<p>Right now, I'm considering majoring in civil engineering. I have not and will not have taken calculus or physics in high school. I took precal as a junior and I am in a Math Standard Level IB Class right now. I am a senior. Is this bad? Also, what kinds of math do civil engineers encounter in college? What other classes than math are common/requirements for civil engineers? I know someone who is trying to talk me into being an engineer and he says that as a practicing civil engineer, he does not need more than geometry to succeed. Is this correct?</p>
<p>Well, looking at my undergraduate catalog (UF, by the way), civil engineers go through Calc. 1-3 and Differential Equations for the math requirement. Since you haven't taken calculus, they'l make you go through Pre-calc. w/ Trig. as well. </p>
<p>Also included are Physics w/ Calculus 1-2, along with engineering core classes (i.e. Statics, Thermodynamics, engineering statistics). Then it subdivides into specialties: construction engineering, general civil, geotechnical, hydrology & water resources, structural, and transportation. </p>
<p>Can't tell you much about how much math is actually used in the profession, though, as I'm just an undergrad here (aero. eng.) I figure the math and science core requirements are going to be the same at other schools (albeit under slightly different course names).</p>
<p>You'll take Calc 1-3 and Diff Eq, that's pretty much universal. How much of that will you use as a Civil Engineer? Probably very little. You'll definately need strong algebra, geometry and trig skills.</p>
<p>Depends upon what you want to do, Alex. More of the interesting and difficult civil engineering work takes more interesting and difficult coursework. Calc and Diff Eq and Lin Alg are all necessary to get a civ degree, and that's the bottom line. We've all got to learn it at some point along the road.</p>
<p>Will you need all that higher math in the future? Well, do you want to design CVS buildings and Walmarts, or cutting-edge bridges and record-breaking skyscrapers? It's all relative. Civil engineering encompasses a broad range of disciplines, and they all have their own requirements.</p>
<p>I know a few people who hadn't taken calc before college (I might as well not have taken it with how little I learned) so if you don't take it try to take a summer course at yoru junior college. I did this for physics and it helped so much. No joke, definitely think about it at least.</p>