The civil engineering major requires a minimum of 128 credit hours to graduate. A minor in civil engineering can be declared and requires the completion of 15 credit hours of Civil Engineering courses, with no more than 6 credit hours at the 2000 course level.
Students completing the civil engineering undergraduate degree share common degree requirements for the first two years or four semesters before selecting one of four tracks: Infrastructure Systems (IS), Environmental & Water Resources (EWR), Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) or Structural Engineering (SE). Regardless of the selected track, during the last two years, all civil engineering undergraduate students have 20 credit hours of the same required courses, plus 18 credit hours of electives in common. Thus, there is effectively a set of 25 remaining credit hours that may differ between these tracks.
Current UVA undergraduate students can apply to a Master of Engineering (M.E.) degree program in the third year of their undergraduate studies through the UVAccelerate program. The M.E. program is 30 credits of course work as part of an approved plan of study, and with the right planning, a current UVA undergradatue may be able to get a head start on taking graduate-level courses while finishing their bachelor’s degree.
The Infrastructure Systems (IS) track provides a broad civil engineering education to prepare students to become practicing, licensed civil engineers, while still providing great career flexibility. This track includes training in structural design and materials, transportation, water resources, and geotechnical infrastructure design and planning. This track emphasizes hands-on laboratories and computer modeling and simulation workshops.
The Environmental & Water Resources (EWR) track focuses on courses designed to provide a foundation for students interested in pursuing a career in environmental and water resources. The motivation for this track is the ever-increasing professional and societal emphasis on environmental quality and sustainability.
The Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) track prepares students to transform engineering designs into infrastructure. The construction of civil engineering infrastructure typically requires the orchestration of a complex team of contractors, regulatory and safety constraints, and substantial investment. The CEM track combines civil engineering skills with the business and management skills required to create infrastructure.
The Structural Engineering (SE) track allows students to focus on developing skills to design and construct large structures, such as bridges, stadiums, and high-rises. All students in this track learn the basics of CEM and complete additional courses emphasizes design using various building materials. Students in this track are well-prepared for practice or advanced studies in structural engineering.
Licensure Disclosure
As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).
Upon completion of an engineering degree program which prepares graduates for licensure or certification, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state. Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))
Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).