Civil Engineering
Civil engineers build societies, from the landmarks that define who we are to the hidden infrastructure essential to our quality of life.
About the Major
The ability of civil engineers to translate complex ideas into concrete reality is the reason we have buildings, bridges, roads, railroads, subway systems, airports, water supply systems and jetliners. Ancient engineering projects include the Great Wall of China, roads of the Roman Empire, Mayan ruins or the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. Today, the public is familiar with civil engineering achievements such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam or New York City's water supply system. Accomplishments such as these illustrate the diversity, scale, grandeur and functionality that is civil engineering. Because they often work in the public arena, civil engineers require broad technical training and usually must be licensed as professional engineers. Faculty in our department are at the cutting edge of civil engineering research and have had key contributions in some of the major projects around the world.
Research Opportunities
Undergraduate students in civil engineering can gain research experience under the mentorship of our faculty members. Participating in undergraduate research provides students with an inquiry-based learning opportunity and engages them as active learners in a laboratory setting.
Employment Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for civil engineers is projected to increase by 8% through 2024.
Civil engineers can choose from a broad spectrum of opportunities in industry, governmental agencies, private consulting firms (in which civil engineers often participate as owners or partners), and construction companies as well as in research & development.
Alumni in civil engineering have found employment in:
- Computational engineering
- Computer-aided design
- Construction engineering and management
- Environmental engineering
- Geotechnical engineering and foundation design
- Highway design and construction
- Hydraulic and water resources engineering
- Structural engineering and design
- Transportation engineering
Companies who actively recruit UB civil engineering candidates for internships and/or full time positions are: Bergmann Associates, LPCiminelli, Clark Patterson Lee, Cannon Design, Erdman Anthony & Associates, Inc., Kiewit Construction, NYS Dept of Transportation, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Parsons Transportation Group, Turner Construction, TYLin International Group, URS Corporation, Popli Design and Watts Engineers.
Accreditation
The Civil Engineering BS program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.