What
is a Civil Engineer? What is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering is the oldest branch of engineering. The Roman
aqueducts and the pyramids of Egypt are early examples of civil engineering works.
Originally, the name "civil" was used to distinguish this type of
"civilian" project from those done for the military.
Today, civil engineering encompasses a wide range of projects and
activities for the welfare and safety of the general public. Civil engineers are
responsible for the planning, design, and construction of such projects as bridges,
buildings, highways, traffic control systems, and facilities for the treatment of water
supplies and waste water. Civil engineers are also involved in solving the problems of
hazardous waste and air pollution.
Specialized areas within the discipline of civil engineering include
structural engineering, construction engineering, transportation engineering,
environmental engineering, water resources engineering, and foundation engineering. Civil
engineers are also active in such diverse fields as urban planning and aerospace
engineering.
Career
Opportunities
The broad background provided by a civil engineering education is
preparation for a wide range of careers, In addition to the traditional areas of civil
engineering such as structural design, construction, and environmental engineering, men
and women trained as civil engineers can be found in the aerospace industry, the computer
industry, and almost every field of endeavor in both government and the private sector.
Civil engineers can work as planners, designers, or both. Some work in sales, and many
experienced engineers are in management positions.
The
Civil Engineering Program at The U of M
At the undergraduate level, the at The UniversiDepartment
of Civil Engineeringty of Memphis
offers the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. A student can specialize in
structural, environmental, construction, foundation, water resources, and transportation
engineering by taking the appropriate elective courses.
The faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering represent a wide
range of experience, both as educators and as professional engineers. Some are authors of
engineering textbooks, and some are actively engaged in research projects to further the
state of knowledge in civil engineering.
Because the program in Civil Engineering is accredited by the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), The University of Memphis is
authorized to have a student chapter of the American Society
of Civil Engineers (ASCE). This group provides for interaction among students and
between students and faculty outside the classroom and helps in still a sense of
professionalism through contact with the national organization.
Graduates of the department can be found all over the world, working at
all levels of government and with consulting firms, industry, major computer
manufacturers, and construction companies. Some of our graduates are owners of their own
engineering firms or hold top management positions. Some have returned to school to obtain
advanced degrees and now teach at major universities.
The Civil Engineering curriculum at The University of Memphis is based
on a solid foundation of mathematics and science, and students interested in any field of
engineering should obtain a strong background in these areas in high school.
This website was originally
developed by
Charles Camp for
CIVL
1112.
This site is maintained by the
Department of Civil Engineering
at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.
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