Civil engineering in USA: Best courses and engineering universities in USA

Studying Civil Engineering in the USA might be your best and great choice. Following our article on the study of nuclear engineering in the United States, we will talk in this article about the study of civil engineering in the United States.

Indeed, civil engineering is the most widespread, and perhaps one of the oldest engineering professions. As an illustration, and it is already known, civil engineering is a broad field divided into many disciplines with different educational options and certificates.

Table of Contents

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in America

Although most civil engineers hold bachelor’s degrees, employers increasingly prefer candidates with a master’s degree. As a matter of fact, post-graduate certificates are recommended, whatever their final course. Being that, student trips begin with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or one of its specialties.

Furthermore, common options include the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Engineering with a major in Civil Engineering (or a major in Specific Civil Engineering), Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E); or specialized Bachelor (Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science) for example.

Admission Requirements

Typical requirements for Bachelor programs in Engineering include:

High School Certificate or its equivalent.
Competitive GPA of secondary (eg, 2.75).
Evidence of obtaining high scores in categories of basic majors such as physics, chemistry, calculus, trigonometry, second algebra, and others.
Statement of purpose (500-600 words).
Official results of the SAT or ACT test.

Civil Engineering Courses – University stage

As a matter of fact, bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering lay a strong foundation for the mathematical and scientific principles used in engineering. However, it also provides other capabilities in areas such as communications and information technology.

Optional and specialized study courses in civil engineering revolve around this base of standard engineering classes and general education.

Typical classes include:

Introduction to Civil Engineering.
Fluid mechanics and hydraulics.
Structural analysis.
Geotechnical Engineering.
Structural dynamics.
Structural design.
Material engineering.
Transportation Engineering.

Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Recommended)

As mentioned above, master’s degrees will soon become the standard access to civil engineering jobs. Basically, like bachelor’s degree tracks, postgraduate degree tracks in civil engineering include a master’s degree in civil engineering or a master’s degree in civil engineering.

Unlike undergraduate degrees, these programs are often more specialized and target advanced engineering concepts. Being that, students can pursue their studies on campus or online in civil engineering. Undoubtedly, online programs can be particularly appealing to working professionals to develop their education or meet the requirements of continuing education in order to obtain credentials.

Learn also how to earn a master’s degree in the USA.

Requirements for an MS in Civil Engineering in USA

Indeed, admissionrequirements for the Civil Engineering graduate program vary, but they usuallyinclude the following:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in engineering, or related specialty from an accredited program.
Statement of purpose.
A cumulative university degree program of at least 3.0.
Two or three letters of recommendation, in which the student talks about his educational and professional potential
GRE test results

Besides, please note that some post-graduate programs in Civil Engineering require applicants to answer additional questions or attend interviews. Additionally, like bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees in civil engineering frequently offer specialized tracks.

Real examples from Stanford university include:

Environmental and engineering sciences.
Structural Engineering and Ground Mechanics.
Atmosphere and energy.
Sustainable design and construction.
Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology.

Civil engineering PG courses in USA

Obviously, the master’s programs in civil engineering include core and specialized courses in engineering.

The curriculum usually includes some differences in the following chapters:

Advanced principles in civil engineering
Dynamic.
Decision-making methods for civil engineering design.
Risk assessment.
Civil engineering applications and drafting tools.
Fluid mechanics.
Structural design.
Civil engineering materials.
Engineering Management.
Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering.
Airports Engineering.
Solid or hazardous waste management.
Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering.
Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering.
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS).
Water quality analysis.
Structural steel design.
Reinforced concrete design.

How much does it cost to study civil engineering in USA?

The cost of a bachelor in civil engineering in the USA ranges from $12,000 to $42,000 per year. This type of program usually lasts for 4 years. For graduate programs, on the other hands, expect to pay on average $25,000 per year tuition fees.

The most affordable cost for an MS in civil engineering ranges around $14,000 per year. While in some of the top universities, the same degree can cost up to $75,000 USD. Thankfully, international students in the US can apply for various financial support to fund their studies.

Find out here some of the best scholarships in USA for international students

Where can I study civil engineering in USA: best civil engineering universities in USA

Here are some of the top universities in the USA where you can apply to a civil engineering program. Some of them are among the best US universities, which you can check here to get more info about.

University of California, Berkeley

The College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, offers 8 engineering degrees, including civil engineering. Students can earn a master’s in engineering after 2 years of study. But the college offers an accelerated professional master’s program, where students graduate in just one year. The other advantage of this college is that the institution has about 40 research facilities and institutes where students can get involved with.

Learn more about UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering.

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)

Georgia Tech in Atlanta, is a leading research university that opened its door in October 1888. It was first a trade school which through the years became a technological university. The institution offers around 20 fields of specialization including biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering and of course civil engineering. Georgia Tech also has numerous partnerships with other high profile technology universities worldwide.

Learn more on the website of Georgia Tech.

Stanford University

Stanford is in the top 5 universities for engineering worldwide. Located in California, in the heart of the Silicon Valley, it’s also a lead research university globally. And its Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is located jointly in the university’s School of Engineering and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. This enables students to learn and specialize both in engineering and sustainability studies.

Learn more about the civil engineering program on the university’s website.

Texas A&M University – College Station

Texas A&M University is another lead public research university in College Station, Texas. The institution opens its door in 1876, making it the first public institution of higher education in Texas. The university offers more than 120 undergraduate programs and 240 graduate programs in its 16 schools and colleges. As for the civil engineering major, the university has 8 specialization options among which students can choose.

Learn more on the university’s website.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The last institution in our list doesn’t need any further introduction, since it’s the best technology universities in USA but also in the world. And MIT’s School of Engineering is one of the most popular destination among the university’s schools and faculties. Students have the choice between 15 areas of specialization. Moreover, for those already working in the field of engineering but want to change to another specialty, MIT provides a part-time Career Reengineering Program.