Educational Objectives
Within a few years of graduation, graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) program in civil engineering will:
- be productive and contributing members of the civil engineering profession as practitioners, entrepreneurs, researchers, or teachers;
- be engaged in learning, understanding, and applying new ideas as the field develops;
- pursue advanced studies, if qualified and interested; and
- promote the safety, health, and welfare of the public and the environment through professional practice and civic leadership.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in civil engineering requires a minimum of 129 s.h. of credit. Students must have a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all college work used to satisfy degree requirements as well as on all coursework attempted at the University of Iowa.
All B.S.E. students are required to take the same collegiate curriculum. For information about these collegiate requirements, see the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, B.S.E. in the Catalog. Students completing the major in civil engineering fulfill the collegiate statistics requirement by completing STAT:2020 Probability and Statistics for the Engineering and Physical Sciences. Some focus areas may suggest or require specific courses to fulfill the General Education Component of the collegiate curriculum; see "Focus Area" below.
The major in civil engineering requires the following coursework.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Collegiate Curriculum | 50 | |
| Major Requirements | 52 | |
| Focus Area | 27-28 | |
| Total Hours | 129-130 | |
Major Requirements
Major requirements include a set of common courses (45 s.h.), four professional skills courses (4 s.h.), and one capstone design course (3 s.h.).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CEE:1030 | Introduction to Earth Science (no lab required) | 3 |
| CEE:2015 | Civil Engineering Tools | 2 |
| CEE:3155 | Principles of Environmental Engineering | 4 |
| CEE:3371 | Principles of Hydraulics and Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:3530 | Geomechanics | 4 |
| CEE:3533 | Principles of Structural Engineering | 4 |
| CEE:3586 | Civil Engineering Materials | 3 |
| CEE:3763 | Principles of Transportation Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR:2110 | Statics | 2 |
| ENGR:2130 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ENGR:2510 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
| ENGR:2710 | Dynamics | 3 |
| ENGR:2750 | Mechanics of Deformable Bodies | 3 |
| And one of these: | ||
| CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II (with lab) | 4 |
Professional Skills
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CEE:2010 | Civil and Environmental Engineering Professional Practice and Ethics | 1 |
| CEE:3001 | Leadership Skills for Engineers | 1 |
| CEE:3002 | Technical Communication in Civil and Environmental Engineering | 1 |
| CEE:3003 | Project Management Skills | 1 |
Capstone Design Course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| CEE:4850 | Project Design and Management in Civil Engineering | 3 |
Focus Area
Students must select focus area courses according to guidelines established by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Civil engineering students may choose from several standard focus areas developed by the department or create an individual focus area tailored to their interests.
Standard focus areas are offered in the broad field of civil practice and in the four technical areas: environmental engineering; hydraulics and water resources; structures, mechanics, and materials; and transportation engineering. Other areas of focus include management, pre-architecture, and urban and regional planning. To see guidelines related to tailored focus areas, visit Civil Engineering Focus Areas on the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
Focus areas in civil engineering consist of content area courses, design courses, and elective courses; carefully selected elective courses may contribute to earning a minor and/or certificate. Some focus areas also may suggest or require specific courses to fulfill the General Education Component of the collegiate curriculum.
Civil Practice
Students complete five civil and environmental engineering electives (15 s.h.), two design electives (6 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Civil and Environmental Engineering Electives
Students complete 15 s.h. in civil and environmental engineering electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) not already taken for the major numbered 3000 or above.
It is recommended that students select from the following courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:3790 | Resilient Infrastructure and Emergency Response | 3 |
| CEE:4102 | Groundwater | 3 |
| CEE:4119 | Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:4158/OEH:4920 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CEE:4159/CBE:4459/IGPI:4159 | Air Pollution Control Technology | 3 |
| CEE:4371 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4539 | Foundations of Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4763 | Traffic Engineering | 3 |
Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| or CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major, or pre-approved courses taken outside of the College of Engineering. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the civil practice focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR:2120 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR:2995 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering | 3 |
| ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
Environmental Engineering
Students complete two required courses (7 s.h.), four focus area electives (12 s.h.), one design elective (3 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Required Environmental Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| CEE:3430 | Water Treatment | 4 |
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
Environmental Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Four of these: | ||
| CEE:4102 | Groundwater | 3 |
| CEE:4107/CBE:4410 | Sustainable Systems | 3 |
| CEE:4119 | Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:4150/CBE:4420 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| CEE:4158/OEH:4920 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CEE:4159/CBE:4459/IGPI:4159 | Air Pollution Control Technology | 3 |
Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major, or pre-approved courses taken outside of the College of Engineering. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the environmental engineering focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR:2120 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR:2995 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering | 3 |
| ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
Hydraulics and Water Resources
Students complete three required courses (9 s.h.), three focus area electives (9-10 s.h.), one design elective (3 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Required Hydraulics and Water Resources Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CEE:4119 | Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:4371 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
Hydraulics and Water Resources Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three of these: | ||
| CEE:3430 | Water Treatment | 4 |
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:4102 | Groundwater | 3 |
| CEE:4107/CBE:4410 | Sustainable Systems | 3 |
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4180 | Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| CEE:4370 | Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport | 3 |
Design Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major, or pre-approved courses taken outside of the College of Engineering. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the hydraulics and water resources focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR:2120 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR:2995 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering | 3 |
| ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
Management
Students complete five required courses (15 s.h.), two design electives (6 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.). Students in the management focus area must complete the minor in business administration in the Tippie College of Business; this typically requires additional coursework outside of the civil engineering major.
