Civil Engineering

College of Engineering and Mines
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
907-474-7241
www.uaf.edu/cem/cee/

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

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 134 credits

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/cem/cee/about/.

Major — B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X*, CHEM F105X* and CHEM F106X*.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH F201X*; PHYS F211X* and PHYS F212X*.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CE F112—Elementary Surveying—3 credits
    CE F302—Introduction to Transportation Engineering—3 credits
    CE F326W—Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering—4 credits
    CE F331—Structural Analysis—3 credits
    CE F334—Properties of Materials—3 credits
    CE F344—Water Resources Engineering—3 credits
    CE F400—FE Exam—0 credits
    CE F432—Steel Design—3 credits
    CE F438W,O—Design of Engineered Systems—3 credits
    CE F441—Environmental Engineering—4 credits
    CE F490—Civil Engineering Seminar .5
    CE F491—Civil Engineering Seminar .5
    DRT F170—Beginning AutoCAD—3 credits
    ES F101—Introduction to Engineering—3 credits
    ES F201—Computer Techniques—3 credits
    ES F209—Statics—3 credits
    ES F210—Dynamics—3 credits
    ES F301—Engineering Analysis—3 credits
    ES F331—Mechanics of Materials—3 credits
    ES F341—Fluid Mechanics—4 credits
    ESM F450W—Economic Analysis and Operations—3 credits
    GE F261—General Geology for Engineers—3 credits
    MATH F202X—Calculus III—4 credits
    MATH F302—Differential Equations—3 credits
    Technical electives**—12 credits
  4. Minimum credits required—134 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

** Technical electives must include 3 credits in the field of environmental engineering or transportation, 6 credits of CE, ENVE, ESM courses or approved technical courses, and 3 credits of either ES F307 or ES F346. Students must earn a C grade or better in each technical elective course. Up to two graduate level courses may be used towards graduation. Graduate level courses must be approved by advisor and the students must be within two semesters of graduation and have at least a 3.0 GPA to take graduate level courses.

Note: The ability to use computers for normal class work is expected in all engineering classes above the F100-level.