The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Civil engineering graduates are well prepared for professional work or graduate school in a broad spectrum of engineering activities. The program is balanced, stressing environmental engineering; soil mechanics and foundations; structural analysis and design; surveying and mapping; transportation and traffic engineering; water resources and hydraulics. The program emphasizes quality undergraduate teaching and active student learning, including extensive use of laboratory and co-curricular activities.

Civil Engineering Program Mission

The civil engineering program prepares graduates for immediate entry into a variety of professional careers and provides a solid undergraduate foundation in general principles enabling continued education at advanced levels.

Civil Engineering Educational Objectives

Program educational objectives are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve.

1. Civil Engineering graduates will be prepared to be effective engineers and problem solvers.

2. They will be well educated in engineering sciences and proficient in at least four recognized civil engineering areas.

3. They will be able to appropriately utilize a variety of engineering tools and techniques to enhance their professional abilities.

4. They will be familiar with applicable regulatory and professional issues.

5. They will be effective technical written and oral communicators.

6. They will be able to function effectively as members of multi-disciplinary teams.

7. They will have an appreciation for the individual, society, good citizenship, community service, ethical conduct, and they will be aware of the impact of their designs on humankind and the environment.

Civil Engineering Program Learning Outcomes

Program outcomes are narrower statements that describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. Students completing the civil engineering program must demonstrate:

(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering, including: mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, biology, and four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering.

(b) an ability to design and conduct civil engineering experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret the resulting data;

(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs in more than one civil engineering context and within realistic constraint;

(d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;

(e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;

(f) an understanding of professional ethical responsibility, including the importance of professional licensure;

(g) an ability to communicate effectively;

(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;

(i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;

(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues;

(k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice; and

(l) an understanding of basic concepts in management, business, public policy, and leadership.

Civil Engineering Design Experience

The civil engineering program provides an essential balance of engineering science and design. Design content permeates the curriculum, beginning at a fundamental level in the lower division followed by a natural progression to comprehensive design in upper-division courses. Fundamental design problems typically have a unique solution and may involve only a few, simple constraints. Comprehensive design incorporates a multitude of realistic constraints with a variety of possible outcomescommonly referred to as "open-ended" design.

Required courses in the program provide proficiency in civil engineering design, beginning in the first year (CIVL 131 Introduction to Civil Engineering Design) and culminating with comprehensive design in the third and fourth years (CIVL 415 Reinforced Concrete Design, CIVL 431 Environmental Engineering, and CIVL 441 Transportation Engineering). This ensures a breadth of design experience that is then enhanced and focused in elective courses.

American Public Works Association Internship Program

The APWA Internship Program provides civil engineering students with valuable real world experiences. Participation in the program is elective but can be used for academic credit towards the degree. While students are responsible for finding their own internship opportunity, the Experiential Education Office is an excellent resource for locating companies interested in hiring interns. Additional information is available at the department website http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/ce/.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 127 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

Civil engineering major requirements have modifications to the University's General Education Requirements. The following courses, together with the approved General Education courses required for the civil engineering major, fulfill the General Education Requirement.

1. Select one course from each of the following Breadth areas: A1, A2, C (either C1 or C2 or C3), and D (either D1, or D2, or D3).

2. upper-division theme modification has been approved for this major. See the General Education chapter in the University Catalog for specifics on how to apply this modification.

Accreditation Requirement

Courses must be selected in such a manner as to satisfy the humanities, social science, mathematics, base science, and engineering topics requirements of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Consult your academic advisor for additional information.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See "Diversity Requirement" in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education Requirements.

U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals: 6 units

See "U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals" under "Bachelor's Degree Requirements". For this major, this requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 130 and POLS 155 or approved equivalents.

Literacy Requirement:

See Math and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 107-109 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

Enrollment in any mathematics course requires a grade of C- or higher in all prerequisite courses or their transfer equivalents.

