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Civil Engineering

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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, http://www.abet.org.

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 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 150Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1

Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr.2

Complete 12 cr. with 6 cr. at 200-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 167General Chemistry for Engineering Students4
or CHEM 177
CHEM 178
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGR 101Engineering OrientationR
C E 160Engineering Problems with Computational Laboratory 33
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 165Calculus I4
MATH 166Calculus II4
PHYS 231Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 231LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Math and Physical Science: 18 cr.

CHEM 167LLaboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering1
or CHEM 177L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
CHEM 178
178L
General Chemistry II
and Laboratory in College Chemistry II 4
4-5
or PHYS 232
232L
Introduction to Classical Physics II
and Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory
GEOL 201Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists3
MATH 265Calculus III4
MATH 266Elementary 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).

C E 274Engineering Statics3
E M 324Mechanics of Materials3
M E 345Engineering Dynamics3
C E 206Engineering Economic Analysis and Professional Issues in Civil Engineering3
C E 326Principles of Environmental Engineering3
A B E 378Mechanics of Fluids3
C E 332Structural Analysis I3
C E 355Principles of Transportation Engineering3
C E 360Geotechnical Engineering4
C E 372Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics3
Total Credits31

Other Remaining Courses: 44 cr.

C E 120Civil Engineering Learning Community1
C E 111Geomatics3
C E 170Graphics for Civil Engineering2
C E 306Project Management for Civil Engineers3
Any two of the following three courses:6
Structural Steel Design I
Reinforced Concrete Design I
Foundation Engineering
C E 382Design of Concretes3
C E 485Civil Engineering Design3
E M 327Mechanics of Materials Laboratory1
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
SP CM 212Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Civil Engineering Design Elective 23
Technical Communication Elective 23
Engineering Topics Electives 210
Total Credits44

Seminar/Co-op/Internships: R cr.

C E 403Program and Outcome AssessmentR
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 C E or Con E 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 167/CHEM 167L will be able to take CHEM 178/CHEM 178L 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 150Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1

Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr.2

Complete 12 cr. with 6 cr. at 200-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 177General Chemistry I4
ENGL 150Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course)3
ENGR 101Engineering OrientationR
C E 160Engineering Problems with Computational Laboratory 33
LIB 160Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 165Calculus I4
MATH 166Calculus II4
PHYS 231Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 231LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Math and Physical Science: 27 cr.

CHEM 177LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 178General Chemistry II 43
CHEM 178LLaboratory in College Chemistry II 41
CHEM 231Elementary Organic Chemistry3
BIOL 251Biological Processes in the Environment3
CHEM 231LLaboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry1
GEOL 201Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists3
MATH 265Calculus III4
MATH 266Elementary Differential Equations3
MICRO 201Introduction 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).

C E 274Engineering Statics3
E M 324Mechanics of Materials3
C E 206Engineering Economic Analysis and Professional Issues in Civil Engineering3
C E 326Principles of Environmental Engineering3
C E 332Structural Analysis I3
A B E 378Mechanics of Fluids3
C E 355Principles of Transportation Engineering3
C E 360Geotechnical Engineering4
C E 372Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics3
Total Credits28

Other Remaining Courses: 41 cr.

C E 120Civil Engineering Learning Community1
C E 111Geomatics3
C E 170Graphics for Civil Engineering2
C E 306Project Management for Civil Engineers3
C E 334Reinforced Concrete Design I3
C E 382Design of Concretes3
C E 428Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design3
Any two of the following four courses6
Environmental Engineering Science
Environmental Engineering Systems
Air Pollution and Control
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
C E 485Civil Engineering Design3
E M 327Mechanics of Materials Laboratory1
A B E 378LMechanics of Fluids Laboratory1
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course)3
SP CM 212Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Civil Engineering Design Elective 23
Technical Communication Elective 23
Total Credits41

Seminar/Co-op/Internships: R cr.

C E 403Program and Outcome AssessmentR
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 C E or Con E 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 167 General Chemistry for Engineering Students/CHEM 167L Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering will be able to take CHEM 178 General Chemistry II/CHEM 178L 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
C E 1603C E 1702
CHEM 1774MATH 1664
CHEM 177L1PHYS 2314
ENGL 1503PHYS 231L1
MATH 1654SSH Elective3
ENGR 101RBIOL 251 (Spring only)3
C E 1201 
 16 17
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 2503C E 1113
C E 2743C E 2063
CHEM 1783C E 3063
CHEM 178L1E M 3243
MATH 2654MATH 2663
GEOL 2013Statistics Elective3
LIB 1601 
 18 18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
C E 3323C E 3263
C E 3553C E 3343
C E 3823SP CM 2123
A B E 3783C E 3723
A B E 378L1Technical Communication Elective3
E M 3271MICRO 2012
CHEM 2313 
CHEM 231L1 
 18 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
C E 3604C E 403R
SSH Elective6Take two of four: ENV E 426, 427, 429 or 4303
C E Design Elective3
ENV E 427 (Spring only)
 
Take two of four: ENV E 426, 427, 429 or 4303
ENV E 429 (Spring only)
 
ENV E 426 (Fall only)
 C E 4283
ENV E 430 (Fall only)
 C E 4853
 SSH Electives3
 16 12

Civil Engineering, B.S. - GENERAL Program

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
C E 1603C E 1702
CHEM 1774MATH 1664
CHEM 177L1SP CM 2123
ENGL 1503PHYS 2314
MATH 1654PHYS 231L1
ENGR 101R 
C E 1201 
 16 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 2503E M 3243
CHEM 1783MATH 2663
CHEM 178L1C E 3063
C E 2743Statistics Elective3
MATH 2654A B E 3783
GEOL 2013C E 1113
LIB 1601 
 18 18
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
C E 3323C E 334 (CE 460 may be substituted for CE 333 or CE 334)3
M E 3453C E 3723
C E 3604C E 3823
E M 3271Engr Topic Elective2
Technical Communication3SSH Elective3
C E 2063C E 3553
 17 17
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
C E 333 (CE 460 may be substituted for CE 333 or CE 334)3C E 403R
Engr Topic Elective5C E 4853
SSH Elective6CE Design Elective3
C E 3263Engr 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 are 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/.