Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering

Design a More Efficient, Sustainable World

Much of our world’s infrastructure starts with ideas from civil engineers. This includes everything from the foundations of structures to the design of the buildings and bridges they support to the new, sustainable materials of which they are constructed and from the management and distribution of water resources to its ultimate treatment and release back to the natural environment. Do you envision a better-designed and sustainable society? Lead its development with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clarkson University.

Why Major in Civil Engineering at Clarkson?

Our ABET-accredited program reflects the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s approach. We aim to train the next generation of innovators. What will you learn? Prepare to plan, design and construct our nation’s infrastructure. Understand how to protect its natural resources.

Our flexible, customizable curriculum pairs theoretical and design applications with hands-on learning. Prepare for professional success. You can also develop a specialty through a choice of concentrations and minors, taking two years of fundamentals in engineering and science followed by two years dedicated toward your major.

And, our Civil Engineering Class of 2023 had a 100 percent placement rate.

Curriculum

Construction materials engineering
Steel design
Structural Analysis
Water resources engineering
Strength of materials
Fluid mechanics
Geographical information systems
Architectural engineering
Transportation systems design

Currriculum

The civil engineering program consists of 27 credit hours in civil engineering, 16 credit hours in science, 12 credit hours in mathematics, 9 credit hours in engineering science electives, 3 credit hours in a basic science elective, 3 credit hours in statistics, and 3 credit hours in economics. 21 credit hours are in professional electives, which is enough to complete a minor if you so choose.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

Civil Engineering Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

Civil Engineering

CE212 Introduction to Engineering Design
CE301 Geographical Information Systems
CE305 Construction Planning and Management
CE310 Geotechnical Engineering I: Soil Mechanics
CE320 Structural Analysis
CE330 Water Resources Engineering I
CE340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE441 Reinforced Concrete Design or CE442 Steel Design
CE490 Senior Design (Structures, Transportation, Geotechnical)

Professional Experience

Students are required to complete the following Professional Experience:
ES499 Professional Experience (0 credits)

School of Engineering Common First Year

Students must complete the following courses in their first year:

CM131 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
CM132 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
ES100 Introduction to Engineering Use of the Computer (2 credits)
ES110 Engineering & Society
MA131 Calculus I
MA132 Calculus II
PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
PH132 Physics II (4 credits)

Civil Engineering Core Electives

Students must also complete the following courses:

EC350 Economic Principles & Engineering Economics
ES220 Statics
ES222 Strength of Materials
ES330 Fluid Mechanics
MA231 Calculus III
MA232 Elementary Differential Equations

Professional Electives

Students should contact their academic advisor about professional electives.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students will have at least 18 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Undergraduate Research

Research topics cover bridges and infrastructure health; material strength and stability; air, water and soil quality; river hydraulics and hydrology, among other areas. Thinking about your impact? Any undergraduate student at Clarkson can get involved in hands-on research with a faculty expert. Learn more about research at Clarkson.

Co-Ops and Internships

Apply your civil engineering knowledge through a co-op or internship. Observe professionals in the field. Participate in projects. Explore potential career paths. One hundred percent of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering students take part in a professional experience before graduating. Learn more about co-ops and internships.

SPEED Competitive Engineering Project Teams

Collaborate with other engineering students on a SPEED (Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) team. Apply your knowledge of engineering, science and mathematics to assess a problem. Then, you design and build a solution in response. Learn more about participating in design competitions.

Clubs and Organizations

Get involved on campus through over 200 student groups. Opportunities specific to civil engineering include:

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Associated General Contractors (AGC)
Chi Epsilon - National Civil Engineering Honor Society
Construction Engineering Management
Engineers for International Sustainability (EIS)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA)
Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society

Explore all clubs and organizations now.

Concentrations and Minors

Steer your knowledge and future career toward one of three concentrations:

Construction Engineering Management Concentration

Explore the intersection of engineering and architecture. Learn how to construct and maintain buildings. Learn more about the construction engineering management concentration.

Structural Engineering Concentration

Strengthen your knowledge of engineering, mechanics and analytics. This knowledge is key for constructing buildings, infrastructure, water treatment facilities, waterways and other facilities and natural developments. Learn more about the structural engineering concentration.

Water Resources Engineering Concentration

Pursue a career in hydraulics, hydrology or open channel flow. Learn more about the water resources engineering concentration.

Expand your knowledge with the following minors:

Architecture and Facilities Engineering Minor

Learn to design a better building. This minor brings together facilities engineering and engineering management. Learn more about the architecture and facilities engineering minor.

Environmental Engineering Minor

See what’s needed to make more sustainable decisions. Learn more about the environmental engineering minor.

Project Management Minor

This minor highlights techniques for better managing people, resources and budgets. Learn more about the project management minor.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Civil engineering looks globally to improve our world’s communities and infrastructure. Participate in Clarkson’s hands-on study abroad programs and professional experiences. Explore different opportunities and where you can go.

Women Accelerating in STEM: Nikki & the Steel Bridge Team

Meet Nikki Boroweic '24, she has been the Team Captain for the Steel Bridge Team. She shares how her hands-on experience on the SPEED team allows her to implement what she learns in the classroom and put it to the test in competition.

MassDOT Project

Read about the group of Clarkson University Juniors in Civil Engineering who traveled to the Moles Annual Students Day.

Learn More about MassDOT Project

Career Possibilities

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 7-percent growth of civil engineers from 2021 to 2031 and even greater opportunities in New York State's focus on clean manufacturing. Our students go on to make a difference for government agencies, consulting firms, construction companies, urban planning and environmental and natural resources organizations. Or, they pursue a graduate degree before starting a career.

Civil engineering majors who continue their studies have been accepted at institutions across the nation, such as Cornell University, Northeastern University and the University of Washington-Seattle. Many of them go on to complete Clarkson's graduate civil and environmental engineering program (MS and/or PhD), ranked as one of the best in the country.

Possible job titles include:

Civil engineer
Drainage engineer
Geotechnical engineer
Horizontal construction engineer
Planning engineer
Project engineer
Structural engineer
Traffic engineer
Transportation engineer
Water resources engineer

Recent Employers

For the Class of 2023, 100 percent of civil engineering majors started careers related to their degree or entered graduate school. Our students began their careers with starting salaries as high as $87,500. In recent years, our students have been recruited for positions with:

Burns & McDonnell
CHA Consulting
DEW Construction
Ducks Unlimited
HUNT Engineers
John Deere
Kiewit
MassDOT
National Grid
Naval Nuclear Laboratory
NYS Parks & Recreation
Target
Turner Construction
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Civil is broad and multidisciplinary and encompasses many fields of engineering and the social and science aspects are fascinating to me. I have found the instructors very engaged with their material and their classes. The instructors are interested in guiding you to understand the subject matter and how it relates to my personal interests. The faculty have been especially helpful finding my path at Clarkson and beyond.
Matt Hogan '25 BS in Civil Engineering