Civil Engineering Career Training Guide

Question: Civil Engineering? I am interested in going to university in a few years and doing a civil engineering degree. My father is a civil engineer and says I have the capability to become one too. I have a few questions 1)Is Civil Engineering a good job? 2) Do Civil Engineers earn a lot? How much on average? 3) Is an American Civil Engineering Degree valid in Australia? Thanks.

Answer: great job. pay depends if you go in private or government. pay is more in private, but benefits in the public sector leave private industries in the dust. project managers in america average over 100K (US Dollars). You start low (around 50-55K), but you can move up the ladder easily depending on following factors: never ending determination to learn people skills My dad was a civil engineer in the public sector and his retirement package is 100K every year for the rest of his life with guarunteed cost of living increases every year!

Question: Civil engineering....? what does civil/structural engineering degree involves? what kind of jobs does it lead to?i am considering doing a civil or structural engineering degree and have a wide idea of what it is but i would like to see what people who have done it think and what they had to do and did they enjoy it..please help...it always improtant to hear what people think of it instead on univesity prospectus.

Answer: A civil engineering degree involves lots of studies in calculus, physics, trig, statics, strengths of materials, etc. The job opportunities are wide-ranging. Design of buildings, highways, bridges, water/sewer systems; management of heavy construction; research, design and consulting in pavements, materials, geotechnical - many choices. I enjoy it because it typically involves projects that benefit the public, and the projects are large scale.

Question: What is civil engineering and what is urban planning? I'm looking at what I want to major in at college (I'm a sophomore in high school), and what I want to pursue for a career. I ran across a profession called civil engineering, and another one called urban planning. What do civil engineers and urban planners do? What are the differences between the two? By the way, I read about those professions through an article about lucrative jobs in the environmental or "green" field.

Answer: Civil engineers work on the details of building projects (could be buildings, bridges, or something else)...how many columns will it need, how far apart should they be, what type of concrete should be used, what would happen to it in the event of an earthquake, etc. Urban planners work on creating and evaluating more general plans for how cities should look and function...they might develop ideas like making a certain street pedestrian-only or banning buildings over four stories high in a certain neighborhood.

Question: Would majoring in civil engineering and doing a minor in biomedical engineering be a good combination? Would majoring in civil engineering and doing a minor in biomedical engineering be a good combination? Would it work? I know that biomedical engineering is related more to mechanical engineering and computer and electrical engineering, but is there any common ground between these two different engineering types? References would be great.

Answer: Those are very different types of Engineering and I fail to see how they might compliment one another or benefit someone to have that major/minor combination degree. Biomedical is more related to the medical industry as to design of equipment and processes to sustain lives so a major and minor combination (if you wanted one) in a life science or related Engineering would be a better match. Civil and Mechanical would be more complimentary as well as Civil and Environmental Engineering, or Civil and Chemical or even Civil and Electrical. A bigger stretch would be something like Electrical Engineering and Biomedical major/minor in which the EE major would help you with a deeper understanding of electrical systems designs and with that minor might be useful for medical equipment designs.

Question: What exactly is difference between civil engineering and structural engineering? I am doing an undergraduate course to apply for uni in september. And as I am applying for civil engineering I would like to know what it differs from structural thanks

Answer: Structural is one discipline within civil engineering. Civil engineering can be thought of as infrastructure engineering, encompassing structural engineering, hydraulic engineering, sanitary engineering (waste water treatment, landfill engineering, etc.), water resources engineering (which includes but is not limited to topics related to the environment, bodies of water, etc.), construction engineering, and geotechnical engineering (and I may even be leaving something out here). Civil is a broad discipline made up of many sub-categories that aren't necessarily related to one another. Once you get in a civil program, its likely that you will have to choose a specific focus which most of your classes are relevant to, and then you'll take some technical electives that give a more broad view of other areas. EDIT: Thanks muffinisis, I forgot roadway/transportation engineering! Also, houses and hotels ARE structures.

Question: After finishing bachelor degree in Civil Engineering Can i pursue my Masters in architecture/interior design? I think you get the idea of my question i am a first year student in university and i am studying Civil Engineering and i am really into designing and stuff, so i am wondering after getting my degree can i go and study architecture or interior design (i mostly into architecture more then interior)? And if i can how many years would it be because it is mostly 2 or 1 year and a half? Ps: I don't mind studying Urban planning also since is the same as architecture.

