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Civil Engineering

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

FACULTYEmeritus Professors Dini, Muvdi, Guest, Rebholz; Professors Adrian, Al-Khafaji (chair), Fuessle; Associate Professors Elhouar, Hindi, Maillacheruvu, Seckler; Assistant Professors El-Chabib, Khodair, Schattler; Temporary Assistant Professors George, Wolfe.

The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction offers undergraduate programs in both civil engineering (B.S.C.E.) and construction (B.S.C.).

Mission

Produce graduates who possess a keen awareness of the global dimensions of our profession, leadership skills required to serve our society, and the technical knowledge to pursue multiple career paths, including advanced degrees. To achieve our mission, our department will strive to achieve the following civil engineering program objectives:

  1. Leadership. Graduates understand the need for teamwork, communication skills, ethics, good citizenship, and service. They have the needed knowledge and professionalism to become leaders in their chosen profession.
  2. Internationalization. Offer international programs to ensure that graduates have the needed awareness of relevant global issues and cultures to help them thrive in a complex and multicultural world.
  3. Career Advancement. Graduates have the needed understanding of ethical responsibilities, licensure, the necessity for life-long learning, and contemporary issues required for placement and career advancement.
  4. Program Relevancy. Partner with the Civil Engineering profession to offer an innovative program that promotes cultural diversity and responds to the needs of the profession and society in the areas of sustainability, infrastructure, and emerging technology.

The Department

Facilities

The curriculum is supported by 14 cutting-edge laboratory and computer facilities equipped with modern hardware and software. Laboratories include multimedia, emerging technologies, fluid mechanics/hydraulics, surveying, concrete design, asphalt pavement design, construction, structural, geotechnical, estimating, design projects, machine shop, and a research laboratory. The department has four computer laboratories, completely networked with printers, plotters, and scanners. Two of the computer laboratories are project laboratories used for senior capstone courses. Laptops are also available to students for senior project courses. The computers have a wide range of software, including multimedia software such as Authorware and Toolbook, Autocad 2000, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, SAP 2000, Working Model (a simulation program), word processing, spreadsheets, Powerpoint, database management programs, etc. The computer facilities are available to CEC students on a 24-hour basis.

Internationalization

The Global Explorer Program is designed to expand the professional capabilities, stimulate intellectual growth, and broaden the personal perspective of all participants. Arrangements have been made with universities around the world to send our students overseas either for short courses, a semester, or an entire year. The department is committed to giving all of our students the opportunity to study overseas. Students with financial need have received financial support that enables them to study abroad for equal to or less than what it would cost to study on campus. Financial aid is available to students choosing to study for a semester or a year overseas at another institution. Since 1995, close to 250 students have studied overseas. Each year, more than 30 students go to England, Denmark, and Egypt to study under the guidance of CEC faculty.

Scholarships

Currently more than 40 annual and endowed scholarships are available to students through the department.

Placement

For 11 years, until 2009, CEC graduates have had a 100% placement, with starting salaries that are very competitive nationwide. Employers perceive our students as having the knowledge, experience, and intellectual curiosity to succeed in their profession.

Leadership

A focus of the department is the development of leadership skills in our students. Students are encouraged to participate in student professional organizations and academic honorary organizations by being officers or committee chairs. Leadership skills are also developed through service and outreach programs that teach good citizenship. Our students have designed and built playgrounds and running tracks and have done work for Women’s Strength, and the South Side Mission. Many of our students, both in civil engineering and construction, participate in the outstanding “Bridge Pal” program designed to foster an interest in engineering by high school and grade school students.

Faculty Qualifications

The faculty have published more textbooks than any other civil engineering or construction department of a similar size in the United States. These textbooks are used at a large number of highly regarded institutions. CEC faculty have received numerous awards for teaching excellence and scholarship, as well as for their professional contributions. They have conducted research for national, state, and local sponsors, benefitting society and our students.

Graduation

To graduate, students must meet all university and college graduation requirements. Additionally, CE students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.25 in civil engineering courses to graduate.

Graduate Program

In addition to the undergraduate program described above, the Department offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree. Details of this program may be found in the Graduate Catalog. The graduate program allows talented undergraduate students to engage in scholarly research activities and to enroll in advanced courses to meet their special interests and needs.

