Upper-Division/Declared Major Advising

Students who have declared a major in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering are advised by CEGE faculty. To help build student-faculty relationships at the program and professional levels, students are required to meet with their faculty adviser at least once per semester before registering for classes.

What is the purpose of meeting with your faculty adviser?

Advisers can help in multiple ways:

  • help you understand tools to stay on track to graduate
  • discuss potential technical electives, internships, or research opportunities like UROPs
  • help you with career planning including the possibility of graduate school or study abroad
  • tell you about scholarship opportunities and extracurricular opportunities (student organizations, for example)
  • help you find resources on campus available to ensure success with academic and life balance issues
  • provide a letter of recommendation; a letter from a faculty member is often needed for scholarships, employment, or graduate school applications

Thus, it is imperative for students to meet with their faculty adviser to discuss academic interests and career opportunities. An advising hold is placed on each student’s record such that students are not able to register until they have met with their adviser.

  

Career Center for Science and Engineering (CCSE)
The College of Science and Engineering's Career Center for Science and Engineering (CCSE) is also available to assist undergraduates and graduate students in all aspects of the career and job search process. 

CEGE Faculty Advisers

Preparing for Your Advising Meeting

Come prepared to your advising meeting to get the most out of your appointment.

  1. Set up appointment ten (10) days prior to the desired meeting time. Contact your faculty adviser and request an appointment. It is your responsibility to make an appointment with your adviser in time for you to register for classes.

  2. Review the requirements and sample programs:

    - Civil engineering
    - Environmental engineering
    - Geoengineering

  3. Bring the following materials to your advising appointment:

    - Printout of your APAS report. List of courses you are planning to take the following two semesters. Review the prerequisite hierarchy.
    - *Note that required courses are typically offered Fall and Spring semesters, and many technical electives are not offered every year. Plan to take technical elective courses as soon as you have met the required prerequisites.
    - List of technical electives you are considering to complete your technical elective requirements.

Choosing or Contacting a CEGE Faculty Adviser

Students are required to meet with their faculty adviser at least once per semester before registering for classes. An advising hold is placed on each student’s record such that students are not able to register until they have met with their adviser.

Students in all three programs can also meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies about general questions. (These meetings, however, do not meet the requirement to meet with your adviser.)

NOTE: Probationary Status Reviews require meeting with the Director of Undergraduate Studies within your area of study.

Civil Engineering

Students in the civil engineering program (CivE), are advised by civil engineering faculty. Multiple possibilities for emphasis exist within civil engineering. Students can:

  1. Review the list of Advisers for Civil Engineering Majors.
  2. Indicate their preference by completing the Adviser Request Form.

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Civil Engineering
Prof. Randal Barnes
Office: CivE 234
Phone: 612-625-5828
E-mail: barne003@umn.edu

Requirements and sample programs: Civil engineering

Environmental Engineering

Students in the environmental engineering program (EnvE), are advised by environmental faculty. Students can:

  1. Review the list of Advisers for Environmental Engineering Majors.
  2. Indicate their preference by completing the EnvE Adviser Request form.

Director of Undergraduate Studies Environmental Engineering
Assoc. Prof. Erin Surdo
Office: CivE 159
Phone: 612-626-1341
E-mail: surdo001@umn.edu

Requirements and sample programs: Environmental engineering 

Geoengineering

Students in the geoengineering program (GeoE) are all advised by Prof. Joseph Labuz.

Director of Undergraduate Studies for Geoengineering
Prof. Randal Barnes
Office: CivE 234
Phone: 612-625-5828
E-mail: barne003@umn.edu

Requirements and sample programs: Geoengineering