Answer: You will need to check the websites of the architecture schools which interest you in order to find out their prerequisites for their M.Arch.programs.

Question: What's the difference between Engineering and Civil Engineering? I want to know how many years it takes to complete a degree in each field and how the curriculum compares. I'm looking at Engineering and Water Resources Civil Engineering. Information will be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Engineering covers an overly broad field ranging from the Sanitary engineer who sweeps up the streets to Structural Engineers like Gustav Eifel who design incredibly complex structures and bridges. In between you will find: Chemical, Corrosion, Safety, Mining, Electrical, Mechanical, Software, and a host of other 'Engineers'/ I think what you are focusing on, however is the fields of Professional Engineering . These are like Doctors or Lawyers and require a form of State licence to present yourself as one for hire. Civil Engineers have many subclasses (Drainage, Traffic, etc..) while a Structural Engineer is lke a PhD of engineering. Electrial and Mechanical Engineers are completely different professions but united to Civil in their basic roots of math and science. Typically, you will spend 5 to 6 years to get a solid engineering degree PLUS you will spend at least two to five years getting your professional credential depending upon when you start working on it (you can do that while you are still in college). Generally, around the second year of your degree, you will need to decide what type of engineer you want to be and your cirriculum will then be focused around that. .

Question: Where is a good place to look for civil engineering jobs in Ireland? I've just graduated from college in the US with a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering. I'm planning on moving to Ireland next year, but I'm having trouble finding job announcements for entry level civil engineering positions. How is the job situation in Ireland? Is there a good place on the web to look for jobs? I suppose I might also be interested in companies in Wales and other areas of the UK.

Answer: The best places to look are the main contractors to the big boys. Get in touch with the Electrical Board and Water Board of Ireland (that have a multimillion Euro turn-over), they will be able to give you the names of the main contractors to those. I live in Wales so only know of the Civil Contractors over there which wont help you. Good luck. If you need names of Civil Contractors in Wales, then shout.

Question: Is it possible to get full-time engineering jobs in civil engineering? Is it possible get full-time employment in structural engineering? Or are most of the positions available for contracted positions so your contracted for a couple of years? What kinda of civil engineering jobs are full-time? Do civil engineers have to consistenly look for new work and move from city to city or can they work for a companny that looks for new projects after one is completed andd just keep working on new projects for the one company.

Answer: Most civil/structural engineering jobs are permanent, full-time. I've worked for the same company for 9 years now. I work on multiple projects at a time and when I finish one project, I just start another with the same company. I don't like to travel so I've chosen a job where I only do projects within my state (there are a lot of those types of jobs available). I do on occasion have to do site visits at other parts of the state so I might need to spend say maybe one night elsewhere cause the site is far from my home but this very rare for me. I'll have to tell you, right now, the economy has really hurt the civil engineering field and many new CE graduates cannot find jobs (at least in my state). It's hard to say what the market will be like by the time you would graduate. There could be a strong demand cause everyone has been discouraged from studying CE cause they were just looking at the market right now and not thinking about the future. Or, if the country is still in a deep recession, then it will still be very hard for a CE graduate to get a job. Its hard to say. You might ask a CE professor what they think the future market will be like but take their advice (as well as anyone elses) with a grain of salt cause no one can predict the future.

Question: How much math is used in civil engineering? I have always heard that mathematics is heavily involved in engineering, but I've never seen actual equations that civil engineers do. Where, when, and how do these equations apply? An example of an equation an engineer might see on a random day would be awesome.

