Civil Engineering, BS
As humanity continues to evolve, civil engineers are needed to address the challenges we face in urban areas. From making transportation more efficient to ensuring water is clean, civil engineering guarantees humanity thrives. Our civil engineering students are given the foundation they need to become the leaders and trailblazers in urban ecology and sustainable infrastructure.
Program overview
Through the civil engineering program, students will gain in-depth knowledge for design, construction, supervision, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure. They have access to state-of-the-art research centers to provide them with necessary skills needed in their careers, and our program emphasizes hands-on experience in the classroom with labs and field projects. Anyone who wants to be an innovator of the future will thrive as a civil engineer.
Why Study Civil Engineering?
Society cannot function without civil engineers. They plan and implement structures like roads, drainage systems, bridges, and other public structures designed, affecting the everyday lives of people everywhere. In our Civil Engineering, BS program, students will have access to advanced facilities and joint institutes to complement education from award-winning faculty to prepare them for drafting and implementing integral parts of society.
What is civil engineering?
Civil engineering is the study and application of design, development, and maintenance of constructed and naturally built environments. Its main purpose is to provide strong and sustainable solutions to infrastructure issues.
What do civil engineers do?
Civil engineers are innovative, coming up with creative solutions to modern-day problems with strategic thinking and analysis of systems. People who work in this field maintain the foundation of modern society by designing bridges, roadways, airports, drinking water systems, and much more. Not only do they design, they also have a hand in building and maintaining these transportation systems and infrastructures.
What can you do with a BS in Civil Engineering after graduation?
Once you graduate with a BS in civil engineering, you have several paths you could take. Many civil engineers work for private engineering firms that are contracted for projects from start to finish. You could also work for utility companies, consulting firms, the government, or telecommunications.
This field has several specialties, and depending on your interests, you could find yourself working on construction, environment, geotechnic, structure, transportation, water resources, or public works. Depending on the type of work you do and your employer, a civil engineer’s early career salary has a median of $73,400 according to payscale.com.
Featured Courses
The civil engineering program provides a broad-based civil engineering education with courses in each of the major areas of civil and environmental engineering 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.
CE 210 Geomatics
Students are introduced to the measurement, representation, analysis, management, retrieval, and display of spatial data concerning nature’s physical features and the built environment. This class also covers land and construction surveying, controls, error analysis, and more.
CE 262 Structural Materials
In this course, students will learn about the fundamentals of structural mechanics, including reactions, shear and moment diagrams, trusses, axially loaded members, and more.
CE 321 Materials of Construction
Students will study the physical and mechanical properties of materials used in construction, including aggregates, cements, concretes, and more. They will also learn about the behavior of materials and structures under load and materials testing standards.
CE 355 Transportation Engineering I
This class teaches students about traffic demand, transportation planning, traffic flow relationships, geometric design, transportation safety, traffic control devices, and more.
Complementary minors
Are you interested in expanding your education? Look at these minors that pair well with a civil engineering, BS degree.
Admissions and Aid
Choosing the right university to pursue an engineering degree is an important decision—and a significant investment. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to both apply and make attending UT affordable.
Ready to Join Us?
See yourself on Rocky Top? We’ve made it easier than ever to apply for admission. Learn more about our admission requirements and the steps to apply to be an Engineering Vol.