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Technical Specialties | Careers ]
Civil Engineering Careers
In considering any of these technical specialties, you may decide to teach in an accredited program or to participate in research to improve basic knowledge. In choosing a career in education or research, you will need to earn advanced degrees. Beginning as an assistant professor, your experience may lead you to become a professor, department head, or university administrator. You may teach both graduate and undergraduate students. You may consult part-time which will increase your professional experience and income. As your reputation grows, you may be in demand to serve on technical boards and commissions associated with major engineering projects.
You may also decide to pursue a career in the area of engineering management. This may involve overseeing the completion of projects costing billions of dollars, requiring both technical and business related skills. Management requires a technical education combined with an ability to coordinate personnel, materials, equipment, and money.
Civil engineers may be found through the workplace in a variety of functions. Aside from traditional engineering firms, you may work with utility companies, telecommunication businesses, consulting firms, or even toy and athletic equipment manufacturers. A civil engineering degree can lead you to a career in industry, government, computers, law, or medicine. It's your choice!
Do you enjoy solving problems and putting your ideas into action?
Are you curious about how things work and how to make them better?
Are you interested in improving the environment?
Are you socially aware and interested in helping people live better?
These are some of the qualities shared by all civil engineers. They also make sound decisions and are good communicators, using speaking, writing, and listening skills. If you share some of the traits, civil engineering may be the perfect career for you.
Making the Grades
Any career begins with a successful, well-rounded education. To meet the challenges of civil engineering, you should prepare with a variety of high school courses. A solid high school preparation should include courses in: English, algebra plane geometry, trigonometry, advanced mathematics, chemistry, physics, and a foundation in history, social studies, or foreign language. Computer courses are also highly recommended.
Choosing the Right College
After high school, you may choose from hundreds of institutions that offer accredited civil engineering or technology programs. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is primarily responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and certifying the quality of engineering and technology programs at colleges and universities in the United States. ABET develops accreditation policies and criteria and conducts a comprehensive evaluation process to ensure the quality of accredited programs. You may obtain a list of accredited civil engineering and technology programs from ABET's Web site located at www.abet.org.
Entrance into a civil engineering or technology program may be at the freshman level following high school, or at the junior level after completing an approved two-year junior college program. The programs offered by different schools vary in details and you should request a catalogue from each of the schools you may be interested in before applying for admission.
Tailor a Program to Work for You
You can choose a program that best fits your needs. Most programs require at least four years of study for the civil engineering bachelor's degree. Some offer a five-year program leading to a bachelor's degree after the fourth year, and a master's degree after the fifth. Many schools also offer a five-year cooperative study program in which you may alternate periods of engineering study with related employment. This way, you can earn a good part of your tuition costs and get valuable first-hand experience.
A typical four-year program consists of: one year of mathematics and basic sciences; one year of engineering science and analysis; one year of engineering theory and design; and one year that includes social sciences, humanities, communications, ethics and professionalism, along with electives which complement your overall education.
Typically, your first three years in college provide you with a solid foundation in science, with introductory courses in all of the civil engineering technical areas. This gives you an overview of the field, and helps you select an area in which to specialize. Generally, it is at this point, in your junior or senior year, that you choose your specialty. Since many of the specialty areas are closely interrelated, it is easy to move between different specialty areas as your career progresses. Regardless of your decision, your problem-solving and people skills will give you many career choices and opportunities.
Get Involved in Student Activities
As a civil engineering or technology student, there are many fun and exciting ways to get involved. By joining a Student Chapter or Club of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), you can participate in many activities that allow you to develop professionally, outside the classroom. Typical activities include: the challenge of designing, building, and racing canoes made from concrete; community service projects; steel bridge building competitions, guest lectures, leadership workshops, etc.
Earn While You Learn
There are many sources of financial aid available to civil engineering and technology students. You may opt for cooperative education and work-study programs, which allow you to earn tuition by attending classes for a portion of the year, then work in an engineering-related job for the remainder of the year. "Co-op" students generally take five years or more to complete their engineering degrees. You can also pay for tuition with: part-time employment and summer jobs; scholarships and grants; loans; ROTC-sponsored programs; or other special programs. ASCE offers scholarships and fellowships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Your best source of information is the financial aid officer at the school you plan to attend.
Technicians and Technologists
Engineering technicians are usually graduates of two-year programs. As a technician, you may perform various tasks required for a construction project including: soil or concrete tests; foundation examinations; basic calculations involving quantities of material; and cost estimates for various aspects of a project. Engineering technologists complete four-year degree programs in Engineering Technology. They work closely with engineers, and share responsibility for the production of specific engineering work. They solve engineering problems following a conventional solution within established codes, rules, standards, and regulations. If you are interested in becoming a technologist, carefully review the specific state licensing requirements relative to program accreditation, including the licensing history of graduates.
Beyond the Bachelor's Degree
More than one-third of civil engineering graduates today go on to earn a master's degree. Many pursue a master's degree later while working, with tuition often supported by employers. More and more civil engineers are continuing on to the doctorate degree, usually to prepare for careers in research or teaching, and to solve more sophisticated design problems. Obtaining a master's degree or Ph. D. will greatly help you become an expert in your chosen field. In civil engineering, as in any profession, your education never ends; old knowledge is continually supplemented by new knowledge. To keep up with the changes, you may pursue continuing education programs made available by universities and by professional societies, such as the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The Fundamentals of Engineering Examination: Your First Step to Professional Licensure
As a civil engineering professional, you will be directly responsible for public safety and welfare. Your buildings must perform according to their specifications. Your highways must carry traffic safely. Your dams cannot fail. In other words, your work reflects your experience, and must conform with accepted principles and practices of civil engineering. To become a licensed civil engineer (professional engineer), you must complete the requirements for professional licensure established by the state or territories in which you plan to practice. This requires a combination of education, experience, and the successful completion of at least two exams. Each individual state and/or territory maintains updated information regarding specific licensing requirements.
Your First Job: Gaining Valuable Experience
In your first job, you will likely be teamed with a senior engineer. You will be guided through a variety of assignments, depending on the civil engineering specialty area you pursue. Later, job responsibility will increase with your continuing education and experience. This allows you to build your problem-solving skills and your self-confidence.
Set the Pace for the Future by Becoming a Civil Engineer
The world of tomorrow will look to you to help clean the air, improve our cities and transportation systems, purify our water, and provide many solutions that are vital to life. With the skills you learn, you can be among the leaders shaping our 21st century.