Answer: It really depends on what sub-branch of Civil you are referring to. Transportation folks have equations to describe traffic flow. Structural folks have equations to describe loading on beams and structures Environmental folks have equations to describe chemical reactions in lakes and streams Geotech folks have equations to describe soil loading behavior. Hydrologists have equations to describe surface water flow. The thing is, nowadays, most of the final work is done by computer or is constrained by codes and the day to day equation hacking is done to get a ballpark estimate or to make sure that you're going the right direction before plugging things into the computer. That means that most of the equations are pretty simple. For example: (transportation) If you have two bridges across your local body of water (river, lake, bay) and you have to close one of them for the weekend to do repair work, you would be interested in knowing if the other one will be congested. So, you make up a really simple equation based on what you know. Demand = Normal hourly demand on bridge 1 + normal hourly demand on bridge 2 If Demand exceeds capacity on the open bridge, you have problems! See, I told you it would be simple.. The next step would be to quantify how much excess demand you have, estimate average delays, expected diversion rates and develop alternate routes. Another example: If you have a uniform distributed wind load of X, and a cross sectional area of Y, then the force (F) on a sign will be X*Y and can be treated as though it was a point load at the sign's centroid. Assuming that the sign is symmetrical and supported from the middle, The bending load /bending moment (or overturning moment) at the base of the sign is H*F and you'd better be sure that whatever post you are putting it on can hold it up when the wind blows. (and yes, 90% of the time you just look at the table that says "use a 4x4 wood post for signs between this area and this area") But when you have a structure that was put in place 10 years ago that you now want to replace the signs with some that are larger (to save the $200,000 a new signbridge would cost) you do the math yourself and then plug it into your software.

Question: what's the difference between civil engineering and construction engineering? I found a construction engineering but what's the differences civil engineering? Which career could I find more jobs opportunites?

Answer: Most of the time a construction engineer(sometimes called construction technician or construction technologist) a is a either two or four year technology degree that is more involved with project management and to see the plans and designs of the civil engineer are carried out correctly. They usually sit at the job site day to day to make sure the jobs are being done right. The civil engineer actually spends most of his time in developing the designs of an architect in putting in the proper structural framework, drainage, waste handling and general building engineering issues. civil engineer- http://www.bls.gov/K12/build05.htm construction engineer http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos112.htm Civil engineering is usually more difficult, but theyy both have job opportunities. The construction engineer might be a little easier to get if you are a smart cookie, because they get paid less and they usually serve a double duty as project manager and foreman crew member in one

Question: How can a civil engineer graduate major in mechanical engineering? Do civil engineers' require some intermediate courses' to go through before starting a major in mechanical engineering?

Answer: Toughest part is if your school offers the Major? If they do, most will allow the advanced courses to undergraduates with excellent grades.

Question: What are the best civil engineering schools in California? I am a community college student who has taken all the math and physics and I want to know which schools to apply to. Who are the best CSUs? I know Cal-Poly SLO and San Jose State are pretty good. Who else? Who are the best UCs? I know Berkeley, Davis, and UCLA have good civil engineering programs. Who else? I can't afford private schools, so, I probably won't look at any.

Answer: I know the 2nd best engineering school in the nation is in california and thats harvey mudd but other than that i don't know about the rest

Question: What's a career related to civil engineering but very hands-on? Hi, I want to major in civil engineering but I don't want to end up behind a desk crunching numbers or doing computer models as I fear would be the case. Are there any hands-on opportunities that are part of or related to civil engineering? And, what sort of degree would be required for each career? Thanks.

Answer: No... Engineering is completely analysis of data and structure. There is nothing hands-on about it. You sit and you do math equations. That's the basic job description.

Question: Is a bachelors in civil engineering or environmental engineering better to go into green building design? I am currently still in college getting my bachelors in environmental engineering with a concentration in sustainable materials and energy. I decided I want to go into the construction industry with a focus on green building and design. Should I switch to civil engineering or stay with environmental?

Answer: architecture, not CE or EnvE. Probably CE ahead of EnvE. Probably ME ahead of CE. Regardless, you will then be required to become LEED or equivalent.

Question: What additional qualification do I need to have along civil engineering degree to have an edge over others? I will be completing my civil engineering course in about 3 years. So are there additional course or qualifications that would make me out of the crowd and help me get placement in a reputed company

Answer: An advice from a civil/structural engineer with 20 years experience. Get 2 to 3 years experience then take an MBA

Question: What language would be most important for Civil Engineering? I already know English and have been learning Chinese (Mandarin) for the last two years. I'm wondering what would be most important to learn next. I've heard Arabic, Spanish, and French are important in general but what would be most important for civil engineering? Again, I already know English.

