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Type of Offering

Major

College

Engineering

Modern civilization requires infrastructure. Civil engineers take infrastructure from dreams into reality. From clean drinking water and safe roadways, to large bridges and the power grid, civil engineers impact every aspect of society. The design of such large infrastructure, as well as the engineered management of natural resources and assessment of environmental impacts, all fall under the purview of civil engineers.

At the T.J. Smull College of Engineering, you’ll gain a solid foundation in all aspects of civil engineering, including environmental systems, geotechnical design, structural analysis, transportation, and water resources. You can pursue a specific area of interest with a variety of upper-level elective courses. We’ve recently added an environmental engineering concentration for those who want to understand more about how to safely manage and conserve our environment.

Our academic program is rigorous. Expect to work hard and be challenged. But there’s no need to stress, because we offer a supportive and collaborative environment. Your professors, fellow engineering students and ��Ƶ alumni will become your friends and family. They will help you succeed and open doors for you.

Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for whatever the future holds, whether it’s designing and supervising the construction of roadways for the Ohio Department of Transportation, solving water problems for a village in a developing nation, overseeing commercial projects for an engineering firm, or even starting your own company.

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ABET Accredited

ABET is a nonprofit, ISO 9001 certified organization that accredits college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. The civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

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12th in the Nation, by U.S. News & World Report 2024

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CIVIL ENGINEERING COURSES, CURRICULUM & PROGRAM RESOURCES

You’ll need 128 credit hours to earn your Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE). We encourage you to use your elective hours to pursue a concentration or minor that will align with your interests and passions.

Environmental Engineering Concentration

Choosing a civil engineering major with an environmental engineering concentration allows students to address some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Through experiential learning, students can develop practical solutions for water and air quality management, sustainable water and wastewater treatment, and remediation of contaminated environments. The program's focus on individual relationships ensures personalized attention and support throughout this journey, while engagement with real-world projects and internships equips students with industry-ready skills.

Career Opportunities
Graduates are well-positioned for roles such as environmental engineers, water resources engineers, and sustainability consultants. They often work with government agencies (e.g., the EPA), private environmental consulting firms, and non-profit organizations, helping to design systems that protect natural resources and improve public health.

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Civil engineering students work on real projects

Real solutions to real problems

Your civil engineering education will blend challenging coursework with real-world learning. You’ll work on team projects and solve engineering challenges facing society. Laboratory experiences like geotechnical soil labs, creating floorplans in AutoCAD, compression tests of concrete, and distribution system modeling are just a few examples of how you will apply knowledge learned in the classroom. You will also have the opportunity to hone skills in leadership, teamwork, creativity, and entrepreneurship in classes, extracurricular activities, and more. These skills are essential to every successful engineer.

The ultimate learning environment

We were overjoyed to open the brand new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building in 2019. The 105,000-square-foot facility is��able to accommodate 600 students and��includes more than 10,000 square feet of large-scale project and design space for capstone projects, competitive design projects and other direct industry engagement. Further, it��provides flexible space that can be adjusted to various projects and��features more than 2,000 square feet for research labs that can exist on their own or can be combined into larger spaces for bigger projects.

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

LEED Certified building

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

A look inside the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering Building

The new home of the College of Engineering

��Ƶ engineers build canoes from concrete

Concrete canoes aren’t an oxymoron

The Concrete Canoe Competition is one that goes back to the early 1970s. Students build and race boats built solely out of concrete – all for engineering glory. The competition is education, endurance test and tradition all wrapped into one unforgettable experience. As a team member, you’ll build on 50+ years of accumulated knowledge and compete against engineering students from top schools across the country. Concrete Canoe is just one of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering's many competitive design teams.

Learn More About Competitions

Get a high-impact head start

We boast a 100 percent placement rate for students in co-op employment opportunities, which begin in the second semester of the junior year and continue for one year. Our students co-op at well-known companies like Marathon Petroleum and Kokosing Construction.

Over the last five years, an average of 91 percent of our civil engineering majors found full-time engineering jobs or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.

The world is our laboratory

��Ƶ affords students ample opportunities to get out and see real-world examples of ongoing civil engineering projects, public works infrastructure and natural systems through faculty-led trips. Even on campus, students spend time outside learning surveying techniques, studying traffic patterns and seeing if a concrete canoe can float. It's all part of the civil engineering experience at ��Ƶ.

ferry ride on the Sandpiper Ferry Boat to visit the DiSalle Bridge

Concrete canoe testing

Students at the Hoover Dam

Studetns at the DiSalle Bridge

Building the concrete canoe

Students saw a blast at Hanson Aggregates Waterville Quarry

Students visiting the Arizona biosphere

Mixing concrete in lab

Working with new concrete in lab

Bridge competition

Bridge competition engineering

Trevor Bert

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It may seem that a smaller school provides less opportunities, but the opposite is actually true. The fact that ��Ƶ is smaller gives you the chance to grow closer with your professors and peers. This is an experience that you won’t get at larger schools, and it helps make ��Ƶ feel more like a family than just a school.

Trevor Bert, civil engineering major

Student clubs take fun and interesting trips to learn about real-world engineering applications.

Student Organizations

In the College of Engineering, we have a variety of active and award-winning student organizations. Through participation in one or more of these groups, you’ll have the opportunity to network, be a leader, make lifelong friends, gain knowledge about your chosen profession, volunteer, travel to regional and national conferences, and more. Click on the headlines below to learn more.

This group represents the study body of the College of Engineering. Members work closely with the dean of the College of Engineering, the faculty and our student organizations. Its purpose is to cultivate greater cooperation and communication between all groups.
is one of the oldest engineering societies in the U.S. It was founded in 1852. This professional group remains relevant and active today, seeking to enhance the quality of living throughout the world by advancing professional knowledge and improving civil engineering practices. ASCE hosts the Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge competitions.
is a��professional organization is open to male and female engineers who are dedicated to making known the need for more female engineers and for encouraging young women to consider majoring in engineering. ��Ƶ’s chapter provides support for its female students and hosts social activities.
��is a social sorority for women in engineering or engineering technology. Sisters develop the highest standard of personal integrity, strive for academic excellence and build friendships that last a lifetime.
is the oldest, largest and foremost coed fraternity for engineers. ��Ƶ’s chapter helps members develop and maintain a high standard of professionalism while forming lasting friendships. All engineering majors are encouraged to join.
is a national honorary engineering association for juniors who are in the upper 12.5 percent of their class and seniors who are in the upper 20 percent of their class.

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��Ƶ molded me into a versatile, problem-solving engineer, ready to take on any challenge. The curriculum is comprehensive, the professors are knowledgeable and willing to help, and the opportunities are endless.

Lee Saunders, BSCE ’12

End game: A fulfilling civil engineering career

Our graduates make a difference all over the world.

Whether you enter the workforce right after graduation, or continue your education in graduate school, the T.J. Smull College of Engineering prepares you for success. An ��Ƶ engineering degree arms you with a solid base for future learning that can open even more career options. You might impact public infrastructure and policy as a government engineer. You can develop innovative design solutions for a wide variety of clients as an engineering consultant. Or, you might transform engineering and architectural design drawings from paper to reality in the public sector.

Careers in Civil Engineering:
- Impacting public infrastructure and policy as a government engineer
- Developing innovative design solutions for a wide variety of clients as an engineering consultant
- Transforming engineering and architectural design drawings from paper to reality in the public sector

students walking around campus

Civil Engineering at onu

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