation and technology.

What is the meaning of environmental engineering in civil engineering? ›

Environmental engineering is a professional discipline concerned with protecting people from adverse environmental effects as well as protecting ecosystems and improving the quality of the environment.

How valuable is a civil engineering degree? ›

Civil engineering is a good career for you if you're interested in a career in a growing engineering field with high earning potential. As cities continue to grow, more civil engineers are necessary to plan and manage public work projects and rebuild aging infrastructure.

Is a master's in civil engineering necessary? ›

While advancing your higher education in civil engineering beyond a bachelor's degree isn't mandatory, a master's degree can help you stand out against other candidates, obtain higher salaries, and reach more lucrative career paths.

Are civil engineers in high demand? ›

Job Outlook

Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. About 21,200 openings for civil engineers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Do civil engineers have a future? ›

The career scope of civil engineers is huge worldwide - as according to a new research report by Global Marketing Insights, Inc, the market size of civil engineering is expected to grow up USD 11.72 trillion by 2025.

References

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