ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

Location: 2618B Cherry Building, Phone: (409) 880-8759

Chair: Dr. Liv Haselbach

Civil and environmental engineering is a people-serving profession and as such is vital to the world’s economic, political, and social well-being. The many areas to which civil engineers make substantial contributions include bridges, dams and levees, harbors, waterways and irrigation facilities, buildings, airports, highways, pipelines, railroads, power lines, water supply systems, and waste treatment facilities. Civil engineers engage in a wide range of activities such as research, design, development, management, and the control of engineering systems and their components. With today’s fast-paced technological changes, civil engineering provides unique and unlimited career opportunities that can only be met by professionally educated people.

The civil engineering program is designed with a broad base to prepare men and women for careers in various phases of civil engineering and to enable them to perform other managerial and technical functions that require scientific and engineering backgrounds. The curriculum embraces a sound core of humanities and social studies courses in addition to those in physics, chemistry and mathematics, which form the substructure of engineering sciences. Areas of study include geo-technical, structural, water resources, environmental, transportation, and construction engineering. Electives are available to fit the individual interest of the civil engineering student.

Because of the wide scope of activities in which the civil engineer is engaged, and the broad spectrum of student interest, civil engineering graduates may choose either to enter the profession immediately after receiving their bachelor’s degree or go directly to graduate school. No matter what the student chooses, the curriculum provides a firm foundation for today’s world.

The bachelor's program in civil engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET,

Mission

The mission of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is to provide students with high quality, accessible undergraduate and graduate civil engineering education; to engage and empower students with skills and knowledge to thrive in professional careers; and to serve society through economic and technological development of Southeast Texas and beyond.

Program Educational Objectives

Constituents: Current students, alumni, employers, and faculty

1. Advance professionally with increasing leadership and responsibility beyond entry level in an industry relevant to civil engineering.
2. Contribute to organizational objectives with significant societal benefits in an environmentally and ethically responsible manner.
3. Engage in life-long learning through professional activities and training, the pursuit of higher educational degrees, and individual professional development.

Student Outcomes

The student outcomes used by the civil engineering program are those published in the ABET “Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs” document.  Those outcomes are as follows:

a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
g) an ability to communicate effectively
h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
j) a knowledge of contemporary issues
k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Program Criteria

The Civil Engineering Program criterion as listed in the ABET "Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs" is as follows:

Curriculum:

The curriculum must prepare graduates to apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of basic science; apply probability and statistics to address uncertainty; analyze and solve problems in at least four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering; conduct experiments in at least two technical areas of civil engineering and analyze and interpret the resulting data; design a system, component, or process in at least two civil engineering contexts; include principles of sustainability in design; explain basic concepts in project management, business, public policy, and leadership; analyze issues in professional ethics; and explain the importance of professional licensure.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.)
Master of Engineering (M.E.)
Master of Engineering Science (M.E.S.)
Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Engineering
Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Studies
Doctor of Engineering (D.E.)