Civil Engineering Major

Program Director: Natasha Andrade, Ph.D.

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree program at the University of Maryland is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil Engineering Program Criteria.

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering requires a total of 122 credit hours with an emphasis on basic science (mathematics, chemistry, and physics), engineering science (mechanics of materials, statics, and dynamics), and basic civil and environmental engineering core courses (computations, materials, fluid mechanics, probability & statistics, and Geographic Information Systems). By the Junior year, each student chooses one of three tracks: Geotechnical/Structural, Environmental/Water Resources, or Transportation/Project Management. Each track specifies junior- and senior-level requirements. All three tracks include technical electives that may be selected from a combination of the six Civil Engineering specialties and other approved courses (the six specialty areas are: Environmental, Geotechnical, Project Management, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources). The curriculum provides a sensible blend of required courses and electives, permitting students to pursue their interests without the risk of overspecialization.

Admission to the Major

See the entrance requirements for the A. James Clark School of Engineering in the Colleges and Schools section of this catalog.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is threefold:

  1. Provide a high quality, challenging education that encompasses breadth and depth; and prepare graduates to be proficient in both analysis and synthesis facets of civil engineering design;
  2. Maintain a strong research program that is recognized for excellence in major areas of civil and environmental engineering;
  3. Provide service to the university, the civil engineering profession, and the community at large.

The department provides an educational program of basic and specialized engineering knowledge necessary for its graduates to be proficient in recognized specialties of civil engineering. This preparation provides graduates with the tools needed for successful practice in the period following graduation. In addition to general and technical education, the educational program stresses professional and ethical responsibilities, an awareness of societal issues, and the need for life-long learning.

The department contributes to the advancement of knowledge through research on important engineering problems. The research results are communicated through recognized channels of knowledge dissemination.

The department serves the needs of the community by emphasizing global and societal issues. The department addresses these issues through university and professional channels and contributes to their solutions.

Program Educational Objectives

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has established the following program educational objectives:

  • To understand, apply and develop fundamental knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
  • To attain advanced qualification in both specialization and breadth.
  • To understand and apply business sensitive criteria in meeting professional responsibilities.
  • To incorporate societal sensitive criteria into professional decisions.
  • To develop forward-thinking attitudes that enhance lifelong learning, diversity, equity, inclusion, communication, and exemplary practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

In addition to ensuring the technical competency of all graduates in the broad discipline areas of civil engineering, the department must encourage the development of skills and abilities that will enhance the marketability of its graduates and provide them with the best possible opportunity for success in the workplace. As a result, the faculty has agreed to develop the following abilities and skills within each graduate and has approved the following Student Outcomes:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

The Department offers a program of study leading to an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree.  Each student specializes in one of three tracks: Geotechnical/Structural, Environmental/Water Resources, or Transportation/Project Management. A total of 122 credit hours are required for a BSCE degree with an emphasis in basic science (mathematics, chemistry, and physics), engineering science (mechanics of materials, statics, and dynamics), basic civil and environmental engineering courses; required courses in the selected track; technical electives; and a senior capstone design course. The curriculum provides a sensible blend of required courses and electives, permitting students to pursue their interests without the risk of overspecialization.

Freshman Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
MATH1404MATH1414
CHEM1353ENES1023
ENES1003PHYS1613
ENGL1013General Education Program Requirements3
ENCE1001General Education Program Requirements3
 14 16
Sophomore Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
MATH2414MATH2463
ENES2203ENCE2013
ENCE2003ENCE2153
PHYS2611ENCE3053
PHYS2603ENES200 or ENEE 2003
Science requirement3 
 17 15
Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
Select one of the following tracks:15Continue selected track15
Geotechnical and Structural Engineering
 
Transportation/Project Management
 
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
 
 15 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
Continue selected track15Continue selected track15
 15 15
Total Credits 122

Tracks

Geotechnical & Structural Track

Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE3003ENES2213
ENCE3023Professional Writing3
ENCE3533ENCE3403
ENCE3603ENCE Breadth Electives3
ENCE Breadth Electives3General Education Program Requirements3
 15 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE3203ENCE4443
ENCE4543ENCE4672
ENCE4413ENCE Electives3
ENCE4651Tech Electives3
General Education Program Requirements6General Education Program Requirements3
 16 14
Total Credits 60

Transportation/Project Management Track

Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE3003ENCE3203
ENCE3023ENCE4723
ENCE3603Professional Writing3
ENCE3703ENCE Breadth Electives3
ENCE Breadth Electives3General Education Program Requirements3
 15 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE4233ENCE4023
ENCE4703ENCE4223
Tech Electives3ENCE Electives3
General Education Program Requirements6ENCE4672
ENCE4651General Education Program Requirements3
 16 14
Total Credits 60

Environmental/Water Resources Track         

Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE3023ENCE3003
ENCE3103ENCE4313
ENCE3603Professional Writing3
ENCE Breadth Electives3ENCE Breadth Electives3
ENCE2053General Education Program Requirements3
 15 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
ENCE4113ENCE4223
ENCE4323ENCE4123
General Education Program Requirements6ENCE Electives3
ENCE4651General Education Program Requirements3
Tech Electives3ENCE4672
 16 14
Total Credits 60

Minimum Degree Requirements: 122 credits and the fulfillment of all departmental, school, and university requirements with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Additional semester credits will be involved to the extent that courses carrying more than three credits are selected.

ENCE Electives

  • 3XX, 4XX or 6XX. At least two must be ENCE courses
  • No more than one ENCE489
  • No more than 3 total ENCE with the same first two numbers

TECH Electives

Students can choose from a variety of courses that are approved as technical electives. Moreover, if a student chooses a course that is not pre-approved, the student can request an evaluation by the Committee of Undergraduate Education for approval.

Breadth Electives

Geotechnical & Structural Track

Include two electives from List A or List B:

List A

Course Title Credits
ENCE370Introduction to Transportation Engineering and Planning3
ENCE402Simulation and Design of Experiments for Engineers3
ENCE422Project Cost Accounting and Economics3
ENCE423Project Planning, Estimating & Scheduling3
ENCE470Highway Engineering3
ENCE472Transportation Engineering3

List B

Course Title Credits
ENCE310Introduction to Environmental Engineering3
ENCE411Environmental Engineering Science3
ENCE412Environmental Engineering Unit Operations3
ENCE431Hydrologic Engineering3
ENCE432Ground Water Hydrology3

Transportation/Project Management Track

Include two electives from List A or List B:

List A

Course Title Credits
ENCE340Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering3
ENCE353Introduction to Structural Analysis3
ENCE441Foundation Design3
ENCE444Experimental Methods in Geotechnical Structural Engineering3
ENCE454Design of Concrete Structures3

List B

Course Title Credits
ENCE310Introduction to Environmental Engineering3
ENCE411Environmental Engineering Science3
ENCE412Environmental Engineering Unit Operations3
ENCE431Hydrologic Engineering3
ENCE432Ground Water Hydrology3

Environmental/Water Resources Track

Include two electives from List A or List B:

List A

Course Title Credits
ENCE340Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering3
ENCE353Introduction to Structural Analysis3
ENCE441Foundation Design3
ENCE444Experimental Methods in Geotechnical Structural Engineering3
ENCE454Design of Concrete Structures3

List B

Course Title Credits
ENCE320Introduction to Project Management3
ENCE370Introduction to Transportation Engineering and Planning3
ENCE402Simulation and Design of Experiments for Engineers3
ENCE423Project Planning, Estimating & Scheduling3
ENCE470Highway Engineering3
ENCE472Transportation Engineering3

Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages: