Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is the longest-standing engineering disciplines. With an increasing global population, the growing complexity of infrastructure, and changing urban centers, the civil engineer’s task is to apply science to the control and utilization of the environment for the total benefit of mankind. 

The civil engineer often is confronted with conditions so variable and complex that they cannot be precisely defined by science and mathematics. Therefore, a knowledge of the arts and social sciences, as well as the physical sciences, is essential. In addition, because civil engineering requires overall planning of large projects whose components involve many other disciplines, it is also necessary to have knowledge of project management techniques. Therefore, the civil engineering program provides an education that enables graduates to make far-reaching decisions that draw not only from technical knowledge but also from integrity and judgment.

The objective of the civil engineering program is to prepare graduates to enter and be successful in the civil engineering profession. Graduates are expected to become licensed professional engineers and to reach responsible positions in a wide range of professional settings, including consulting firms, industry, or government. This program will prepare students to begin and successfully complete graduate studies in engineering and/or post-baccalaureate education in a professional degree program. The civil engineering program provides breadth in core sub-disciplines and depth in areas of specialization. This degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

In professional courses, classroom lectures are supplemented by laboratory practice, including the study of materials, structural engineering, fluid mechanics and hydraulics, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and surveying. The principal functional areas that are considered sub-divisions of civil engineering are structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental and water resources engineering, and construction management.

Students may choose a professional specialization as described on the following pages, or one of many approved minors.

Architecture students who plan to pursue a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering degree should take the following courses:

CAE 303Steel Structures I3
CAE 304Structural Analysis I3
CAE 307Concrete Structures I3
CAE 431Steel Structures II3
CAE 432Concrete Structures II3

Students should consult the Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering curriculum for additional details.

Required Courses

Civil Engineering Requirements (47)
CAE 100Introduction to Engineering Drawing and Design2
CAE 101Introduction to AutoCAD Drawing and Design2
CAE 105Surveying2
CAE 110Professional Practice I1
CAE 111Professional Practice II1
CAE 302Fluid Mechanics3
CAE 303Steel Structures I3
CAE 304Structural Analysis I3
CAE 307Concrete Structures I3
CAE 312Engineering Systems Analysis3
CAE 315Materials of Construction3
CAE 323Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering3
CAE 419Introduction to Transportation Engineering and Design3
CAE 431Steel Structures II3
CAE 432Concrete Structures II3
CAE 457Geotechnical Foundation Design3
CAE 470Construction Methods and Cost Estimating3
CAE 496Fundamentals of Engineering Preparation 10
ENVE 401Introduction to Water Resources Engineering3
CAE Technical Electives (9)
Select 9 credit hours 29
CAE Additional Science Requirement (3)
ENVE 201Earth Environ Sci 33
or CAE 221 Engineering Geology
or BIOL 105 Introduction to Biology
or PHYS 360 Introduction to Astrophysics
Mathematics Requirements (18)
MATH 151Calculus I5
MATH 152Calculus II5
MATH 251Multivariate and Vector Calculus4
MATH 252Introduction to Differential Equations4
Physics Requirements (8)
PHYS 123General Physics I: Mechanics4
PHYS 221General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism4
Capstone Design Requirement (3)
CAE 495Capstone Senior Design3
Chemistry Requirement (4)
CHEM 124Principles of Chemistry I with Laboratory4
Computer Science Requirement (2)
CS 104Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers2
or CS 105 Introduction to Computer Programming
Engineering Course Requirements (9)
CAE 286Theory and Concept of Structural Mechanics3
CAE 287Mechanics of Structural Materials3
MMAE 305Dynamics3
Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) (6)
See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, section E6
Humanities and Social Science Requirements (21)
See Illinois Tech Core Curriculum, sections B and C21
Total Credit Hours130
1

All civil engineering students are required to register for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during their senior year. The examination is offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) throughout the year. 

2

All technical electives must be CAE, ENVE, or EG courses at the 400-level or above. A maximum of one EG course can be used as a CAEE technical elective.

3

Students are encouraged to take ENVE 201 but other listed additional science electives are acceptable with advisor approval. 

 

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Curriculum

Year 1
Semester 1Credit HoursSemester 2Credit Hours
CAE 1002CAE 1012
CAE 1101CAE 1111
CAE 1052MATH 1525
MATH 1515CS 104 or 1052
CHEM 1244PHYS 1234
Humanities 200-level Course3Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3
 17 17
Year 2
Semester 1Credit HoursSemester 2Credit Hours
MATH 2514MATH 2524
CAE 2863CAE 2873
ENVE 201, CAE 221, BIOL 105, or PHYS 36013CAE 3023
PHYS 2214CAE 3123
Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3
 17 16
Year 3
Semester 1Credit HoursSemester 2Credit Hours
CAE 3043CAE 3033
CAE 3153CAE 3073
ENVE 4013CAE 3233
MMAE 3053IPRO Elective II3
IPRO Elective I3Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3
Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3 
 18 15
Year 4
Semester 1Credit HoursSemester 2Credit Hours
CAE 4193CAE 4953
CAE 4313CAE 4960
CAE 4323CAEE Technical Elective23
CAE 4573CAEE Technical Elective23
CAE 4703CAEE Technical Elective23
 Humanities or Social Sciences Elective3
 15 15
Total Credit Hours: 130
1

Students are encouraged to take ENVE 201 but other listed additional science electives are acceptable with advisor approval. 

2

All technical electives must be CAE, ENVE, or EG courses at the 400-level or above. A maximum of one EG course can be used as a CAEE technical elective.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

All civil engineering students are required to register for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during their senior year. The examination is offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) throughout the year. 

Professional Specializations in Civil Engineering

Students who select an area of specialization must take a minimum of nine credit hours from the following technical electives listed under the respective area of specialization.

Three additional credit hours may be any 400-level CAE course taken with prior approval of the student’s adviser and chair.

Environmental Engineering

Select a minimum of nine credit hours from the following courses:9
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Design3
Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety3
Water and Wastewater Engineering3
Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Analysis3
Geoenvironmental Engineering3
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage3
Introduction to Air Pollution Control3
Total Credit Hours9

Construction Engineering and Management

CAE 471Construction Planning and Scheduling3
CAE 472Construction Site Operation3
CAE 473Construction Contract Administration3
Total Credit Hours9

Geotechnical Engineering

Select a minimum of nine credit hours from the following courses:9
Hydraulics, Hydrology, and Their Applications3
Pavement Design, Construction and Maintenance4
Soil and Site Improvement3
Geoenvironmental Engineering3
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage3
Total Credit Hours9

Structural Engineering

CAE 411Structural Analysis II3
Select a minimum of six credit hours from the following courses:6
Bridge and Structural Design3
Introduction to Wind and Earthquake Engineering3
Design of Masonry and Timber Structures3
Homeland Security Concerns in Engineering Systems3
Other 400- or 500-level courses may be used towards the specialization with the prior approval of the student's adviser.
3
Total Credit Hours9

Transportation Engineering

Select a minimum of three courses from the following:9
Facility Design of Transportation Systems3
Railroad Engineering and Design3
Homeland Security Concerns in Engineering Systems3
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
Total Credit Hours9