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Civil Engineering

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http://www.ccee.iastate.edu/

Administered by the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

For undergraduate curriculum in Civil Engineering leading to the degree Bachelor of Science. The Civil Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Civil engineers apply principles of motion and materials to plan, design, construct, maintain, and operate public and private facilities, while working under economic, social, and environmental constraints. Commonly included are transportation systems; bridges and buildings; water supply, pollution control, waste management, irrigation, and drainage systems; river and harbor improvements; dams and reservoirs. Civil engineering also includes planning, designing, and executing surveying operations and locating, delimiting, and delineating physical and cultural features on the earth's surface. Research, testing, sales, management, and related functions are also a part of civil engineering. Work on campus is supplemented by inspection trips, which furnish an opportunity for firsthand study of engineering systems in operation, as well as projects under construction.

Environmental engineering, as an emphasis in civil engineering, is concerned with protecting the public and natural health; providing an ample safe water supply; managing solid and hazardous waste; treating and disposing of domestic and industrial wastewaters and waste; resource recovery; providing adequate drainage of urban and rural areas for sanitation; and controlling water quality, soil contamination, and air pollution. The environmental emphasis for the civil engineering degree replaces some of the courses and electives in the general curriculum with further courses in chemistry, biology, and microbiology as well as specific topics in environmental engineering and design.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Civil Engineering curriculum should have at the time of graduation:

  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.

Program Educational Objectives 

By three to five years after graduation, graduates of the civil engineering program will have:

  1. Pursued successful careers and expertise in civil engineering or a related profession. 
  2. Collaborated effectively on multi-disciplinary teams to address the needs of society and the environment. 
  3. Pursued lifelong learning, professional development, and licensure as appropriate for their career goals. 

The civil engineering curriculum equips students with a broad education that includes technical skills in analysis and design and professional practices such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and ethics.

The faculty encourages the students to develop their professional skills by participating in cooperative education, internships, or progressive summer engineering employment and study abroad programs. Qualified juniors and seniors interested in graduate studies may apply to the Graduate College to concurrently pursue the bachelor's degree and either a Master of Science in Civil Engineering or a Master of Business Administration in the College of Business Administration. These students would have the opportunity to graduate in five years with both degrees.

Curriculum in Civil Engineering (General)

Administered by the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.

Leading to the degree bachelor of science.

Total credits required: 129. 

Any transfer credit courses applied to the degree program require a grade of C or better (but will not be calculated into the ISU cumulative GPA, Basic Program GPA or Core GPA). See also Basic Program and Special Programs. Note: Department does not allow Pass/Not Pass credits to be used to meet graduation requirements.

International Perspectives: 3 cr.1

U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.1

Communication Proficiency/Library requirement

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1

Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr.2

Complete 12 cr. with 6 cr. at 2000-level or above.

Basic Program: 24 cr.3

A minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Basic Program GPA). See Requirement for Entry into Professional Program in College of Engineering Overview section.

CHEM 1670General Chemistry for Engineering Students4
or CHEM 1770
CHEM 1780
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
Engineering Orientation
CE 1600Engineering Problems with Computational Laboratory 33
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 1650Calculus I4
MATH 1660Calculus II4
PHYS 2310Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 2310LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Math and Physical Science: 18 cr.

CHEM 1670LLaboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering1
or CHEM 1770L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
CHEM 1780
1780L
General Chemistry II
and Laboratory in College Chemistry II 4
4-5
or PHYS 2320
2320L
Introduction to Classical Physics II
and Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory
GEOL 2010Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists3
MATH 2650Calculus III4
MATH 2660Elementary Differential Equations3
Statistics Elective 23
Total Credits18-19

Civil Engineering Core: 31 cr. Minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses to graduate (including transfer courses; please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Core GPA).

CE 2740Engineering Statics3
EM 3240Mechanics of Materials3
ME 3450Engineering Dynamics3
CE 2060Engineering Economic Analysis and Professional Issues in Civil Engineering3
CE 3260Principles of Environmental Engineering3
ABE 3780Mechanics of Fluids3
CE 3320Structural Analysis I3
CE 3550Principles of Transportation Engineering3
CE 3600Geotechnical Engineering4
CE 3720Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics3
Total Credits31

Other Remaining Courses: 44 cr.

