Civil Engineering Undergraduate Program
Civil Engineering is the application of science and technology to the planning, design, analysis, construction, and management of the physical facilities, systems, and the environment to sustainably meet society’s needs for shelter, transportation, water, and a safe environment.
It is the broadest of all engineering professions, encompassing activities in space to below ground.
Our CURRICULUM offers a wide selection in civil engineering courses, including courses in structural engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, materials, construction engineering and management, and geotechnical engineering. In their third-years students select from one of four civil engineering tracks: infrastructure engineering, environmental and water resources engineering, construction engineering and management or structural engineering.
What do civil engineers do?
Civil Engineers are the fabricators of our modern society and the protectors of the quality of the environment.
They deal with people and their management, materials and their use, designs and their application, and the problems of beneficially interweaving these factors to sustainably serve society.
Civil engineering projects include environmental facilities, such as systems for water quality control, toxic and hazardous waste control, and storm water networks; structures, such as high-rise buildings, bridges, off-shore platforms, shuttle launch pads, and dams; and transportation facilities, such as airports, highways, and rail. Civil engineering has a long history and a bright future because it serves the basic needs of society. There is an extraordinary demand for civil engineers as we seek to upgrade our aging infrastructure to meet the challenges of the future.
B. S. degree holder options include employment with engineering and business consulting firms, local, state or federal government, contractors or construction firms, public utilities or industrial corporations. Given the breadth of the opportunities and challenges we have created a flexible undergraduate curriculum to all students to tailor their experience to meet their personal career objectives. Our students, if they so choose, are well positioned to continue their education after their undergraduate degrees with graduate and professional degrees, in areas such as engineering, planning and business.
Accreditation Information and Graduation Data
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree offered by the Civil Engineering Program is accredited by the Civil Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Graduation data for these degree programs is included on this page that provides such information for all SEAS undergraduate degrees.
Each degree program has defined Program Educational Objectives (PEOs), which are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve. In addition, each program has defined Student Outcomes (SOs), which are are narrower statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that students acquire in their matriculation through the program.
Program Educational Objectives for the BSCE
- To provide graduates with the technical competencies and insight necessary to practice civil engineering and have an impact on the profession and pursue professional licensure.
- To provide a solid foundation for successful study at leading graduate and professional institutions.
- To promote a breadth of abilities and knowledge, including quantitative and analytical skills, communication skills and social insight, to allow graduates to pursue careers in a diversity of fields including engineering, business and management.
- To prepare graduates for a lifetime of learning, for leadership, and for service to the profession and society.
Student Outcomes for the BSCE
The BS in Civil Engineering program at the University of Virginia enables students to achieve, 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 and inclusive 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.
“The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php.”