Civil Engineering

The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction offers an ABET-accredited BSCE program that provides students the necessary background for continued professional growth and prepares them for engineering careers. The program offers a broad spectrum of specialties including structures, water resources, environmental engineering, transportation, highway and pavement design, geotechnical engineering, and construction management. The curriculum is designed to give students the broad technical background required for modern civil engineering practice and/or to pursue higher education. Students are trained to be leaders who understand their critical roles in the development of sustainability and maintenance of society’s infrastructure.

The program is founded on a strong core in mathematics as well as natural and engineering sciences. Design practices in civil engineering are integrated throughout the curriculum, culminating in a two-semester capstone design course sequence under the supervision of well-qualified faculty and industrial partners. A sequence of courses in the humanities and social sciences helps students understand the impact of engineering solutions on society. The courses selected in the humanities and social sciences are chosen to provide breadth and meet university general education requirements. An approved list of courses that satisfy these requirements may be obtained from the student’s academic advisor. The curriculum gives students as much flexibility in technical electives as possible while meeting all accreditation requirements.

  1. General education courses may be selected from an approved list for each category. They may be taken in any sequence, not necessarily in the semester indicated. Other University general education requirements are satisfied by specific courses required above.
  2. Technical electives must be chosen from an approved list. See “Technical Electives.”

  • Freshman Year

    • First Semester
      • CE 100 Intro. to Civil Engineering 1
      • ENG 101 English Composition 3
      • MTH 121 Calculus I 4
      • COM 103 Oral Communication Process 3
      • 1General Education—Western Civilization 3
      • 1General Education—Non-Western Civilization 3
    • Total 17 hours
    • Second Semester
      • CE 150 Mechanics I 3
      • MTH 122 Calculus II 4
      • PHY 110 University Physics I 4
      • CON 132 Construction Graphics 2
      • CE 124 Emerging Technologies in CEC 2
      • Basic Science—Biology/Geology 3
    • Total 18 hours

  • Sophomore Year

    • First Semester
      • CE 206 Surveying 2
      • CE 250 Mechanics II 3
      • CHM 110 General Chemistry I 3
      • CHM 111 General Chemistry I Lab 1
      • MTH 223 Calculus III 4
      • CE 224 AutoCADD 3
    • 16 hours
    • Second Semester
      • CE 210 Numerical Methods in CE 3
      • CE 270 Mechanics of Materials 3
      • CE 280 Structural Materials Lab 3
      • 1 General Education—Fine Arts 3
      • MTH 224 Differential Equations 3
    • 15 hours

  • Junior Year

    • First Semester
      • CE 304 Fluid Mechanics 4
      • CE 359 Structural Analysis 4
      • 2Engineering Science Elective 3
      • ENG 305 Technical Writing 3
      • CE 380 Geotechnical Engineering 3
    • 17 hours
    • Second Semester
      • IME 311 Engineering Statistics I 3
      • CE 360 Intro. to Environmental Engineering 4
      • CON 396 Construction Estimating 3
      • CE 356 Pavement Design 3
      • CE 480 Transportation Engineering 3
    • 16 hours

  • Senior Year

    • First Semester
      • CE 403 Reinforced Concrete 3
      • CE 442 Design of Steel Structures 3
      • 1General Education—Social Forces 3
      • 2Electives 6
      • CE 493 Senior Design Project I 1
    • 16 hours
    • Second Semester
      • CE 498 CE Design Project II 3
      • 2Electives 6
      • 1General Education—Human Values 3
      • 1General Education—Social Forces 3
    • 15 hours

    Total Hours 130

Areas of Emphasis

Students may choose to take their electives in one of the following areas of emphasis. Students also have the flexibility of taking courses from each emphasis plus other courses approved as technical electives for a combined total of 12 semester hours.

Internationalization

Students take two courses through the CEC Department Global Explorer Program and/or Bradley's Study Abroad program and take an approved semester abroad.

