Civil Engineering (Major)
The department presents a well-rounded program for the bachelor’s degree with the first two years devoted primarily to the basic principles of science and engineering. The third and fourth years are devoted to courses in the basic areas of civil engineering—structural analysis and design, hydraulics and hydrology, water supply and wastewater disposal, materials of construction, geotechnical engineering, and transportation engineering. A student may emphasize a particular area of interest by selecting either the structures or hydraulics concentrations, with an option for students to add an additional concentration in construction management. Civil engineering electives in the senior year may be regular courses, individualized directed study or research courses. The civil engineering program will culminate with major design experience in the senior year. Student teams will work closely with industry professionals and faculty who act as consultants on a real-world design projects to facilitate the student’s understanding of the design process.
The program provides a firm foundation in the many basic disciplines comprising the broad field of civil engineering. This is especially desirable, for often in the course of professional development the civil engineer is asked to coordinate the planning, design, and construction of highly complex systems and must use many or all of these disciplines.
The department has excellent facilities for research available to both graduate and undergraduate students. These facilities include a structural dynamics/structural control laboratory; a materials testing and structural research laboratory; a groundwater hydrology field laboratory; and a number of analytical laboratories for water, wastewater and hazardous waste treatment.
The professional aspects of civil engineering are emphasized and promoted by the activities of a student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, in which all students of the department are eligible and encouraged to participate. In addition, a junior class field trip examines major infrastructure projects and environmental systems including tall buildings, bridges, stadiums, transportation systems, navigations systems, flood protection works, clean water supply, and wastewater systems.
Further details about the civil engineering may be found on the Web at ceees.nd.edu.
First Year of Studies
First-year students intending to major in civil engineering when they become sophomores will find first-year course requirements on the first page of the College of Engineering section.
The following courses are applicable to students entering the College in 2026.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| EG 10117 | Engineering Design | 3 |
| CHEM 10171 & CHEM 11171 |
Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 10550 | Calculus I | 4 |
| WR 13100 | Writing and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| MOR 10101 | Moreau First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| University Seminar | 3 | |
| MATH 10560 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 10310 | Engineering Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| EG 10118 | Engineering Computing | 3 |
| First Year Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 20550 | Calculus III | 3.5 |
| PHYS 10320 | Engineering Physics II: Electromagnetism | 4 |
| CE 20150 | Statics | 3 |
| CE 20111 | Planet Earth | 3 |
| CE 20600 | Computational Visualization and BIM of Engineering Systems | 2 |
| Hours | 15.5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MATH 20580 | Introduction to Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 3.5 |
| ACMS 30440 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| AME 20241 | Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| CE 30160 & CE 31160 |
Civil Engineering Materials and Materials Laboratory |
4 |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16.5 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MATH 30650 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| CE 30125 | Computational Methods | 3 |
| CE 30200 | Introduction to Structural Engineering | 3 |
| CE 30300 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 30460 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CE 40270 | Reinforced Concrete Design 2 | 4 |
| CE 40450 & CE 41450 |
Hydraulics and Hydraulics Lab |
3.5 |
| CE 30150 | Modeling and Dynamics of Building Systems | 3 |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16.5 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CE 40620 | Transportation Engineering and Construction | 3 |
| Core Concentration Elective 2 | 3-4 | |
| CE 40701 | Principles of Practice | 1 |
| CE 30510 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3.5 |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 13.5-14.5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CE 40702 | Senior Design | 3 |
| Core Concentration Elective 2 | 3 | |
| CE Elective 2 | 3 | |
| CE Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Core Curriculum course 1 | 3 | |
| Moreau Senior Capstone | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 128-129 | |
- 1
See “University Core Curriculum” on the College of Engineering overview.
- 2
All electives are as defined in the academic guide for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences on the department’s website. Structures concentration will require 129 credits, Hydraulics concentration will require 128 credits. Add-on Construction concentration is not included in this total.
- NOTE
Certain graduate courses are open to advanced undergraduates with permission of the department chair.