CIVIL ENGINEERING
The civil engineering undergraduate curriculum at The University of Akron combines a basic understanding of engineering principles with the opportunity to specialize in environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic, structural, or transportation engineering.
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineers plan, design, build, and operate the infrastructure of modern society. This includes highways, bridges, buildings, power plants, industrial facilities, tunnels, seaports, airports, offshore structures and almost anything else needed as the basis of modern life.
Civil engineers also participate in environmental activities, like creating safe water supplies and taking it to where it is needed, collecting and treating wastewaters, cleaning up of environmental problems, and making sure solid wastes are disposed of safely.
Accreditation
The civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and has specific program educational objectives and student outcomes that prepare graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering.
Admission Requirements
A new first-year student can be directly admitted to their intended major in the College of Engineering if they meet the following requirements:
- High school GPA of 3.4 or higher
- At least 24 composite ACT or at least 1110 composite SAT
- At least 24 math ACT or at least 560 math SAT
Students interested in engineering who do not meet these academic requirements can still be admitted to The University of Akron as a student with an intended major in engineering, with a pre-admission status. After certain criteria are met, students with pre-admission status can apply for full admission to the College of Engineering.
Deadlines
Review the deadlines and important dates on the handy chart provided by the Office of Admissions.
Careers
Individuals who graduate with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Akron make an average starting salary of $53,120. Our graduates are working at companies such as AECOM, ExxonMobil, and the Environmental Design Group.
Areas of Study
- Structural engineering involves the planning and design of all types of buildings, bridged, power plants, equipment supports, offshore structures, transmission towers, and even space stations. Structural engineers analyze the forces that a structure must resist (its own weight, wind, earthquake, and loads placed upon the structure, etc.).
- Water resources and hydraulic engineering is concerned with all aspects of the physical control of water. Water is analyzed to predict and prevent floods, protect beaches, construct and maintain coastal facilities, and to provide a water supply for the use of people. Hydraulic engineers then provide delivery of water to the appropriate location via any means from a short culvert to a large water supply system.
- Geotechnical engineering design and build earth and rock dams, tunnels, retaining walls, deep excavations, and embankments. Geotechnical engineers also study the effects of earthquakes and other earth forces on man-made structures. This type of engineering has assumed an increasing importance in the cleanup of hazardous wastes.
- Environmental engineering is concerned with protecting humans and the environment. Environmental engineers design and supervise systems to provide safe drinking water and to collect and treat waste water. They work to prevent and control water and air pollution, manage solid wastes, and mitigate the effects of existing pollution.
- Transportation engineering focuses on planning, designing, and maintaining transportation facilities, including highways, streets, mass transit systems of all types, railroads, airports, and ports. Engineers work closely with urban planners in the planning and management aspects of transportation engineering.