What Will I Learn in a Civil Engineering Degree Program?

You can take an active role in designing and planning your community and those around the nation with a degree in civil engineering. Civil engineers are responsible for planning such projects as large scale bridges, train stations and bus stops. Through your civil engineering program, you'll build skills in construction, materials science, design, planning and analysis. Courses will include structural engineering, computer aided design, mathematics, physics, materials science and construction practices. By completing these classes, students will be eligible to take a licensing exam that will allow them to work as professionals in the field. Like many other fields, internships in civil engineering are essential for gaining on-the-job experience before graduation and may be required by some degree programs.

MS in Civil Engineering	AS in Civil Engineering

What Can I Do With a Civil Engineering Degree?

As a civil engineering graduate, you'll have a number of interesting and exciting careers available to you. Some civil engineers strike out on their own, running solo design firms in which they perform contract work for private or government projects. Other students may find they enjoy working directly for the government, designing and maintaining roads, public transportation, city libraries and prison systems. A bachelor's is required for many civil engineering positions, but grads can move up the ladder and enjoy higher pay by pursuing advanced degrees in the field.

What Is the Career Outlook for Civil Engineering Degree Students?

As cities expand in the coming years and the aging infrastructure of the nation starts to need more repairing and replacement, civil engineers can expect to be in high demand. Employment opportunities will vary widely by geographic area, but those working in major cities and who have a specialization in infrastructure design and security will see the greatest job growth. Earning potential for civil engineering degree students varies depending on the level of education and expertise of the individual, with bachelor's degree holders averaging $43,000 a year and those with a master's $48,000.