CE 1200Civil Engineering Learning Community1
CE 1110Geomatics3
CE 1700Graphics for Civil Engineering2
CE 3060Project Management for Civil Engineers3
Any two of the following three courses:6
Structural Steel Design I
Reinforced Concrete Design I
Foundation Engineering
CE 3820Design of Concretes3
CE 4850Civil Engineering Design3
EM 3270Mechanics of Materials Laboratory1
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
SPCM 2120Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Civil Engineering Design Elective 23
Technical Communication Elective 23
Engineering Topics Electives 210
Total Credits44

Seminar/Co-op/Internships: R cr.

Program and Outcome Assessment
Notes.
  1. These university requirements will add to the minimum credits of the program unless the university-approved courses are also approved by the department to meet other course requirements within the degree program. U.S. diversity and international perspectives courses may not be taken Pass/Not Pass.
  2. Choose from department approved list. At least six of eleven credits must be CE or CONE courses for the Engineering Topics Electives.
  3. See Basic Program for Professional Engineering Curricula for accepted substitutions for curriculum designated courses in the Basic Program.
  4.  Students who transfer in with CHEM 1670/CHEM 1670L will be able to take CHEM 1780/CHEM 1780L to complete the program's Chemistry requirement.  

See also: A 4-year plan of study grid showing course template by semester for Civil Engineering

Curriculum in Civil Engineering with Environmental Option

Administered by the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.

Leading to the degree Bachelor of Science.

Total credits required: 132.

Any transfer credit courses applied to the degree program require a grade of C or better (but will not be calculated into the ISU cumulative GPA, Basic Program GPA or Core GPA). See also Basic Program and Special Programs.

International Perspectives: 3 cr.1

U.S. Diversity: 3 cr.1

Communication Proficiency/Library requirement:

ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1

Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr.2

Complete 12 cr. with 6 cr. at 2000-level or above.

Basic Program: 24 cr3. Minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses to graduate, including any transfer courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Basic Program GPA).

CHEM 1770General Chemistry I4
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
Engineering Orientation
CE 1600Engineering Problems with Computational Laboratory 33
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 1650Calculus I4
MATH 1660Calculus II4
PHYS 2310Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 2310LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Math and Physical Science: 27 cr.

CHEM 1770LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 1780General Chemistry II 43
CHEM 1780LLaboratory in College Chemistry II 41
CHEM 2310Elementary Organic Chemistry3
BIOL 2510Biological Processes in the Environment3
CHEM 2310LLaboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry1
GEOL 2010Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists3
MATH 2650Calculus III4
MATH 2660Elementary Differential Equations3
MICRO 2010Introduction to Microbiology2
Statistics Elective 23
Total Credits27

Civil/Env Engineering Core: 28 cr. Minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses to graduate (including transfer courses; please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Core GPA).

CE 2740Engineering Statics3
EM 3240Mechanics of Materials3
CE 2060Engineering Economic Analysis and Professional Issues in Civil Engineering3
CE 3260Principles of Environmental Engineering3
CE 3320Structural Analysis I3
ABE 3780Mechanics of Fluids3
CE 3550Principles of Transportation Engineering3
CE 3600Geotechnical Engineering4
CE 3720Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics3
Total Credits28

Other Remaining Courses: 41 cr.

CE 1200Civil Engineering Learning Community1
CE 1110Geomatics3
CE 1700Graphics for Civil Engineering2
CE 3060Project Management for Civil Engineers3
CE 3340Reinforced Concrete Design I3
CE 3820Design of Concretes3
ME 4020Field Engineering: Human Centered Design Concepts.3
Any two of the following four courses6
Environmental Engineering Science
Environmental Engineering Systems
Air Pollution and Control
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
CE 4850Civil Engineering Design3
EM 3270Mechanics of Materials Laboratory1
ABE 3780LMechanics of Fluids Laboratory1
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
SPCM 2120Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Civil Engineering Design Elective 23
Technical Communication Elective 23
Total Credits41

Seminar/Co-op/Internships: R cr.

Program and Outcome Assessment
Co-op/Internship optional.
Notes.
  1. These university requirements will add to the minimum credits of the program unless the university-approved courses are also approved by the department to meet other course requirements within the degree program. U.S. diversity and international perspectives courses may not be taken Pass/Not Pass.
  2. Choose from department approved list. At least six of eleven credits must be CE or CONE courses for the Engineering Topics Electives.
  3. See Basic Program for Professional Engineering Curricula for accepted substitutions for curriculum designated courses in the Basic Program.
  4. Students who transfer in with CHEM 1670 General Chemistry for Engineering Students/CHEM 1670L Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering will be able to take CHEM 1780 General Chemistry II/CHEM 1780L Laboratory in College Chemistry II to complete the program's Chemistry requirement.