Required Management Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| ACCT:2100 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT:2200 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| FIN:3000 | Introductory Financial Management | 3 |
| or ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | |
| MGMT:2100 | Introduction to Management | 3 |
| MKTG:3000 | Introduction to Marketing Strategy | 3 |
Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| or CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the management focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:3790 | Resilient Infrastructure and Emergency Response | 3 |
| CEE:4102 | Groundwater | 3 |
| CEE:4119 | Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:4158/OEH:4920 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CEE:4159/CBE:4459/IGPI:4159 | Air Pollution Control Technology | 3 |
| CEE:4371 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4539 | Foundations of Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4763 | Traffic Engineering | 3 |
Pre-Architecture
Students complete two required courses (6 s.h.), one pre-architecture elective (3 s.h.), two structures electives (6 s.h.), one design elective (3 s.h.), one civil and environmental engineering elective (3 s.h.), and two art electives (6 s.h.). Students in the pre-architecture focus area must complete the minor in art in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; this typically requires additional coursework outside of the civil engineering major.
Required Pre-Architecture Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| TDSN:2210 | Introduction to 3D Design | 3 |
Pre-Architecture Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| ANIM:2125 | Introduction to Animation | 3 |
| DRAW:2310 | Life Drawing I | 3 |
| DSGN:2500 | Graphic Design I | 3 |
| PHTO:2600 | Photography I | 3 |
| PNTG:2410 | Painting I | 3 |
| PRNT:2610 | Introduction to Printmaking | 3 |
Structures Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| CEE:4164 | Design of Wood Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4539 | Foundations of Structures | 3 |
Design Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Civil and Environmental Engineering Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| A third structures course | 3 | |
| An additional design course | 3 | |
| An additional course with prefix CEE numbered 3000 or above | 3 | |
Art Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives chosen from courses that count toward the art minor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the pre-architecture focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CERM:2010 | Ceramics I: Handbuilding | 3 |
| INTM:2710/CINE:2869 | Introduction to Intermedia | 3 |
| MTLS:2910 | Introduction to Jewelry and Metal Arts | 3 |
| SCLP:2810 | Undergraduate Sculpture I | 3 |
| TDSN:2240/CEE:2240 | Digital Drafting with AutoCAD | 3 |
| TDSN:2250 | Digital Prototyping | 3 |
Structures, Mechanics, and Materials
Students complete two required courses (6 s.h.), four focus area electives (12 s.h.); one design elective (3 s.h.); and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Required Structures, Mechanics, and Materials Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
Structures, Mechanics, and Materials Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 s.h. from these: | ||
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:4135 | Structural Modeling and Health Monitoring | 3 |
| CEE:4160 | Introduction to Bridge Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4162 | Structural Systems for Buildings | 3 |
| CEE:4164 | Design of Wood Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4511/ME:4111 | Scientific Computing and Machine Learning | 3 |
| CEE:4512/ME:4112 | Engineering Design Optimization | 3 |
| CEE:4532/ME:4153 | Fundamentals of Vibrations | 3 |
| CEE:4533/IGPI:4115 | Finite Element I | 3 |
| CEE:4539 | Foundations of Structures | 3 |
| CEE:5179/ME:5179 | Continuum Mechanics | arr. |
| CEE:5236/BME:5720 | Optimization of Structural Systems | 3 |
| CEE:5540/ME:5150 | Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Bodies | 3 |
Design Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major, or pre-approved courses taken outside of the College of Engineering. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the structures, mechanics, and materials focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR:2120 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| ENGR:2730 | Computers in Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR:2995 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering | 3 |
| ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
Transportation Engineering
Students complete one required course (3 s.h.), five focus area electives (15 s.h.), one design elective (3 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Required Transportation Course
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Transportation Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 15 s.h. from these: | ||
| CEE:3142/ISE:3600/STAT:3620 | Quality Control | 3 |
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:3790 | Resilient Infrastructure and Emergency Response | 3 |
| CEE:3998 | Individual Investigations: Civil Engineering | arr. |
| CEE:4160 | Introduction to Bridge Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4176/URP:4262 | Transportation Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| CEE:4560 | Pavement Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4730 | Transportation Infrastructure Construction and Management | 3 |
| CEE:4763 | Traffic Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:5678/URP:5678 | Application Simulation to Transportation | 3 |
Design Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major, or pre-approved courses taken outside of the College of Engineering. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the transportation engineering focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR:2120 | Electrical Circuits | 3 |
| ENGR:2720 | Materials Science | 3 |
| ENGR:2995 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering | 3 |
| ISE:2500 | Engineering Economy | 3 |
Urban and Regional Planning
Students complete two required courses (6 s.h.), three focus area electives (9 s.h.), two design electives (6 s.h.), and two additional elective courses (6 s.h.).
