Dwight Look College of Engineering

Curriculum in Civil Engineering

Civil engineers plan, design, supervise the construction of, operate, maintain, inspect, retrofit, and manage many of the facilities and systems in both public and private sectors that are essential to modern life. The civil engineering profession is one of the most stable and most diverse of the engineering disciplines. Civil engineers are employed by small companies, public agencies, and large corporations; some civil engineers start and run their own firms. Their workplaces range from construction sites to design offices. Most of them work with some engineering or construction aspect of private or public facilities, including airports, bridges, buildings, coastal structures, dams, environmental remediation of contaminated sites, harbors, highways, offshore structures, pipelines, railroads, transportation systems, tunnels, water collection systems, water distribution systems, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and waterways. They are in the forefront of applying the newest high technology innovations in engineering and construction.

Most civil engineering projects are unique in that they require individual planning, analysis, design, construction supervision, performance monitoring, management and retrofitting. Most projects require not only technical, but also governmental, legal, financial, and social evaluations and considerations. The primary objective of these projects is to provide the best service for the users while minimizing all costs and other undesirable impacts.

The mission of the Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University is to prepare our graduates to become professional engineers and leaders in the civil engineering profession. We expect our graduates to be technically prepared for lifelong learning experiences that will strengthen their abilities to lead the developmental activities necessary to successfully and effectively solve complex civil engineering problems facing society.

The civil engineering faculty strives to insure that our ever-evolving educational programs accomplish several aims. First, we prepare our students to:

  1. address the current and future civil engineering needs of the people of the State of Texas, and
  2. recognize important geopolitical and public policy needs while solving technical problems.

In addition, we provide a curriculum that integrates scientific and technical knowledge together with an appreciation for social, economic and political concerns. The curriculum is developed to:

  1. build technical skills,
  2. address issues of professionalism and ethical responsibility, and
  3. recognize the need to engage in lifelong learning.

Finally, we promote the highest academic excellence, quality, and competitiveness for the undergraduate program that will provide local, state, national, and international leadership to a profession that strives to solve the civil engineering problems facing an increasingly complex society.

The program educational objectives for the undergraduate civil engineering program within the Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University are to produce graduates:

  1. who are prepared to enter civil engineering practice and/or continue their education through study in graduate and professional programs,
  2. most of whom will become practicing civil engineers with most of these becoming registered professional engineers, and
  3. many of whom will pursue advanced studies.

The first two years of the civil engineering curriculum build a solid foundation in mathematics, science and engineering science which are the necessary building blocks for a successful career in engineering. The third year provides an introduction to the various civil engineering disciplines and engineering principles, methods of analysis, and design. The fourth year provides the opportunity to pursue either a broad based program in general civil engineering or pursue more depth in one of the following areas of specialization: coastal/ocean, construction and management, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, or water resources. The curriculum also includes courses in history, political science, social sciences and humanities that help students understand the need for considering the global and societal context in which engineering solutions are completed, for understanding professional and ethical responsibility, and to be knowledgeable of contemporary issues.

Students are encouraged to participate in cooperative education or internship experiences with civil engineering agencies during their undergraduate education.

The Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Graduate programs in civil engineering are available to allow further specialization and more in-depth education to address ever more complex technical and management issues; graduate degrees offer additional employment opportunities.

(See Freshman Year)

For admission to the upper division, a grade of C or better in the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) courses (CHEM 107; ENGL 104; ENGR 111 and 112; MATH 151 and 152; and PHYS 208 and 218) and a GPR in these courses which meets departmental standards is required.

SOPHOMORE YEAR1

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
CVEN 207 Intro. to Civil Engineering Profession (1-0) 1   CVEN 302 Computer Applications (3-0) 3
ENGR 221 Statics and Particle Dynamics (2-1) 3   CVEN 305 Engineering Mech. of Materials (3-0) 3
MATH 251 Engineering Mathematics III (3-0) 3   ENGR 213 Prin. of Materials Engineering (2-2) 3
STAT 211 Principles of Statistics I (3-0) 3   MATH 308 Differential Equations (3-0) 3
University Core Curriculum elective 2   3   University Core Curriculum elective 2   3
Writing skills elective 4   3       15
    16        

JUNIOR YEAR5

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
CVEN 311 Fluid Dynamics (3-0) 3   ENGR 212 Conservation Prin. in Thermal Sci.
or
ENGR 215 Principles of Electrical Engr. 		(2-2) 3
CVEN 345 Theory of Structures (3-0) 3   Technical electives 3   11
CVEN 422 Civil Engineering Systems II (3-0) 3   University Core Curriculum elective 2   3
MEEN 363 Dynamics and Vibrations (2-2) 3       17
Mathematics/science elective 5   3        
    15        

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
Technical electives 3   12   ENGR 482 Ethics and Engineering (2-2) 3
University Core Curriculum elective 2   3   Technical electives 3   12
    15       15
NOTES:
  1. Civil engineering students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all basic science, mathematics and engineering courses taken to satisfy degree requirements.
  2. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum. Of the 18 hours shown as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from visual and performing arts, 3 from social and behavioral sciences, 6 from U.S. history, and 6 from POLS 206 and 207. The required 6 hours from international and cultural diversity may be met by courses satisfying the visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and the political science and history requirements if they are also on the approved list of international and cultural diversity courses (see University Core Curriculum, item 6).
  3. A total of 35 hours of technical electives is required. Technical electives are divided into two categories: (1) breadth courses and (2) focus courses. The choice of courses to be taken in each of the two categories depends on the specialty area chosen and must be made in consultation with the student's advisor and/or the Civil Engineering Student Services Office.
  4. ENGL 210 is the preferred course, but ENGL 301 may also be taken.
  5. Mathematics/science elective to be selected from approved list and with approval of advisor.

Civil engineering students should note that this curriculum specifies the minimum number of credits required for graduation. Additional courses may be taken.

The Systems Safety Engineering Specialty is available for students pursuing this degree.