Civil Engineering
Civil Engineers:
- Analyze survey reports, maps, and other data to plan projects.
- Make sure roads are well built and safe.
- Civil engineers design and supervise construction of buildings and other structures, such as skyscrapers, bridges, roads, and water mains.
- Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors in planning stages.
- Test soils to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations.
- Test building materials, such as concrete, asphalt, or steel, for use in particular projects.
- Provide cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project’s economic feasibility.
- Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards.
- Oversee, or participate in, surveying to establish reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction.
- Present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals, environmental impact statements, or property descriptions.
- Work with design, construction, research, and teaching.
- Must have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or one of its specialties.
- Must have taken courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, statistics, and computer science.
- Must be fairly skilled in writing and grammar.
- Employment of civil engineers is expected to grow 19 percent from 2010 to 2020.
Zoom in (using the magnifying glass with the plus sign in it) to the file above to explore it. This document provides a highly detailed diagram of the courses needed to become a civil engineer. The numbers next to the type of course indicate the type of class, its educational level (advanced, or not advanced), and other such details. This curriculum is generally the same for all students thinking of taking up a career in civil engineering. If changed, it is only altered slightly.