The undergraduate civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD  21202-4012, Tel:  410-347-7700).

Areas of Study

Environmental: Environmental engineering is the application of engineering principles to the protection of human health and the environment. After graduation, environmental engineers work for consulting engineering firms, regulatory agencies, industry, federal, state, and local government and others. Tasks environmental engineers perform include design of environmental facilities, remediation of contaminated sites, review of permit applications, and development of environmental standards.

Geotechnical: Geotechnical engineers analyze the properties of soil and rock that support and affect the behavior of structures, pavements and underground facilities. They evaluate the potential settlement of buildings, the stability of slopes and fills, the seepage of ground-water and the effects of earthquakes. They take part in the design and construction of earth structures (dams, levees, etc.), foundations of buildings and such structures as offshore platforms, tunnels, and dams, and developing excavation techniques and construction methods for tunnels and other works.

Hydraulics and Water Resources: These civil engineers deal with all aspects of the physical control of water: hydraulics, waterways, irrigation, ports, coasts, and ocean. They analyze and predict water demand, supply and run-off. They work on the planning, design and operation of facilities such water supply and distribution networks, sewer systems, flood control (river-dam-reservoir systems), irrigation projects, hydroelectric power systems, canals, locks, port facilities and offshore structures. They work to protect beaches and to manage and direct rivers and on many other engineering projects where the environmental needs of the society necessitate judicious solutions to water related problems.

Structural: Structural engineers are planners and designers of structures of all types; buildings, bridges, dams, power plants; supports for equipment, offshore projects, transmission towers, and many other kinds of projects. Structural engineers analyze the forces that a structure must resist (its own weight, wind forces, temperature forces, earthquake forces, etc.), and develop the combination of appropriate materials (steel, concrete, plastic, timber, etc.). Structural Engineering involves analysis and design of steel, concrete and wood structures, with particular attention to design specifications and practical considerations. Structural engineers usually work within a team that includes architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, contractors, owners of the project, bankers, lawyers and officials of local government.

Surveying: Civil engineers are involved in the precise measurement of the earth's surface to obtain reliable information for locating and designing engineering projects. Current practice makes use of satellites, aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, and computer-processing of photographic imagery. Radio and TV signals from satellites, scans by laser and sonic beams are converted to maps that give highly accurate measurements for boring tunnels, building highways and dams, plotting flood control and irrigation projects, and for virtually all the other areas of civil engineering. This technical specialty has indeed embraced modern technology.

Transportation: Transportation engineers are involved with the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical and environmentally compatible movement of people and materials. Transportation infrastructure including airports, highways, ports, and railways are planned, designed and operated by transportation engineers.