Lower-Division Requirements: 53-55 units

15 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CIVL 110	Graphics for Civil Engineers		2.0	FS
Prerequisites: High school trigonometry and algebra. This course introduces the fundamentals of creating and reading civil engineering drawings by referencing architectural plans, subdivision maps and site plans, in addition to utilizing computer-aided drafting software to produce basic plans. Applications of the computer software include drawing accuracy, layer managing standards, dimensioning standards, sheet layouts, data extraction and drawing management. Topics are reinforced by a drawing project that requires sketching and measuring of existing features to create a set of as-built drawings. Additional course topics related to descriptive geometry include orthographic projections, auxiliary views, perspective drawings, and graphical solutions to vector analysis. 4 hours activity. (020120)
CIVL 130	Surveying		3.0	FA
Prerequisites: MATH 120 (may be taken concurrently). Theory and practice in measurement and computation of distances, angles, and areas on the earth's surface. Error of combined measurements analysis. Use of scientific calculator required. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001484)
CIVL 131	Introduction to Civil Engineering Design		3.0	SP
Prerequisites: CIVL 130. Provides an introduction to civil engineering facilities and systems (environmental, structural, transportation and water resources), environmental impacts of those systems, historical development of design, introduction to design concepts and procedures, examples of the design of civil engineering systems, creativity in design, and applications in civil engineering design-horizontal curves, vertical curves, earthwork, state plane coordinates, geographic information systems and global positioning systems. 2 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001485)
CIVL 205	Computer Applications in Engineering		2.0	FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 204A (may be taken concurrently). Use of the computer in a variety of applications from the fields of engineering. Topics include computer hardware, operating systems, the Internet, technical word processing, electronic spreadsheets, computer charting and drawing, computer programming, and ethics. 4 hours activity. (001488)
CIVL 211	Statics		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121 and PHYS 204A. CIVL 110 (may be taken concurrently) or MECH 100 and MECH 100L (may be taken concurrently). Force systems, moments, equilibrium, centroids, and moments of inertia. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (001489)
CHEM 111	General Chemistry		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.) Principles of chemistry for students in science, medical, and related professions. Atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, periodic table, gases, solids, liquids, solutions, and equilibrium. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001816)
EECE 211	Linear Circuits I		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204B. DC and sinusoidal circuit analysis, including resistive, capacitive, and inductive circuit elements and independent sources. Ideal transformer. Thevenin and Norton circuit theorems and superposition. Phasors, impedance, resonance, and AC power. Three-phase AC Circuit analysis. 3 hours discussion. (002519)
EECE 211L	Linear Circuits I Activity		1.0	FS
Corequisites: EECE 211. Experiments to reinforce the principles taught in EECE 211. 2 hours activity. (002520)
MATH 120	Analytic Geometry and Calculus		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam. Limits and continuity. The derivative and applications to related rates, maxma and minima, and curve sketching. Transcendental functions. An introduction to the definite integral and area. A grade of C- or higher is required for GE credit. 4 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (005506)
MATH 121	Analytic Geometry and Calculus		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 120. The definite integral and applications to area, volume, work, differential equations, etc. Sequences and series, vectors and analytic geometry in 2 and 3-space, polar coordinates, and parametric equations. 4 hours discussion. (005507)
MATH 260	Elementary Differential Equations		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121. First order separable, linear, and exact equations; second order linear equations, Laplace transforms, series solutions at an ordinary point, systems of first order linear equations, and applications. 4 hours discussion. (005509)
MECH 210	Materials Science and Engineering		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 204A; CHEM 111. Processing, structure, properties, and performance of engineering materials. Applied knowledge of material properties as engineering design parameters. Advanced manufacturing processes, including microfabrication. 1 hour discussion, 3 hours laboratory, 2 hours activity. (005402)
NSCI 102	Introduction to Living Systems		3.0	FS	GE
An integrated study of the nature and interactions of living things and their environments. This course is an introduction to the processes of evolution and speciation, ecology and ecosystem processes, cellular biology and organismal physiology. The course is primarily for students without a strong background in high school biology or chemistry. The course includes online content delivery, in-class discussion, and a hands-on activity session. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020372)
PHYS 204A	Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Mechanics		4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 121 (second semester of calculus) or equivalent. Vectors, kinematics, particle dynamics, friction, work, energy, power, momentum, dynamics and statics of rigid bodies, oscillations, gravitation, fluids. Calculus used. A grade of C- or higher is required before progressing to either PHYS 204B or PHYS 204C. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (007401)
PHYS 204B	Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher. Charge and matter, electric field, Gauss' law, electric potential, capacitors and dielectrics, current and resistance, magnetic field, Ampere's law, Faraday's law of induction, magnetic properties of matter, electromagnetic oscillations and waves. Calculus used. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (007402)

1 course selected from:

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
BIOL 211	Allied Health Microbiology		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 103, BIOL 104, BIOL 151, or NSCI 102; CHEM 107, CHEM 108, or CHEM 111. Introduction to structure/function, metabolism, genetics, ecological interactions and pathogenic mechanisms of microorganisms. In addition, the roles of microorganisms in sanitation and in the food and biotechnology industries will be discussed. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001132)
CHEM 112	General Chemistry		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 with a grade of C- or better. A continuation of CHEM 111. Chemical energetics, rates of reaction, acids and bases, solubility, oxidation-reduction, and nuclear chemistry. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001817)
GEOS 102	Physical Geology		3.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: High school chemistry or physics is recommended; students with no previous science courses are advised to enroll in GEOS 101. No college credit for those who have passed GEOS 101. Physical and chemical processes in the earth, including origin and identification of rocks and minerals; earth's interior; movements and major features of the earth's crust; erosion and sedimentation; geological structures; topographic maps; mineral resources. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (004069)
PHYS 204C	Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Heat, Wave Motion, Sound, Light, and Modern Topics		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher. Temperature, first and second law of thermodynamics, and kinetic theory. Waves in elastic media, standing waves and resonance, and sound. Ray and wave optics, reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors, diffraction, and polarization. Selected topics in modern physics. Calculus used. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (007403)

