As a civil engineering major, you will study how to design, construct, and maintain facilities and systems that serve the basic needs of society. These include buildings, bridges, roadways, railways, airports, water and wastewater systems.

What courses will you take?

A female 51ÊÓƵ student wearing goggles and working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab or class.

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at 51ÊÓƵ offers rigorous training in the four main areas of civil engineering:Ìý

  • Environmental engineering
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Transportation engineering

The first year begins with fundamental courses in college writing, mathematics and science. You will also take an introduction to civil and environmental engineering course that covers computer-aided engineering and design.Ìý

During the second year, you will learn the principles of engineering mechanics, including statics, dynamics and strength of materials. Other courses cover statistics, surveying, geomatics and differential equations. At this point, you can begin the Professional Co-op Program by taking a professional development seminar.Ìý

Junior and senior year coursework provides a working knowledge of structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering. You can also take two professional electives, which will count toward a master’s degree if you are accepted into the combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program. In the senior year, you will participate in a comprehensive capstone design project, which is typically a service-learning project with a community partner.

Visit the Academic Catalog forÌýa complete course listingÌýand to learn more about the minor in Business Administration for Civil and Environmental Engineering.

51ÊÓƵ Pathways are a semester-by-semester sequence of courses recommended for successful completion of a degree, diploma, credential or certificate from the university. The most current degree pathway is:

Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

The Program Goal of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department is to provide its students with a well-balanced, high quality education in four areas of Civil Engineering practice: environmental, geotechnical, structural and transportation engineering that will:
  • permit them to practice civil engineering at a professional levelÌý
  • prepare them for graduate studyÌý
  • promote life-long learning and continuing professional developmentÌý
  • provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop into active contributors to the economic and social vitality of the regionÌý

To accomplish this Program Goal, the CEE Department’s and ABETÌýProgram Educational Objectives (PEOs) are as follows:Ìý

  • Graduates, who wish to pursue professional employment, will obtain a position in Civil Engineering or related engineering field, and will be successful in that position.Ìý
  • Graduates will pursue lifelong learning, professional development, and registration as appropriate for their employers.Ìý
  • Graduates will engage in service activities related to their profession.Ìý

The student outcomes for the BSE degree in civil engineering at 51ÊÓƵ are as follows:

At graduation students should possess:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  2. 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.
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Why study civil engineering at 51ÊÓƵ?

 Timothy Roberts, Natalie Melconian, Rebecca Gonsalves-Lamontagne, and Zachary Morris paddle 51ÊÓƵ's concrete canoe during the 2014 regional competition.

Fun Outside the Classroom

Solving problems is fun, and at UML you can put your learning into practice. Check out some ways that students connect outside of the classroom.

51ÊÓƵ Professor Pradeep Kurup working with  a male student in a lab coat.

Research Opportunities

The civil engineering department conducts innovative research in structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering, including:

  • Monitoring and assessment of wind turbine foundation degradation
  • Electromagnetic detection and identification of concrete cracking in highway bridges
  • National Science Foundation: Ethical Algorithms in Autonomous Vehicles
A Female African American 51ÊÓƵ student working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab.

Experiential Learning

Build career-ready skills through experiences outside the classroom, including:

  • Research in a faculty laboratoryÌý
  • Co-ops and internshipsÌý
  • Paid work on campusÌý
  • Service learningÌý
  • Study abroad
A female 51ÊÓƵ student working on a computer with a bridge model behind her.

Bachelor’s-to-Master's Program

Get on the fast track to an advanced degree with our combined Bachelor's-to-Master's program.

  • Available to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.000 or better
  • Offers a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses
  • Reduced credit-hour requirements can save you time and money

What can you do with a degree in civil engineering?

51ÊÓƵ's civil engineering program offers a wide variety of career paths, including design engineer, project manager, project superintendent, town or city engineer, construction site supervisor, city planner, transportation planner, highway engineer, high school teacher and professor.

Three 51ÊÓƵ students taking part in the Steel Bridge Competition.

Alumni of our program have worked at:

  • Columbia Construction Co.Ìý
  • Commodore BuildersÌý
  • GEI ConsultantsÌý
  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Methuen ConstructionÌý
  • Nobis EngineeringÌý
  • Underwood EngineersÌý
  • Weston & Sampson

Meet Our Students & Alumni

Sofia Savoca with her mom outside O'Leary Library on South Campus
Sofia Savoca '21
Civil Engineering

Sofia Savoca chose 51ÊÓƵ for the opportunity to be in the Honors College and to study civil engineering. She’s found a dozen new opportunities since arriving on campus.

Opportunities, opportunities – it’s raining opportunities. They’re here if you work hard and know where to look.
Read More 51ÊÓƵ Sofia Savoca 
Zach McDonough, facilities project coordinator at 51ÊÓƵ
Zach McDonough '16
Civil and Environmental Engineering

As senior project manager with Facilities Management, Zach McDonough ’16 is building a successful career path at his alma mater.

(Facilities) was a wonderful team to intern with, because they treated me like an adult.
Read More 51ÊÓƵ Zach McDonough 
Tiana Robinson works with another student to conduct ultrasonic testing of sidewalk concrete slabs to check their thickness and condition
Tiana Robinson ’23
Civil Engineering

Tiana Robinson is working on a research collaboration with the city of Lowell to help inspect and monitor the city’s aging infrastructure.

The concept of building something from beginning to end and making your design a reality has always intrigued me.
Read More 51ÊÓƵ Tiana Robinson 
Ariel Shramko headshot
Ariel Shramko '24
Environmental Engineering

Ariel Shramko is growing food for Earth and beyond.

I never thought that I would be able to get this far this soon, but I now truly believe that dreams can come true.
Read More 51ÊÓƵ Ariel Shramko