Civil Engineering Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Civil Engineering major designs roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and other infrastructure. Civil engineering majors study structures, geotechnics, transportation, water resources and construction.

A Civil Engineering major includes coursework in statics and mechanics of materials, structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources and more. You build skills such as structural design, engineering software, project planning, and codes and standards. Typical degrees: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

Typical courses include statics and mechanics of materials, structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, water resources, and surveying and construction. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Civil Engineering is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. In the latest federal data, 26 colleges reported certificate awards, 15 colleges reported associate awards, 295 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 198 colleges reported master’s awards, and 128 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to civil engineering include civil engineer, civil engineering technician, construction manager, construction and building inspector, surveyor, cost estimator, and urban planner. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include civil engineer (typical training: 4 years + PE path), civil engineering technician (typical training: 2 years), construction manager (typical training: 4 years plus field experience), construction and building inspector (typical training: Several years of trade experience + certification), surveyor (typical training: 4 years + experience), and cost estimator (typical training: Moderate on-the-job training).

Civil Engineering majors build skills such as structural design, engineering software, project planning, codes and standards, and field inspection.

Good pairings include Construction Management (connects design with how projects get built), Environmental Studies (fits water, stormwater and environmental projects), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (adds mapping and spatial analysis used in infrastructure planning).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as civil engineer, civil engineering technician, and construction manager, and enjoy subjects like statics and mechanics of materials and structural analysis. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes statics and mechanics of materials, structural analysis, and geotechnical engineering; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

313 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Texas (27), California (25), Pennsylvania (21), New York (16), and Florida (13), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

288 of the colleges that offer civil engineering also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Civil Engineering designs roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and other infrastructure. Mechanical Engineering designs machines, engines, tools and mechanical systems. Civil Engineering leads to careers such as civil engineer and civil engineering technician, while Mechanical Engineering leads to careers such as mechanical engineer and mechanical engineering technician.

Civil Engineering designs roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and other infrastructure. Electrical Engineering designs electrical systems, electronics, power and communications equipment. Civil Engineering leads to careers such as civil engineer and civil engineering technician, while Electrical Engineering leads to careers such as electrical engineer and electronics engineer.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to civil engineering, such as Civil Engineer Training.