Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department Office: 1114 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, (217) 333-8038
Curriculum in Civil Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a profession that applies the basic principles of science in conjunction with mathematical and computational tools to solve problems associated with developing and sustaining civilized life on our planet. Civil engineering works are generally one-of-a-kind projects; they are often grand in scale; and they usually require cooperation among professionals of many different disciplines. The completion of a civil engineering project involves the solution of technical problems in which uncertainty of information and myriad non-technical factors often play a significant role. Some of the most common examples of civil engineering works include bridges, buildings, dams, airports, highways, tunnels, and water distribution systems. Civil engineers are concerned with flood control, landslides, air and water pollution, and the design of facilities to withstand earthquakes and other natural hazards.
The civil engineering program comprises seven main disciplines: construction engineering and management, construction materials engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental hydrology and hydraulics, structural engineering, and transportation engineering. Although each discipline has its own special body of knowledge and engineering tools, they all rely on the same fundamental core principles. Civil engineering projects often draw expertise from many of these disciplines.
Program Review and Approval
To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, each student's academic program plan must be reviewed by a standing committee of the faculty (the Program Review Committee) and approved by the Associate Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering in charge of undergraduate programs. This review and approval process ensures that individual programs satisfy the educational objectives and all of the requirements of the civil engineering program, that those programs do not abuse the substantial degree of flexibility that is present in the curriculum, and that the career interests of each student are cultivated and served.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 133 hours for graduation and is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 | CEE 195—About Civil Engineering |
| 0 | CEE 495—Professional Practice |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 0 | Total |
1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engrg Transfer Orientation instead.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 3 | CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I1 |
| 2 | MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 36 | Total |
1. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Civil Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of civil engineering.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CEE 201 - Systems Engrg & Economics |
| 3 | CEE 202 - Engineering Risk & Uncertainty |
| 3 | CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | GE 101 - Engineering Graphics & Design |
| 3 | TAM 211 - Statics |
| 3 | TAM 212 - Introductory Dynamics |
| 3 | TAM 251 - Introductory Solid Mechanics |
| 4 | TAM 335 - Introductory Fluid Mechanics |
| 25 | Total |
Mathematics, Basic Science, and Engineering Science Electives
These electives allow the student either to gain additional depth in mathematics or science or to gain breadth in mathematics or science essential to specialization in one of the branches of civil engineering. The specific choices of courses in this category are made through the submission of the Plan of Study, which is subject to approval by the faculty Program Review Committee.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Mathematics, basic science, and engineering science electives, selected in accord with recommendations for the chosen primary field in civil engineering as outlined in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.
|
Civil Engineering Technical Electives
This course work is designed to give each student a broad background in the disciplines of civil engineering through the core courses and to allow each student to develop a focused program through advanced technical electives in chosen primary and secondary fields. The primary fields are:
- Construction Engineering and Management
- Construction Materials Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
The fundamental principles of civil engineering design and the behavior of civil engineering systems are emphasized throughout the course work. The specific choices of courses in this category are made through the submission of the Plan of Study, which is subject to approval by the faculty Program Review Committee.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 35 to include at least: | Civil engineering technical courses, selected as follows: |
15 |
Civil Engineering Core Courses. The courses that are required and recommended for the primary and secondary fields are listed in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. Select at least 5 courses from the following list:
|
4 |
CEE 300 - Behavior of Materials |
3 |
CEE 310 - Transportation Engineering |
3 |
CEE 320 - Construction Engineering |
3 |
CEE 330 - Environmental Engineering |
3 |
CEE 350 - Water Resources Engineering |
3 |
CEE 360 - Structural Engineering |
3 |
CEE 380 - Geotechnical Engineering |
12 |
Primary Field Advanced Technical Electives. Select courses from approved lists for appropriate programs of study within one of the seven disciplines of civil engineering. Course lists can be found in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook
|
6 |
Secondary Field Advanced Technical Electives. Select courses from approved lists to complement the primary area and add breadth to the program of study. Course lists can be found in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook
|
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECON 102 - Microeconomic Principles* or ECON 103 - Macroeconomic Principles |
| 15 | Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
| 18 | Total |
* Recommended
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition |
| 3 | BTW 261 - Principles Tech Comm |
| 7 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 133 credit hours earned toward the degree. |
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | CEE 195 - About Civil Engineering1 |
| 0 | ENG 100 - Engineering Orientation |
| 4-3 | GE 101 - Engineering Graphics
& Design or RHET 105 - Principles of Composition2 |
| 4 | MATH 221 - Calculus I3 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 14-15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II |
| 2 | MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231 - Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4-3 | RHET 105 - Principles of Composition or GE 101 - Engineering Graphics & Design 2 |
| 17-16 | Total |
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241 - Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 3 | TAM 211 - Statics |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CEE 201 - Systems Engrg & Economics |
| 3 | CEE 202 - Engineering Risk & Uncertainty |
| 2 | PHYS 213 - Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214 - Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | TAM 212 - Introductory Dynamics |
| 3 | TAM 251 - Introductory Solid Mechanics |
| 16 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | TAM 335 - Introductory Fluid Mechanics |
| 7 | Civil engineering technical courses5 |
| 3 | Mathematics, basic sciences, or engineering sciences elective6 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | BTW 261 - Principles Tech Comm |
| 9 | Civil engineering technical courses5 |
| 3 | Mathematics, basic sciences, or engineering sciences elective6 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 18 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 0 | CEE 495 - Professional Practice |
| 9 | Civil engineering technical courses5 |
| 6 | Electives in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 18 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 10 | Civil engineering technical courses5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities4 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 16 | Total |
1. Offered in the fall semester only and should
be taken no later than the first or second semester of enrollment
in Civil Engineering.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first
year as authorized. The alternative is GE 101.
3. MATH 220 - Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
4. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
5. Civil engineering technical courses are defined as core courses and advanced technical electives and must total 35 hours of credit. Five courses and a minimum of fifteen hours must be core courses as outlined in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. Advanced technical electives are selected to correspond with chosen primary and secondary areas of emphasis in civil engineering as outlined in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. A minimum of twelve and six hours must be taken for the primary and secondary areas, respectively.
6. Mathematics, basic science, and engineering science electives are selected in accord with recommendations for the chosen primary area of emphasis in civil engineering as outlined in the Civil Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.