I’m someone considering Civil or Environmental Engineering as a major. I like math and science, I’m also confident in learning these things as I’m not a mathematical genius. I was curious to see if any of the classes in these fields were fun.
These are the upper level classes in Civil Engineering I’m interested in:
Earthquake Engineering
GeoTechnical Engineering
Environmental Geotechnology
Structural Analysis
Transportation Planning
Transportation systems analysis
Fluid mechanics
Hydraulics
Hydrology
Transportation Engineering
Structural Engineering
These are the upper level classes in Environmental Engineering I’m interested in:
Water Resources Engineering
Sustainability
Environmental Hydrology
Environmental Fluid Mechanics
Water Quality modeling or management
Water and wastewater treatment
Water chemistry
Microbial Ecology
Air Quality management
Air pollution control & Design
These are the Foundation/Pre-req classes required for Civil and Environmental Engineering:
Calculus I
Calculus II
Multivariate Calculus
Linear Algebra or Diffrential Equations
Statistics
General Chemistry 1
General Chemistry 2
General Biology 1
General Biology 2(required for Environmental)
Mechanics
Heat, Electricty, and optics(required for Civil)
Vector Mechanics-Statics
Thermodynamics
Dynamics
Transforming Ideas to Innovation I
Transforming Ideas to Innovation II
Geometric modeling for visualization(required for Civil)
Well, I concentrated in structures so I enjoyed all the structural classes. If you decide you want to become a structural engineer, you need to be sure to take design classes in concrete and steel for sure, and preferably wood and masonry, also. Employers will be looking for classes like those. A foundation design class is a good idea, also.
There are SO many classes to take - that’s why I majored in architectural engineering instead of civil, because I wanted to concentrate on buildings. I had no interest in hydrology, transportation, etc. and didn’t want to waste my time on those.
I think my interests lean more toward Environmental, Hydraulics, Hydrology, water resources, and maybe GeoTechnical. Structural, transportation, and construction Engineering interest me because of the work of how a construction project Is started, worked on, and finished seems interesting. A buildings strength against things like wind, pressure, etc is another thing that sometimes interests me. When it comes to transportation, traffic, or road planning I tend to have an interest in an areas traffic flow, how many cars the current or new road has or will have, and how this affects the traffic on other roads. I tend to also have an interest in the budlings and roads foundation is why I have an interest in Geotechnical. I also am very interested in sewers and how much water the storm sewers can collect.
VERY good question! The proffered answers are misleadingly specific. If you are looking for an accredited engineering degree, look to the Accrediting Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) for an accredited engineering program. The following ABET website indicates a far more flexible approach which may be of interest to those looking for a more broadly based solution. Checkout http://www.abet.org/accreditation/accreditation-criteria/criteria-for-accrediting-engineering-programs-2016-2017/#curriculum.
OK, the answer was not straight forward! Still looking for a prescribed answer?
What would you be doing for a career? What do civil engineers actually do? Watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJaRjI7K-Lw.
Yes you will need lots of math and science. The mix of courses vary depending on how you choose your coursework (and probably research). Within the broad ABET framework, individual school programs may vary.
A registered professional engineers (RPE), are common in the profession of civil engineering and must pass further examinations after their undergraduate studies to earn this designation.
CEs in my undergraduate school often liked the outdoors. Others actually survive in New York city!
Computer models of burning buildings require a great deal more chemistry than most CE studies and were used by civil engineer PhDs to develop a greater understand of the 9/11 fires and the resultant collapse of the World Trade Center. Civil engineers with this concentration also require a strong understanding of structures, material science and must develop the necessary skills to effectively present their findings to politicians and architects (not an easy sell!).
In the end, a good job really does save innumerable lives but all the drama goes to doctors!
I never studied civil engineering, but I worked with them as an economist. We were studying transportation and its economic impact on all of us. Another undergraduate and neighbor ended up as one of the nation’s top designers of golf courses. The list goes on and on!
I think you’re asking the wrong question. This is like asking, “I’m thinking of going to an amusement park. Are any of the following rides fun? Roller coaster, ferris wheel, drop tower…”
“Fun” or “interesting” are completely subjective. Nobody else can tell you whether you’ll enjoy some of these classes or not. Some do enjoy them. Others don’t.
@AuraObscura the purpose of this thread is to find out what others enjoy or how others enjoy these classes.