Civil Engineering

Preparing future leaders to address society’s challenges.

Our undergraduate academic programs are unique in that they combine the world’s oldest engineering discipline – civil engineering – with the powerful field of systems engineering in recognition of the fact that the traditional needs of civilization (water, food, shelter, transportation, energy, and healthcare) are now available only through interconnected and highly complex systems.   

To design the next generation of structures and infrastructure systems, we train engineers who not only understand how to calculate the stresses and strains that our hard infrastructure experiences under events like natural disasters, but also how to optimize the design and operation of new infrastructure systems using operations research, data, and analytics. 

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CLASSES YOU MIGHT TAKE

Perspectives on the Evolution of Structures

Why do buildings and bridges look the way they do today? In this course, you’ll be provided the tools to answer this question for yourself through a study of the history of the design of buildings and bridges throughout the world from both engineering and architectural/aesthetic perspectives.

Civilization Engineered

Civilizations have always faced challenges and have had to design solutions in order to survive. Our modern civilization is no different; we face major societal challenges related to resilient cities, human safety and security, decision-making and healthcare, energy infrastructure, and space exploration and habitation, among others. This course will look to the past, and at the current state of affairs, in preparation for designing solutions to the grand challenges of the future.

CaSE Design

Through this course, students will be introduced to various design principles and further explore the role of civil and systems engineering design in communities and society. Students will work collaboratively with a civil and systems engineering senior design team or research group to explore the impact of their intended design on communities.