Answer: probably spanish if you are in the US

Question: What are the prospects for civil engineering? What is the future job outlook for this career? Considering the current economy crisis and outsourcing, I cannot decide on any form of career. Is that good or bad seeing that I'm almost done with my sophomore year of high school? And does it require higher level math? well of course it does, but not as rigorous as say, electrical engineering? Would you have to be like a straight A+ math student to be a civil engineer?

Answer: At my school, you have to take 5 'math' courses as a civil engineer - calculus 1, 2, and 3, linear algebra, and differential equations. There are also numerous other courses that are math-based, such as numerical methods classes and statistics. Although there are many math classes in the degree, you just need to pass these classes to get the degree. If you don't do well in math, there are more than enough physics-based classes to pull up your GPA if you are worried about it. Saying this, math is something you will deal with throughout your degree, so if it is difficult for you, be prepared to work very hard to make sure you understand it. Also, make sure you get whatever math mark you need to get into the college or university you want to apply for. This varies from school to school, so check the marks for the specific schools you're interested in.

Question: What college should I transfer to for civil engineering? Basically what colleges have the best civil engineering programs? What is the best for the tuition? I live in Illinois so something in-state would be nice. I also love Colorado and would consider going out there if they have any good programs.

Answer: Except for the top ranked schools, it basically makes no difference, so long as the program is ABET-accredited. University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign has the #1 ranked Civil Engineering program in the USA. Bradley University, in Peoria, is also ranked high.

Question: How do I know Civil Engineering or Electrical Engineering is right for me? I'm accepted into an undergraduate study into Civil & Environmental Engineering and also Electrical Engineering. I need to choose between the two. If I choose CEE, then I'll go into Transportation and Construction. I will go into electronics engineering for EE. I find EE more interesting, but I'm a bit concerned of the academic and job outlook aspects (studies in electrial systems, circuit theories, DSP, programming, etc...) as they seem more difficult and not as intuitive as CEE. And I haven't been able to find internships for undergraduates who finished their first year while I can find many more for CEE as job market for EE doesn't seem good in Seattle, WA, USA.

Answer: Kevin, I got my EE degree a looong time ago when EEs were still in demand (and the starting salary was in the mid 20's to low 30's to give you an idea of how long ago this was). As I see it, there are far fewer opportunities there since most of the focus of innovation in EE is on microprocessors, where inroads are hard to make. With the booming population in need of infrastructure, the demand I believe will be higher for CEE. Either way, you will suffer through a lot of math & physics, although I think CEE gets a little less of it than EE. Good luck.

Question: What exactly does one do in the Civil Engineering Corps of the Navy? I am currently thinking about joining the CEC my junior year of college but don't exactly know what the do. Of course I can assume that it is related to Civil Engineering, but could it involve work in Iraq, or is that the Army of private contractors?

Answer: http://www.navy.com/careers/officer/engineering/ Here's some further information. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/officerjo2/a/ce.htm

Question: What should i do to pursue my dreams of civil engineering beyond its consequences? i am a first year college of BS civil engineering, but i am still confused on what course i should take. I enjoy solving and calculating numbers but i think my capacities are still not enough to reach that of a succesful engineer. what must i do?

Answer: First, i just want to say is to never give up on your dream of being a civil engineer (trust me..u will need it). Second...you should ask yourself how bad do you really want to be a successful engineer? because it will help u pass those courses u will likely to fail in the future..even if youve tried really hard to pass it (not trying to scare u..lol). Sometimes u may need to stay up till morning to study but it will definitely pay off in the end or during your lifetime after u got good job. Every engineering school have a ciriculum to follow so just follow it and you will be fine. The program already designed in a way that you need to take prequisite courses to get to the next course. Work hard, have fun during your breaks so you don't get burn out in classes. Another thing is...if you not exceptionally good at math then you probably will struggle a lot so i would suggest beef up your math skill.

Question: How good is the civil engineering program in the university of houston? also,what is the best school for civil engineering in texas?

Answer: I know UH is not one of the top universities in the country, but I have heard that their architecture and engineering programs are really good. I know UT has a good engineering program also (not sure how the civil engineering ranks but I'm sure it's good too).

Question: Is the level of maths required in civil engineering lower/easier than for other kinds of engineering? I am not that good at maths but I am not that bad either. However, would it be correct in assuming that civil engineering is easier than other engineering disciplines?

