About the Civil Engineering Major
Roads, bridges, skyscrapers, dams, water supply systems, pollution control, airports, railroads, and other key elements of our modern infrastructure — civil engineers play a key role in developing and maintaining them all.
The complexity of these systems requires innovative engineers who are capable of applying the best and newest technologies to the ever-increasing needs of a modern society.
Within the Civil Engineering major, students can choose to emphasize in one of these areas: Environmental, Geomechanics, Structures, Transportation, or Water Resources. Two additional emphasis areas include Construction Management, and Municipal Engineering.
![Stone Arch Bridge, Internal Forces](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_full/public/Stone_Arch_Bridge_Internal_Forces_In_A_Continuous_Hingeless_Arch%20%281%29%20%281%29.jpg.jpeg.webp?itok=8E4QzuZS)
What You'll Study
The civil engineering major offers a broad-based engineering curriculum with opportunities to take elective courses in environmental engineering, geomechanics, structures, transportation, or water resources.
Solving Real-world Problems
Diego de Bedout, civil engineering major, talks about:
- Using his degree to solve engineering problems in his native Costa Rica.
- Getting involved in student groups.
- The many opportunities available for CSE students to build relationships.
Meet Our Students and Recent Graduates
In their own words...