Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering Fundamentals

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

  • Core curriculum includes:
    • mathematics
    • solid and fluid mechanics
    • engineering materials
    • environmental reactions
  • Explore a range of specializations to tailor your degree to your interests:
    • environmental
      • geotechnical
      • hydraulic
      • structural construction
      • transportation engineering

    Our Faculty

    • incorporate real engineering design challenges into courses
    • collaborate on research with students and colleagues at UA, other schools, government agencies and private industries

    Akron Advantage

    Hands-on Research

    Experience civil engineering firsthand through our research facilities: 

    • Five major labs:
      • Environmental Engineering
      • Hydraulics
      • Soil Mechanics
      • Structural Materials
      • Transportation
    • Every year, our American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter successfully competes against other schools in regional and national Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge contests.

    Real World Experience

    Gain important practical professional experience through the optional cooperative education program in the engineering field of your choice. 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.

    Recent placements include:

    • NASA
    • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
    • Ohio Department of Transportation
    • Ohio Turnpike Commission
    • City of Akron Engineering Department
    • local professional engineering firms

    Engineering Student Organizations

    Interact with other engineering students and professionals in the field through organizations such as:

    • Tau Beta Pi (engineering honorary)
    • Women in Engineering
    • National Society of Black Engineers
    • Biomedical Engineers Society
    • American Society of Civil Engineers

    Sample Curriculum

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    For More Information:

    Department of Civil Engineering

    Contact: Dr. Wieslaw K Binienda

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    Career Opportunities

    Degrees and Preparation

    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 in a particular area such as:

    • structural
    • water resources
    • environmental,
    • construction
    • transportation
    • geotechnical engineering

    Career 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

    Cooperative Education and Placement

    The College of Engineering's Cooperative Education Program enables you to integrate classroom instruction with practical and valuable on-the-job work experience. If you choose to co-op, you will complete your first five semesters of study and then begin alternating a semester of paid employment in your major field of interest with a semester of classroom study, until your senior level. Learn more.

    Career Services

    Career Services is located in Student Union 211, with another office in College of Arts and Sciences Building 126. Career Services provides career coaching and programming, and develops valuable relationships with employers and campus partners to provide students with many opportunities for experiential learning and career development.