Students planning to pursue the combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science program in urban and regional planning should complete URP:6202 Land Use Planning: Law and Practice and URP:6203 The Making of Cities: Histories and Theories of Planning. These courses can be counted toward the collegiate curriculum General Education Component approved course subjects requirement. See Combined Programs in this section of the Catalog.
Required Urban and Regional Planning Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| URP:6201/PBAF:6201 | Analytic Methods II | 3 |
| URP:6205/PBAF:6205 | Economics for Policy Analysis | 3 |
Urban and Regional Planning Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Three of these: | ||
| URP:4262/CEE:4176 | Transportation Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| URP:6233/PBAF:6233 | Public Finance and Budgeting | 3 |
| URP:6256/PBAF:6256 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| URP:6266/PBAF:6266 | Transportation and Land Use Planning | 3 |
| URP:6271/PBAF:6271 | Housing Policy | 3 |
Design Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| CEE:4157 | Environmental Engineering Design | 3 |
| CEE:4374 | Water Resource Design | 3 |
| CEE:4506 | Design of Concrete Structures | 3 |
| or CEE:4535 | Design of Steel Structures | |
| CEE:4762 | Design of Transportation Systems | 3 |
Additional Electives
Students complete 6 s.h. in additional electives. These electives may include any Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering course (prefix CEE) numbered 3000 or above and not already taken for the major. Students should consult with an academic advisor.
The following courses are suggested electives in the urban and regional planning focus area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CEE:3783 | Surveying and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| CEE:3790 | Resilient Infrastructure and Emergency Response | 3 |
| CEE:4102 | Groundwater | 3 |
| CEE:4119 | Hydrology | 3 |
| CEE:4158/OEH:4920 | Solid and Hazardous Wastes | 3 |
| CEE:4159/CBE:4459/IGPI:4159 | Air Pollution Control Technology | 3 |
| CEE:4371 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE:4539 | Foundations of Structures | 3 |
| CEE:4763 | Traffic Engineering | 3 |
B.S.E./M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
The College of Engineering offers the combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science program for civil engineering undergraduate students who intend to earn a M.S. in civil and environmental engineering. B.S.E./M.S. students may attend the departmental graduate seminar and work on a master's thesis or research project while they are still undergraduates. They may count a limited amount of coursework toward both degrees. Once students complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree, they are granted the B.S.E., and they are expected to complete the M.S. one year later.
To be admitted to the degree program, students must have completed at least 80 s.h. and have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.25. They must submit an application form to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with a letter stating their proposed area of specialization and the name of a department faculty member willing to be their primary M.S. advisor. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores are not required for the degree program.
Applications are due by May 15.
B.S.E./M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning
The College of Engineering and the School of Planning and Public Affairs offer the combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science program in urban and regional planning. The program, which is completed in five years, is designed for students who wish to pursue a public or private sector career in planning, a field that encompasses the development of alternatives to improve the quality of life in cities and regions.
Graduates are technically oriented professionals who have a clear understanding of policy development and implementation, which they apply to civil and industrial engineering problems. They fill positions such as public works director, transportation engineer, and public utilities staff member.
Each student in the combined program has two advisors, one in civil engineering and one in planning and public affairs. Students enroll in the College of Engineering for their first four years in the program and in the Graduate College for their fifth year. They follow the standard curriculum of their B.S.E. program during the first two years and begin adding courses from the planning and public affairs program during the third year. Successful students receive a B.S.E. at the end of the fourth year and an M.S. in urban and regional planning at the end of the fifth year.
Students in the combined program must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in order to graduate with an M.S. in urban and regional planning.
For more information, see the M.S. in urban and regional planning (Graduate College) in the Catalog. Contact Engineering Student Services for information about applying to the combined program.
When it comes to building the nation’s infrastructure or protecting the natural environment, civil environmental engineers are at the forefront. They not only design roads, bridges, and structures, provide clean drinking water, and protect people from natural hazards like flooding or earthquakes, they also engage with the public to create a more sustainable future. On average, 93-98 percent of graduates are employed in their field of study or pursuing advanced education within seven months of graduation.
Engineering Career Services develops and promotes experiential education and professional opportunities for students in the College of Engineering. Professional staff coordinate the college's co-op and internship program, engage in employer outreach, and provide opportunities for students to network with employers, including engineering career fairs and other programming related to career development.
Engineering Career Services offers individual advising and class presentations on résumé and cover letter preparation, job and internship search strategies, interviewing skills, job offer evaluation, and much more. Engineering Career Services partners with the Pomerantz Career Center to facilitate on-campus interviewing, postgraduation outcome collection, and the University's online recruiting system, Handshake.