Civil Engineering

 ACCELERATED OPTION: You can earn this degree and a master's in five years and at a significant savings. Learn more about the: Accelerated degree option.

Fundamentals

Civil engineers plan, design, build and operate the infrastructure of modern society including roadways, buildings, airports, seaports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems.

The core curriculum of The University of Akron’s civil engineering program includes:

  • mathematics
  • solid and fluid mechanics
  • engineering materials
  • environmental reactions

We offer a range of specializations in environmental, geotechnical, structural construction, and transportation engineering to tailor your degree to your interests:

Students graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

More Information

Faculty

  • incorporate real engineering design challenges into courses
  • collaborate on research with students and colleagues at UA, other schools, government agencies and private industries
  • bring their industry experience to the classroom

Akron Advantage

Hands-on research

Students will experience civil engineering firsthand through research opportunities conducted in one of our labs:

  • Environmental Engineering Lab
  • Soil Mechanics Lab
  • Structural Materials Lab
  • Transportation Engineering Lab

Real-world experience

Gain important practical professional experience through the optional co-op and placement program. Through co-op, you’ll alternate semesters of work and school following your sophomore year. As an added benefit, you are likely to earn a competitive salary. 

Join one of the award-winning UA design competition teams popular with civil engineering students, like Concrete Canoe, Geo-Challenge or Steel Bridge.

Organizations

Students have the opportunity to interact with other engineering students and professionals in the field through organizations such as:

  • Tau Beta Pi (engineering honors society)
  • Women in Engineering
  • National Society of Black Engineers
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
  • American Society of Civil Engineers

Sample Curriculum

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For More Information:

Department of Civil Engineering

Contact: Dr. Anil K. Patnaik

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Career Opportunities

A degree in civil engineering paves the way to careers in design, construction research and teaching. Civil engineers also work as construction site supervisors or city engineers. Many civil engineers specialize structural, water resources, environmental, construction, transportation, or geotechnical engineering. 

Outlook

Opportunities are growing for civil engineers as the demand increases for:

  • high-capacity transportation
  • water supply and pollution control systems
  • larger buildings and building complexes

Career Services

Career Services helps students and alumni explore and reach career goals. They connect students to employers for internships, jobs, and careers.