Civil Engineering Program
Civil Engineering includes the location, design, construction and the operation and maintenance of highways, airports, buildings, bridges, dams, water supply and distribution systems, waste water collection systems and treatment plants, irrigation and drainage systems, river and harbor improvements and many other infrastructure facilities essential in modern life. Civil Engineers are responsible for all aspects of the world’s infrastructure.
Degrees Offered
Students also will choose five technical elective courses from at least two of the technical areas to attain a depth of understanding in a specific discipline of civil engineering practice. Before taking these courses, students will take courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics and engineering mechanics.
All students are required to take a two-semester long capstone design course. The number of credits required for the B.S. in civil engineering degree is 130 credits.
The MSCE degree offers coursework, design and research activities within civil and environmental engineering that are related to structural, transportation, geotechnical, water resources, hydrology, hydraulics and environmental engineering, as well as engineering mechanics. Options for study include a research thesis, design paper or coursework only.
The program offers advanced study in the areas of environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic and water resources, structural and transportation engineering. The department’s graduate faculty members conduct research in the fields of bridge engineering, earthquake engineering, traffic operations and safety, transportation infrastructure, breaking waves and river hydraulics, fate and transport of contaminants, water/wastewater treatment processes and biological filtration and soil stability and deep foundations.
Educational Objectives
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s mission is to provide a highly respected, rigorous, practical education for our students, oriented toward problem solving through the integration of education, research and lifelong learning. In fulfillment of this mission the Department has established the following program educational objectives that describe the expected accomplishments of our graduates after graduation.
Undergraduate Objectives
The civil engineering program at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University is committed to preparing students to achieve the following educational objectives within five years beyond the baccalaureate degree.
- Graduates will have obtained professional licensure or specialized certification.
- Graduates will have engaged in professional development and life-long learning through earning advanced degrees, attending continuing education forums or active participation in professional organizations.
- Graduates will have become actively involved in their profession, communities and global society with a trajectory towards leadership positions.
Graduate Objectives
The civil engineering program at SDSU prepares students to achieve the following educational objectives within the first five years of their career:
- Completion of professional licensure or specialized certification.
- Be life-long learners by earning an advanced degree and/or through professional development such as active participation in professional organizations and attendance of conferences and seminars.
- Active involvement in their profession, communities and global society with a trajectory that leads to leadership positions within organizations.
Student Learning Outcomes
B.S. Program Student Learning Outcomes
The program's mission and educational objectives are accomplished by providing undergraduate students with an educational program that will result in the following outcomes by the time of 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 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.
Additionally, the program strives to assist students in developing a commitment to high standards of professional conduct by maintaining a strong, active American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter Program; encouraging seniors to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination; and promoting summer and cooperative employment experiences in civil engineering.
M.S. Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Apply principles of engineering analysis and design to solve problems in civil engineering.
- Design and evaluate civil engineering systems to meet desired needs within realistic constraints.
- Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Assess and reflect personal values in relation to ethical dilemmas within the civil engineering profession.
- One of the following
- Carry out an engineering research project and provide written documentation in the form of a thesis (Option A).
- Develop an engineering design and provide written documentation in the form of a design paper (Option B).
- Provide written documentation in the form of a leaning portfolio detailing how you have met 1, 2 and 3 (Option C).
Ph.D. Program Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Apply knowledge and skills to develop new ideas, knowledge, applications and developments in civil and environmental engineering.
- Formulate and bring to meaningful completion a research project in a relevant field of interest.
- Communicate effectively to one's peers, students and public at large by written, oral and visual means.
- Evaluate literature and engineering knowledge relevant to their field.
- Exhibit ethical and scientific conduct of research.
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is housed in Crothers Engineering Hal and maintains over 18,000 square feet of classroom and laboratory space dedicated to undergraduate instruction and research experience, as well as testing laboratories for research and sponsored projects. This includes the Lohr Structures Lab, Fluid Mechanics Lab, HDR Environmental Lab, Geotechnical Lab, Concrete Lab, Structural Materials Lab, Bituminous Lab, Design Studio Laboratories and Student Computer Lab.
Additionally, the program strives to assist students in developing a commitment to high standards of professional conduct by maintaining a strong, active American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter Program, promoting summer, cooperative education and internship employment experiences in civil engineering.
