Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering (BSE)
Civil engineers design solutions in natural and urban environments.
Civil engineering is a broad field that applies engineering principles primarily to the public domain infrastructure, including transportation, water resources, buildings and other structures such as dams and bridges. Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of facilities such as high-rise buildings, airports, roads, water treatment centers and sanitation plants. Civil engineers balance the needs of society with technical and economic feasibility. ASU engineers work to achieve safe and sustainable development through “green” engineering.
The Civil Engineering BSE degree program at Arizona State University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. Student enrollment and graduation data are available at engineering.asu.edu/enrollment.
Career opportunities for civil and environmental engineers
Graduates of the Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering program at ASU have many career opportunities that involve different activities, tools, situations, clients and venues. The completion of a civil engineering project requires the solution of technical problems in coordination with professionals from different disciplines. From conceptual design to forensic study of failed performance, civil engineers use mathematical, scientific and computational tools to develop and sustain modern communities. Civil engineering graduates go on to careers in both the public and private sectors, from small consulting companies to large corporations to government agencies.
What makes Civil engineering at ASU special?
Emphasis on sustainability
The Civil Engineering curriculum at ASU emphasizes sustainability as a revolutionary approach to engineering that focuses on the long lasting improvement of the human condition. Sustainable engineering transforms the traditional design and construction methods of complex systems by the application of life cycle and environmental assessment, risk and uncertainty analysis and other emerging techniques.
Undergraduate Civil Engineering majors have the option to complete a general civil engineering degree or to concentrate in environmental engineering or sustainable engineering. Graduate civil engineering students are admitted to one of our research specialty areas.
Program demographics and professional preparation
There are 880 undergraduate students in the Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering program. About 24.2 percent of those students are women.
The civil engineering curriculum prepares students for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and licensed Professional Engineer (PE) registration.
Faculty research areas
Our faculty is actively engaged in many local, national and international-level research efforts that greatly impact economic development and environmental quality. Our faculty specialties include environmental engineering, geotechnical/geoenvironmental engineering, hydrosystems engineering, structures, sustainable engineering and transportation/pavements. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to get involved in research while pursuing their degree through the Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative.
The Civil Engineering undergraduate program at ASU is fully accredited by ABET, Inc. The following are the Civil Engineering undergraduate program educational objectives within three years of graduation.
- Our graduates will be employed as engineers or will be enrolled in (or have graduated from) engineering or professional graduate school.
- Our graduates will provide engineering and program management services for civil infrastructure development that protect and enhance the environment while stewarding natural resources.
- Our graduates will demonstrate professionalism and will hold positions of increasing responsibility within their organizations.
Student enrollment and graduation data are available at engineering.asu.edu/enrollment.
Graduates are expected to achieve the following outcomes at graduation.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
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|Undergraduate degrees awarded|
Civil, environmental and sustainable engineering, BSE
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
What is a major map?
A major map outlines a major’s critical requirements, elective and required courses, and optional course sequencing to help students stay on the right track to graduation.
ASU students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
Admission requirements for many majors in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering are higher than University admission standards. Please review the Admissions Requirements (PDF) link for a complete list of degree programs requiring higher admission standards.
Find and apply for scholarships at ASU
Be sure to check out Fulton Schools’ scholarships available to both new and continuing students
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact, more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of financial assistance every year.
When Joy Marsalla was nearing high school graduation, she had little idea about what major to sign up for in college. She took a look at what she liked to do—math and science, but also an affinity for water from fond memories of family camping trips that were often near lakes and rivers. She combined the two and recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering. Read Joy’s story