See also: A 4-year plan of study grid showing course template by semester for Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering, B.S. - environmental OPTION

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 16003CE 17002
CHEM 17704MATH 16604
CHEM 1770L1PHYS 23104
ENGL 15003PHYS 2310L1
MATH 16504SSH Elective3
ENGR 1010RBIOL 2510 (Spring only)3
CE 1200Required 
 15 17
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003CE 11103
CE 27403CE 20603
CHEM 17803CE 30603
CHEM 1780L1EM 32403
MATH 26504MATH 26603
GEOL 20103Statistics Elective3
LIB 16001 
 18 18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 33203CE 32603
CE 35503CE 33403
CE 38203SPCM 21203
ABE 37803CE 37203
ABE 3780L1Technical Communication Elective3
EM 32701MICRO 20102
CHEM 23103 
CHEM 2310L1 
 18 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 36004CE 4030R
SSH Elective6Take two of four: ENVE 4260, 4270, 4290 or 43003
C E Design Elective3
ENVE 4270 (Spring only)
 
Take two of four: ENVE 4260, 4270, 4290 or 43003
ENVE 4290 (Spring only)
 
ENVE 4260 (Fall only)
 CE 42803
ENVE 4300 (Fall only)
 CE 48503
 SSH Electives3
 16 12

Civil Engineering, B.S. - GENERAL Program

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 16003CE 17002
CHEM 17704MATH 16604
CHEM 1770L1SPCM 21203
ENGL 15003PHYS 23104
MATH 16504PHYS 2310L1
ENGR 1010R 
CE 1200Required 
 15 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003EM 32403
CHEM 17803MATH 26603
CHEM 1780L1CE 30603
CE 27403Statistics Elective3
MATH 26504ABE 37803
GEOL 20103CE 11103
LIB 16001 
 18 18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 33203CE 3340 (CE 4600 may be substituted for CE 3330 or CE 3340)3
ME 34503CE 37203
CE 36004CE 38203
EM 32701Engr Topic Elective2
Technical Communication3SSH Elective3
CE 20603CE 35503
 17 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CE 3330 (CE 4600 may be substituted for CE 3330 or CE 3340)3CE 4030R
Engr Topic Elective5CE 48503
SSH Elective6CE Design Elective3
CE 32603Engr Topic Elective3
 SSH Elective3
 17 12

A concurrent bachelor of science/master of science (B.S./M.S.) degree program is available to qualified seniors at Iowa State University.

Go to:  https://www.ccee.iastate.edu/prospective-graduate-students/concurrent-programs/ for more information.

Graduate Study

The Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering offers graduate programs for the degrees of Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy with a major in civil engineering with areas of specialization in structural engineering, environmental engineering, construction engineering and management, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering materials, transportation engineering, and intelligent infrastructure engineering. The department also offers graduate minors of 9 to 15 credits of coursework to students from other engineering departments.

Candidates for the degrees of Master of Engineering and Master of Science are required to complete a total of 30 acceptable graduate credits. The Master of Engineering degree involves all course work. The Master of Science degree requires the preparation of a thesis or creative component.

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree is required to complete a minimum of 72 acceptable graduate credits. Normal prerequisite for major graduate work in civil engineering is the completion of an undergraduate curriculum substantially equivalent to that required of engineering students at this university. Due to the diversity of interests within the graduate programs in civil engineering, a student may qualify for graduate study even though undergraduate or prior graduate training has been in a discipline other than engineering. Supporting work will be required depending upon the student’s background and area of interest. The department participates in the interdepartmental graduate programs in transportation, environmental science, and wind energy science, engineering and policy.

The department also offers graduate certificates in construction management, environmental engineering, and environmental systems. The construction management certificate requires 12 graduate credits (nine credits of “core courses” and three credits of approved “elective courses”).

The environmental engineering or environmental systems certificate requires 12 graduate credits (six credits of "core courses", six credits of approved "elective courses") and a seminar course or an approved equivalent.

Additional information about graduate programs, research and admission criteria are available on the department's website http://www.ccee.iastate.edu/academics/graduate/.