Civil Engineering

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The mission of the civil engineering program at the University of North Dakota is to provide students with a well-rounded civil engineering education. Graduates of the program will be prepared to function effectively in a wide range of professional settings such as engineering consulting firms, industries and governmental agencies. The civil engineering program emphasizes the areas of environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and water resources engineering. The required curriculum includes the fundamentals for each of these areas and provides an opportunity for additional learning experiences with technical electives and a major design experience.

Teamwork, problem solving, and design exercises are interwoven throughout the curriculum; culminating in a two-semester, capstone design project during the senior year. Several courses include laboratories which develop experimental, teamwork, and communication skills. Technical reports and/or presentations required in several courses develop knowledge of contemporary issues and life-long learning skills, as well as communication skills. Relevant computer software is used throughout the curriculum. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for a professional license by taking the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation. Students who excel academically are also well qualified to pursue graduate work in civil engineering or a related field. 

To encourage undergraduate engineering students to extend their studies to include a graduate degree, the School of Engineering and Mines has combined programs which permit students to earn both Bachelor of Science/Master of Engineering or Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degrees in an engineering discipline.  These programs allow students to designate two three-credit hour courses to count for both B.S. and master's degrees.  The selected courses must have graduate course standing and must be designated when a student requests admission to the program.

See Combined Degree Program under the School of Engineering and Mines section for additional details.

The following are the educational objectives (EO) of the B.S. in Civil Engineering program:

EO 1: Graduates practice civil engineering, using knowledge and skills for problem analysis and solving, in a wide range of professional settings including consulting firms, government agencies and industries.

EO 2: Graduates work mainly in the areas of engineering design, project management, construction, contract administration, technical support, and research.

EO 3: Most graduates continue learning by participating in job-related training activities, pursuing a professional engineering license, and/or attending graduate school.

EO 4: Most graduates contribute to the economic development of North Dakota and the surrounding region.

The civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).

In addition to the normal transfer credit stipulations, Distance Engineering Degree Program (DEDP) and transfer students in Civil Engineering must complete a minimum of 22 credit hours of CE 300-level or higher engineering coursework, including the CE 482 and 483 Civil Engineering Design course sequence.