Civil engineering is a specialized field that is vital to our everyday lives. Civil engineers are trained to analyze, plan, design and oversee construction and maintenance of building structures, roadway networks, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, water and sewage systems and more in our country’s infrastructure.
These specialized engineers are multi-skilled and able to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret complex data. Civil engineers can design a system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints. They work as part of multidisciplinary teams and have a solid understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities.
At Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) degree, with an emphasis in Civil Engineering. Your Engineering bachelor’s degree at Marshall will introduce you to Civil Engineering’s wide-ranging use of mathematics, physics, statics, mechanics, materials science, soil properties, hydrology, water resources, environmental resources and other fields.
The Marshall University’s BSE program is focused on ensuring that Civil Engineering graduates will:
Why Study Engineering, Emphasis in Civil Engineering, at Marshall?
The Civil Engineering bachelor’s degree program at Marshall is designed to prepare students for entry into the Engineering profession and to become licensed professional engineers.
In-depth curriculum. Faculty in the Marshall Department of Civil Engineering provide a hands-on curriculum specifically designed to develop students’ critical thinking and understanding of fundamental engineering principles to tackle infrastructure challenges in modern society. The bachelor’s in Engineering program at Marshall offers high-caliber instruction in accordance with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) accreditation standards. Civil Engineering majors will be exposed to the latest codes, specifications, design methodologies and software packages along with related hands-on laboratory experiences.
In addition to fundamental Engineering courses, Marshall’s Civil Engineering emphasis program offers various courses related to geomatics, structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, hydraulics engineering and civil engineering materials. The program also provides Civil Engineering majors with multiple elective options to tailor their bachelor’s degree in Engineering to their chosen interests. This includes opportunities to take courses in foundation design, highway design, hydrology, water and wastewater treatment, and structural design, using structural steel and reinforced concrete.
Dedicated Faculty
Student success is the primary goal of the Civil Engineering program faculty. Marshall professors are committed to helping students learn, using innovative and hands-on educational methods. Marshall faculty is dedicated to supporting Civil Engineering majors in achieving academic excellence.
Recognized and Accredited
Marshall’s Engineering bachelor’s degree program is accredited by ABET, the standard-bearer for accreditation of Engineering programs in the United States and throughout the world. ABET accreditation also enables Civil Engineering majors to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during their senior year.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering program at Marshall was ranked #117 in Undergraduate Engineering Programs (at schools where doctorates are not offered), according to 2019 rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Marshall University is ranked #42 in Regional Universities South and classified as R2: Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Career Outlook for Engineers
Employment Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment of civil engineers will grow about two percent through 2029. However, as infrastructure continues to age, the BLS reports that civil engineers will be needed to manage more projects to rebuild, repair and upgrade bridges, roads, levees, dams, airports, buildings and structures of all types.
Civil Engineering Salaries
The median annual wage for civil engineers was $88,570 in May 2020. The median annual wages for civil engineers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows as of May 2020:
Job Opportunities
According to the BLS, civil engineers work on complex projects and usually specialize in one of several areas, including the following:
The work of civil engineers also is closely related to the work of environmental engineers.
Top employers of Civil Engineering degree graduates. The West Virginia Division of Highways and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with private consulting firms and construction companies, hire most of Marshall’s Civil Engineering graduates. They begin as entry-level engineers, working in areas such as design, construction, maintenance, material testing and inspection.
Graduate Schools or Programs
Marshall University currently offers a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), which bachelor’s degree majors can choose to pursue. Marshall’s graduate degree options are designed to meet the needs of engineers who are currently employed in industry, government and consulting, as well to provide opportunities for bachelor’s degree majors who desire a traditional research-based graduate degree. Marshall’s graduate Engineering program offers a broad core curriculum with opportunities for concentrated study in three majors: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Management, and Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering.
Civil Engineering majors also have gone on for graduate study in highly respected engineering schools nationwide such as Virginia Tech, Purdue and North Carolina State, among others.
Opportunities for Engineers
Hands-on Experience
In addition to labs in required science courses, Civil Engineering majors must take numerous laboratory courses in Engineering subjects such as geomatics, testing of civil engineering materials, fluid mechanics and many others. Marshall’s Huntington, WV, campus also provides additional resources for Engineering majors, including numerous computer labs and “huddle stations,” which allow students to interact with faculty while working on assignments and class projects.
Senior Capstone Project
The Civil Engineering bachelor’s degree program culminates in a Capstone design experience where students are presented with a real-world problem in Civil Engineering. Students are required to assess multiple design alternatives and choose a solution based on economics, design efficiency and societal and environmental impact.
Senior Capstone projects for Civil Engineering majors are typically wide-ranging to reflect student interests. Here’s a recent sample of Capstone projects:
In addition to the Senior Capstone experience, Civil Engineering majors also can take advantage of working with faculty on undergraduate research projects, when available.
Student Organizations
Civil Engineering majors can join the Society of American Military Engineers – American Society of Civil Engineers at Marshall University. SAME-ASCE is a professional organization that provides a forum for educational, professional, personal and leadership development, and offers professional networking and social interaction for all student and engineer members. The SAME-ASCE student chapter also regularly competes in the annual ASCE concrete canoe and AISC steel bridge competitions.
Internships
Civil Engineering majors regularly complete internships in the Huntington, West Virginia, area. Internship employers include local consulting firms and construction companies, and government entities such as the West Virginia Division of Highways and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Some Form of Financial Aid