Answer: Slightly easier. For any engineering degree, you need to be proficient in math. All ABET accredited engineering schools require completion of the calculus series and differential equations for all disciplines. It may be an ABET requirement, I'm not certain, but most schools require completion of at least one additional math elective beyond differential equations for a degree in ME and EE. The school where I received an EE degree, required two additional math electives for BSEE, and one additional math elective for a BSME degree. Additionally, I had talk a modern physics course to get an EE degree. For all other engineering disciplines you are required only a one year classical physics sequence. The modern physics course was much more difficult to me than the additional math courses.

Question: Could I major in mechanical engineering and then go to graduate school for civil engineering? I would like to go into the field of civil engineering but my current school does not offer this as an undergraduate major. I am currently in the mechanical engineering program. Would it make more sense to transfer to a school with civil engineering as a major or go to graduate school for civil engineering after completing my bachelor's in mechanical?

Answer: You should probably look at transferring, but not for many of the reasons stated. As an ME youre going to take statics, mechanics, and fluids. Most of youre classes will be similar. The problem actually lies in soil mechanics and advanced structures. You will need these classes to be a CE. Really to be a CE you need a CE degree. There isnt a way around it and trust me if you dont want to be a mechanical you wont make it. I know at my school or ME program has a 70% drop rate becasue of the rigorous coursework. If youre interested in CE then transfer. ME school isnt for the unsure or the faint of heart

Question: Is Civil Engineering a rewarding career with variety? I'm looking at pursuing a Civil Engineering degree, figure the economy has 4 or 5 years before it's back in full gear. Is life what it's cracked up to be as a Civil Engineer? Are the veterans of the business fulfilled with their career choice or are you stuck in the office and technically dealing with politics on a daily basis. Let's face it Big Corporate Offices are poisonous to a persons soul.

Answer: Any profession is "a rewarding career with variety" if you are interested it it. Do what you love.

Question: How can I find a Job in Civil Engineering while am still undergraduate in New Orleans? How can I find a Job in Civil Engineering while am still undergraduate in New Orleans? i want to work like around 20-30 hours a week in a civil engineering company to get lil experience... where do u think i can apply for?

Answer: Yeah, you picked the wrong career. There are no jobs in Civil Engineering. It is a dying career field.

Question: What civil engineering company offers lots of travel? also what does civil engineering involve, like what do you actually do in the job? Possible studying it next year in uni.

Answer: Any internationally engaged company constructing any kind of infrastructure from roads, bridges, dams, powerplants, airports, refineries, waterworks, tunnels, harbours, even chairlifts - you name it; whether themselves or using local licencees. But don't enter engineering mainly in order to travel. Go in because you love the engineering challenge.

Question: How can I get free access to online Civil engineering books and articles? I am interesting in free online practical Civil Engineering books which can help me in practical field.

Answer: Try the ASCE research library it has some good articles on civil engineering. You will have many options to choose for example you can choose bridges

Question: HELP! What is the difference between architecture and civil engineering department in college? I wanna go to America for MA or PHD and i have 3 years work experiences as a building curtain wall designer, dealing with shop drawings , detail drawings and so on. I want to get a further study of these, and I am interested in building function design but not the vision design, which department should I choose, architecture or civil engineering? Thanks a lot!

Answer: Architects focus on how a structure would look. They are more on the aesthetic features. Civil engineers focus on how a structure should work or function.

Question: What is the scope of Civil Engineering in India and abroad? I am an undergraduate student and will be taking admissions for engineering college this june. Iam really interested in Civil but I am confused about to pursue it as a career.