Upper-Division Requirements: 54 units

13 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Sustainable	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CIVL 302	Engineering Economy and Statistics		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, junior standing. Analysis of alternatives by basic engineering economic methods and applications of statistics including probability, sampling theory and data analysis, and tests of hypotheses. 3 hours discussion. (001495)
CIVL 311	Strength of Materials		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CIVL 211 with a grade of C- or higher; CIVL 110 or MECH 100 and MECH 100L; MATH 260 and MECH 210 (may be taken concurrently). Strength and elastic properties of materials of construction; tension, compression, shear, and torsion stresses; deflection and deformation; stress analysis of beams and columns. 4 hours discussion. (001491)
CIVL 312	Structural Testing Laboratory		1.0	FS
Prerequisites: CIVL 205; CIVL 311 with a grade of C- or higher. Methods and instruments used in the determination of the strength and elastic properties of materials of engineering. Experiments verifying the theoretical principles of CIVL 311. 3 hours laboratory. (001492)
CIVL 313	Structural Mechanics		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CIVL 205 (may be taken concurrently); CIVL 311 with a grade of C- or higher. Fundamentals of structural analysis for beams, trusses, and frames. Topics include loading (including seismic), influence lines, approximate analysis methods, deflection analysis, and statically indeterminate structures. Methods applicable to computer analysis are introduced. 4 hours discussion. (001499)
CIVL 321	Fluid Mechanics		4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CIVL 211 with a grade of C- or higher. Recommended: MATH 260, MECH 320 (may be taken concurrently). Hydrostatics, principles of continuity, work-energy and momentum, viscous effects, dimensional analysis and similitude, flow in closed conduits, drag on objects. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001496)
CIVL 402	Contracts, Specifications, and Technical Reports		4.0	FS	GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, junior standing. Introduction to law as it relates to the practice of civil engineering. Operation of a successful civil engineering business. Writing various technical reports and specifications. 4 hours discussion. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (001494)
CIVL 411	Soil Mechanics and Foundations		4.0	SP
Prerequisites: CIVL 312 and CIVL 321 (may be taken concurrently); ENGL 130 or equivalent. Soil properties, tests, and classification. Analysis of soil stresses, consolidation, shear strength, lateral pressures, and ground water movement. Related design consideration involving spread footings, piles, retaining walls, and slopes. Use of programmable scientific calculator required. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001511)
CIVL 415	Reinforced Concrete Design		4.0	FA
Prerequisites: CIVL 312, CIVL 313. Recommended: CIVL 411. The analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures and elements by the strength design method. Laboratory includes experiments on concrete, concrete structural elements, and a design project. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001514)
CIVL 431	Environmental Engineering		4.0	SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 151 or NSCI 102; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111; MATH 109 or MATH 120; junior standing. Introduction to water quality, water supply, distribution, and drinking water treatment; wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal. Disease transmission; water quality parameters; physical, chemical, and biological processes in the treatment of water, wastewater, and biosolids. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001529)
CIVL 441	Transportation Engineering		4.0	FA
Prerequisites: CIVL 131; CIVL 302 (may be taken concurrently). Transportation systems and facility planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. Pavement design and traffic engineering fundamentals. Laboratory includes field studies, design exercises, and modeling/forecasting tasks. 3 hours discussion, 3 hours laboratory. (001520)
CIVL 495	Professional Issues in Engineering		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or equivalent; senior standing. History of engineering, professional registration, codes of ethics, management issues, diversity, outsourcing, intellectual property, international development and technology transfer, sustainable design. A substantial written project with oral presentation is required. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (003716)
MECH 320	Dynamics		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: CIVL 211 with a grade of C- or higher, MATH 260. Kinematics and dynamics of mechanical systems composed of rigid bodies. Moments and products of inertia, forces of interaction, inertia forces and torques. Equations of motion of non-planar systems. 3 hours discussion. (005409)
MECH 332	Thermodynamics		3.0	FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 204A. Recommended: PHYS 204C. Properties of substances, ideal gas equation of state, heat and work, first and second laws of thermodynamics, steady-state analysis of closed and open systems, entropy, gas and vapor power cycles, introduction to renewable energy sources. 3 hours discussion. (005414)

CIVL 302 and CIVL 495 are approved General Education courses for the Civil Engineering major.

6 units selected from:

Any 500-level CIVL, 400/500-level MECH, or 400-level EECE courses, or MECH 308 or MECH 338. No more than three units of CIVL 599 may be used for this requirement.

3 units selected from:

Other technical courses to be chosen from a list approved by the department.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It involves 6 units of honors course work over two semesters.

Your Honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair. Most importantly, however, the Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows; such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life.

Some common features of Honors in the Major are

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. You must complete the 6 units with a minimum grade of B.

2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 units overall in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.

3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.

4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5 percent of majors in your department.

5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.

6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your Honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your department chair to apply.

Honors in Civil Engineering

The common elements of the Honors in the Major program listed above apply to Honors in Civil Engineering. Specific information for this program includes:

1. In addition to meeting the GPA requirements, you must be recommended by a faculty member.

2. Students who are admitted into the department's Honors in the Major program may elect to take any two upper-division civil engineering electives for honors credit. The honors section will be identified on your transcript. The courses are usually spread over two semesters. You must complete them with a minimum grade of B and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall.

3. Each Honors in the Major class will require completion of the course plus an additional honors project and culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.