Sustainability

Students take four courses, chosen from:

  • CE 541 Pollution Modeling
  • CE 542 Advanced Water Treatment
  • CE 543 Advanced Waste Water Treatment
  • CE 546 Groundwater Hydrology
  • CE 555 Sustainability and Environmental Regulations
  • CE 558 Solid Waste Management
  • ME 537 Building Engineering Management

Infrastructure

Students take four courses, chosen from:

  • BMA 395 Real Estate Principles
  • ECO 325 Urban Economics
  • CE 422 Foundation Analysis and Design
  • CE 430 Water Supply and Hydraulic Engineering
  • CE 465 Surface Water Hydrology
  • CE 508 Advanced Soil Mechanics
  • CE 515 Advanced Foundation Engineering
  • CE 560 Advanced Structural Analysis
  • CE 562 Advanced Steel Design
  • CE 565 Advanced Concrete Design
  • CE 567 Prestressed Concrete Design
  • CE 577 Seismic Design
  • CE 580 Highway Safety
  • CE 583 Geometric Highway Design
  • CE 585 Advanced Pavement Design
  • CE 586 Pavement Management Systems
  • CON 526 Advanced Cost Estimating for Construction Projects

Note: students not selecting any of the above emphases must still meet ABET requirements by taking 12 semester hours of technical electives with a minimum of one civil engineering design course. The other three courses may then be engineering science.

Civil Engineering Technical Electives —18 credit hours

All electives selected by the student should be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student should select technical electives that reflect career objectives. Students wishing to enroll in a CE graduate-level course must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in CE courses.

Basic Science

  • Students may apply up to a maximum of 9 semester hours but not less than 3 semester hours from the following courses:
  • Any biology course
  • Any geological science course

Engineering Science

Students may apply up to a maximum of 9 semester hours but must take IME 301, EE 327, or ME 301.

  • ME 301 Thermodynamics I
  • ME 302 Thermodynamics II
  • ME 521 Intermediate Fluid
  • ME 556 Mechanics of Composite Materials
  • ME 577 Finite Element Methods in Engineering
  • IME 301 Engineering Economy I
  • IME 313 Operations Research I
  • EE 205 Fundamentals of Circuit Analysis
  • EE 327 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I
  • EE 328 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering II

Civil Engineering

Students must select a minimum of 6 semester hours.

  • Group A: Civil Engineering Science Courses


    Students may apply up to a maximum of 9 semester hours.
    • CE 465 Surface Water Hydrology
    • CE 508 Advanced Soil Mechanics
    • CE 541 Pollution Modeling
    • CE 546 Groundwater Hydrology
    • CE 555 Sustainability and Environmental Regulations
    • CE 560 Advanced Structural Analysis
    • CE 570 Advanced Mechanics of Materials
    • CE 575 Structural Dynamics
    • CE 580 Highway Safety
    • CE 586 Pavement Management Systems
    • CE 591 Special Topics I
    • CE 592 Special Topics II

  • Group B: Civil Engineering Design


    Students may apply up to a maximum of 12 semester hours and not less than 3 semester hours.
    • CE 422 Foundation Analysis and Design
    • CE 430 Water Supply and Hydraulic Engineering
    • CE 515 Advanced Foundation Engineering
    • CE 542 Advanced Water Treatment
    • CE 543 Advanced Waste Water Treatment
    • CE 562 Advanced Steel Design
    • CE 565 Advanced Concrete Design
    • CE 567 Prestressed Concrete
    • CE 577 Seismic Design
    • CE 585 Advanced Pavement Design
    • CE 591 Special Topics I
    • CE 592 Special Topics II

Mathematics, Business, and Computer Science

Students may apply up to a maximum of 6 semester hours.

  • Any mathematics course above MTH 224
  • Any business, accounting, marketing or economics course.
  • Any computer science course above CS 202

Other

Students may apply up to a maximum of 6 semester hours.

  • CE 491 Special Topics I
  • CE 492 Special Topics II
  • CON 356 Construction Industry Safety Practices
  • CON 392 Construction Scheduling
  • CON 394 Construction Labor and Unions
  • CON 395 Construction Claims and Change Orders
  • CON 489 Alternate Material Structures
  • CON 492 Construction Contracts
  • CON 494 Advanced Construction Practices
  • CON 520 Construction and Engineering Practice
  • CON 522 Advanced CADD
  • CON 524 Building Information Modeling
  • CON 526 Advanced Cost Estimating
  • CON 528 Advanced Scheduling
  • CON 529 Advanced Contracts
  • CON 536 TQM Principles
  • CON 537 Construction Simulation
  • CON 540 Project and Company Management