Civil Engineering

College of Engineering and Mines
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
(907) 474-7241
www.uaf.edu/engineer/cee.htm

B.S., M.C.E., M.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 134 credits

Downloadable PDF (66K)

Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of public and private structures such as space launching facilities, offshore structures, bridges, buildings, tunnels, highways, transit systems, dams, airports, irrigation projects, and water treatment and distribution facilities.

Civil engineers use sophisticated technology and employ computer-aided engineering during design, construction, project scheduling and cost control project phases. They are creative problem solvers involved in community development and the challenges of pollution, deteriorating infrastructure, traffic congestion, energy needs, floods, earthquakes and urban planning.

The civil engineering program at UAF began in 1922 and graduated its first major in 1931. Many of the more than 800 men and women who have graduated since then work in a wide range of positions all over Alaska. More than 60 percent of Alaska's professional engineers practice in civil engineering. The program at UAF has been accredited since 1940 and is currently accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. All engineering programs in the department give special attention to problems of northern regions.

The civil engineering program educational objectives are:

  1. Graduates will have a strong fundamental scientific and technical knowledge base as well as strong critical thinking skills.
  2. Graduates will apply their engineering skills to critically analyze and interpret data and be proficient in engineering design accommodating the total project environment.
  3. Graduates will be able to communicate with the technical, professional and broader communities in written, verbal and visual formats, including interacting in interdisciplinary contexts.
  4. Graduates will demonstrate high standards in ethical, legal and professional obligations to protect human health, welfare and the environment.
  5. Graduates will be active in the professional civil engineering community, actively contribute to the profession and pursue life-long learning.

Graduate students may enter one of two programs: the master of civil engineering is for students whose goal is broad professional practice, and the master of science degree is for those who favor an emphasis on research and specialized study.

In addition to general civil engineering courses, the department offers specialties in transportation, geotechnical, structures, water resources, hydrology and environmental studies. These courses emphasize principles of analysis, planning and engineering design in northern regions.

A master's degree program can include courses in environmental engineering, engineering management and other areas. An advanced degree in environmental engineering administered within the civil engineering department is available.

For more information about the civil engineering program mission, goals and educational objectives, visit www.uaf.edu/engineer/ceobjectives.htm.

Major--B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X*, CHEM 105X* and CHEM 106X*.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH 201X*; PHYS 211X* and PHYS 212X*.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CE 112--Elementary Surveying--3 credits
    CE 326W--Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering--4 credits
    CE 334--Properties of Materials--3 credits
    CE 344--Water Resources Engineering--3 credits
    CE 400--FE Exam--0 credits
    CE 402--Introduction to Transportation Engineering--3 credits
    CE 331--Structural Analysis--3 credits
    CE 432--Steel Design--3 credits
    CE 438W,O--Design of Engineered Systems--3 credits
    CE 441--Environmental Engineering--4 credits
    CE 490--Civil Engineering Seminar-- .5
    CE 491--Civil Engineering Seminar-- .5
    DRT 170--Beginning AutoCad--3 credits
    ES 101--Introduction to Engineering--3 credits
    ES 201--Computer Techniques--3 credits
    ES 209--Statics--3 credits
    ES 210--Dynamics--3 credits
    ES 301--Engineering Analysis--3 credits
    ES 331--Mechanics of Materials--3 credits
    ES 341--Fluid Mechanics--4 credits
    ESM 450W--Economic Analysis and Operations--3 credits
    GE 261--General Geology for Engineers--3 credits
    MATH 202X--Calculus--4 credits
    MATH 302--Differential Equations--3 credits
    Technical electives**--15
  4. Minimum credits required--134

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Technical electives must include 9 credits of CE, ENVE or ESM courses, 3 credits of either ES 307 or ES 346, and 3 credits of approved technical courses. Students should consult their advisor. Four out of five electives must be taken from approved CE electives or ENVE elective graduate courses. Only one graduate-level course may count toward graduation as a technical elective and the student must be within 30 credits of graduation and have at least a 3.0 GPA to enroll. Students must earn a C grade or better in each technical elective course.
Note: The ability to use computers for normal class work is expected in all engineering classes above the 100-level.