Civil Engineering Major

View course descriptions and suggested course sequence.

Civil engineering is one of the broadest of the engineering disciplines, encompassing many interdependent technical specialties. As a civil engineer, you plan, design and supervise the construction of a wide variety of facilities, including space stations and launching facilities, offshore structures, bridges, buildings, tunnels, highways, transit systems, dams, airports, irrigation projects, distribution facilities for water and collection and treatment facilities for wastewater and hazardous wastes.

As a civil engineer, you will use technology’s newest applications. Civil engineers are leading users of state-of-the-art computer methods in design, construction, project scheduling and cost control. Civil engineers are problem solvers, meeting the challenges of pollution, deteriorating infrastructures, traffic congestion, energy needs, floods, earthquakes, urban development and community planning. As you develop your skills, you can move into engineering management, oversee the completion of entire projects and work closely with architects, owners, contractors, government officials and others involved in all aspects of construction.

Like the civil engineering profession, the Air Force civil engineering career field is also broad – including architects, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, environmental engineers and civil engineers. Typically, an Air Force civil engineering officer can expect to work at both base and command-level jobs. The civil engineer at base level is responsible for the construction and maintenance of all facilities – mechanical, electrical and waste disposal systems, as well as hazardous waste management, runways and roads. Accordingly, Air Force civil engineering requires many specialties. Your tasks may include technical design, project planning and programming and managing the maintenance work force of civilian and military personnel. At the command level, your expertise is required to plan, manage and direct the civil engineering efforts on a command-wide basis.

Do you like science and mathematics? Are you curious about how things work and how to make them better? Do you want a major dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone? Then perhaps civil engineering is the major for you. The curriculum provides a well-balanced program stressing the fundamentals of the civil engineering profession and the program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Upon graduation you earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, a BSCE.

Operational Goals
Two to three years after graduation, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering expects its civil engineers to be officers who:

• Possess a breadth of integrated, fundamental knowledge in the basic sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences and also possess a depth of knowledge in civil engineering and in environmental engineering.
• Can communicate effectively.
• Demonstrate leadership and can work effectively with others.
• Are independent, lifelong learners.
• Can apply their knowledge and skills to frame and solve Air Force civil and environmental engineering problems.
• Understand their ethical and professional responsibilities as embodied in the Air Force core values.
• Can function effectively in contingency operations.

Curricular Outcomes
Each Civil Engineering graduate shall demonstrate satisfactorily :

• Applications of the fundamental concepts of civil engineering to solve engineering problems.
• Laboratory techniques including design of experiments, procedures, recording, and analysis.
• Engineering skills, including construction processes.
• Use of contemporary civil engineering analysis, design, and test tools.
• Written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of ethical and professional responsibilities.
• Depth of knowledge and skills in civil engineering and breadth of knowledge and skills in environmental engineering, computers, mathematics, and other disciplines to effectively identify and solve the types of complex, multidisciplinary problems they will face as Air Force Civil and Environmental Engineers.
• Knowledge of the benefits and skills needed to engage in life-long learning.
• Ability to be effective multidisciplinary team members.
• Skills to be an independent learner while knowing when to seek help.
• Knowledge of the role of Air Force engineering officers in our global society.
• Knowledge of contemporary social, economic, political, military, and engineering issues.