Answer: I am a mechanical engineer and I work in projects management career; so I can tell you that in most developing countries and countries which are investing in buildings like Dubai in middle east, China and so on, a civil engineer is required a lot to manage projects. He/she is either required to work from office (controlling, design and technical drawings, consultancy and so on), or in the field (site engineers who ensures that what is designed is done in the real life) It is a good career and never ends. People will never stop building homes, factories, theaters, stadiums, bridges and an endless list.... :) They will also never stop desig and construct sewage networks, water treatment plants and all other infrastructure works. Also in the field of constructing the Civil engineer is usually the manager or head of the engineering team that might be from electrical, mechanical and civil. If you like stress analysis & engineering drawings; then civil engineering would be a good choice for you. Good luck

Question: I basically want to know the difference between civil engineering and architecture? I am extremely fascinated by buildings. Im in my 12th grade and i dont know which path to opt for. Some say that civil engineers have to stay at the construction site all day long to supervise the work whereas some say that architects do not get paid well. Does civil engineering deal with designing or construction ? I am looking forward for a job that promises me a comfortable future..... Thanking you Pratik Doshi

Answer: Its true that both fields deal with buildings, but civil engineering is not limited to that. You could be working on houses, skyscrapers, bridges, roads, dams and pretty much anything you see built. As far as buildings go, an architect's job is to actually design the building. To choose how it looks, is laid out, and its functionality. The engineers job is to ensure that it is structuraly safe, meets building codes, and is placed in a safe area (soil quality, flood zones, ect.). The engineer will also design the sewege system, storm drainage, water main system, gas lines, roads, and much more. It is also true that civil engineers spend time at the job site, but so do architects. Both occasionally visit jobs to ensure everything is going to plan, but spending everyday at the site is more in the field of construction management. Some engineers spend more time at construction sites than others, but most spend plenty of time making calculations and drawings. Both careers offer good pay, and both will require a lot of education. To become a civil engineer in the true sense of the word i.e. licensed with a stamp, one must have a bachelors degree plus five years in the field. The requirements are similar for licensed architects. You can find plenty of jobs in both areas without all the school and testing doing things like drafting, design engineering, and surveying. My recommendation is to ask as many people in field as you can about their jobs, and apply for internships wherever you can. You can have a parttime job in either area without totally committing to it. You'll also have a good outlook for the future in both feilds. The great thing is that, wherever an architect works, a civil engineer is working. Your job will most likely bring you to an area that is growing in population and building to keep up. However, since civil engineering is so broad, your career possibilities are very diverse. The same can also be said for architecture, but not near the extent of civil engineering.

Question: Would a bachelor degree in civil engineering from US be sufficient enough to work in india? If I have a bachelor degree in civil engineering, would I be able to work in india? I might also get a masters in india if that is not enough.

Answer: enough ... if you want to study in India,then must take care about which university n college or an institute u'll join..with out recognized qualification in India,it will be not more profitable ..

Question: What is harder to get accepted at? Nursing or Civil Engineering in the Philippines School? Hey, i'm just bored. I want to know which is more difficult to meet the admission requirements (which would usually ask for higher requirements) to get into a College or University in the Philippines. If it would be Nursing or Civil Engineering? And i am a freshman coming from highschool.

Answer: If you favor Biology, Chemistry, Math and your a sociable person get Nursing but If your better at Geometry, Math and Physics get Engineering....

Question: Which is the best country to study civil engineering as an exchange student? I am a Mexican student studying Civil Engineering at a Texan university and I would like to study abroad, but I do not know what would be best. I have considered Germany, Italy, Netherlands but advisors from my college insist in Asia. I would like to see any opinion or recommendation. Any other country recommended (excluding Latin America). Which are the best engineering schools in those countries (continent in the case of Asia). Advantages and disadvantages and finally if they can offer courses in English. I am a Mexican student studying Civil Engineering at a university in the US and I would like to study abroad, but I do not know what would be best. I have considered Germany, Italy, Netherlands but advisors from my college insist in Asia. I would like to see any opinion or recommendation. Any other country recommended (excluding Latin America and the US). Which are the best engineering schools in those countries (continent in the case of Asia). Advantages and disadvantages and finally if they can offer courses in English.

Answer: The USA would be the best country to study in.

Question: What exactly does the class, geology, have to do with the major, civil engineering? My major is civil engineering and I am taking a geology class this semester. In my geology class, people who are not majoring in geology were asked to do presentations on why taking a geology class is important for their major. I have a few reasons why geology is important for civil engineering majors, but I am looking for more information on the topic.

Answer: As you know, being a civil engineer, you build stuff. In order to build stuff, you need to put the building on the ground. Geology is all about the ground and without a knowledge of geology, you can't be a civil engineer. Case closed.