B.S. Civil Engineering

Explore principles of civil and environmental engineering. Earn your B.S. in Civil Engineering.

Our bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering with an emphasis on environmental engineering offers you the opportunity to develop expertise in fundamental engineering principles as well as one of several specialized areas of interest. Through upper-level electives, you’ll focus on your choice of construction engineering and management, environmental and water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, land surveying, structural engineering or transportation engineering. Read more about these learning tracks below. You can further formalize your studies with a certificate in construction management or a land surveying license.

Learn more information about the program, such as admissions information, course offerings, and requirements, at the undergraduate course catalog Civil Engineering page.

Preparation for Licensure

Obtaining a professional license in Civil Engineering represents mastery in the profession and is necessary to stamp designs of major infrastructure projects.  Your degree in Civil Engineering at Ohio University is approved by the ABET and the State of Ohio Engineers and Surveyors Board and constitutes the first step towards becoming a board-certified professional civil engineer.  In our program, you will also be required to take the state Fundamentals of Engineering test before graduation, a second major hurdle on the path to licensure.

Undergraduate Tracks


Construction Engineering Management

Civil engineers often manage the construction of large buildings or transportation projects. In this area, you will learn about cost estimating, optimally scheduling construction sequences, and legal aspects of construction.

As part of the CE curriculum, everyone takes CE 2160 Construction and Engineering Management to learn the fundamentals of this discipline. You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 4160 Construction Estimation and Equipment
CE 4170 Construction Planning and Scheduling
CE 4190 Project Development, Contracts and Law
CE 4540 Sustainable Construction

With a few extra classes, you could also complete a Certificate in Construction Management


Environmental and Water Resources Engineering

Civil engineers develop water supplies for communities, design treatment facilities to provide clean drinking water, manage river and reservoir systems to prevent flooding and provide other resources, design treatment facilities that prevent wastewater from polluting waterways, and prevent and clean up pollution of water and soil.

As part of the CE curriculum, to learn the fundamentals of this discipline everyone takes:

CE 3400 Fluid Mechanics
CE 3410 Hydraulics Lab
CE 3420 Applied Hydrology and Hydraulics
CE 4500 Water and Wastewater Engineering

You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 3530 Basics of Environmental Engineering
CE 4510 In Situ Remediation
CE 4530 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
CE 4570 Water Resources Engineering
CE 4580 Water Quality Engineering
CE 4911 Environmental Senior Design

Geotechnical Engineering

Civil engineers design foundations for structures and transportation systems in a variety of natural soils and design pavement for roadways.

As part of the CE curriculum, to learn the fundamentals of this discipline everyone takes:

CE 3700 Geotechnical Engineering
CE 3710 Soil Engineering Lab

You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 4710 Foundation Engineering
CE 4760 Soil Stabilization
CE 4820 Paving Materials and Mixtures
CE 4830 Principles of Pavement Design

Land Surveying

Surveyors are necessary for every construction project to set boundaries and elevations throughout the project and are in high demand.

As part of the CE curriculum, to learn the fundamentals of this discipline everyone takes:

CE 2220 Civil Engineering Graphics
CE 2100 Elements of Land Surveying

You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 4100 Applied Boundary Surveying
CE 4110 Principles in Boundary Location
CE 4150 Geodetic Surveying

With a few extra classes, you could also complete the academic requirements for a Surveying License.


Structural Engineering

Civil engineers design complex systems to support buildings and bridges and other structures using a variety of materials.

As part of the CE curriculum, to learn the fundamentals of this discipline everyone takes:

CE 3300 Structural Theory I
CE 4320 Structural Design in Concrete
CE 4330 Structural Design in Steel

You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 3310 Structural Theory II
CE 4240 Strength of Materials II
CE 4370 Timber Design
CE 4372 Masonry Design
CE 4380 Pre-Stressed Concrete Design
CE 4912 Structural Senior Design

Transportation Engineering

Civil engineers design the layout and interconnections of roadways to provide safe and convenient transportation for communities.

As part of the CE curriculum, to learn the fundamentals of this discipline everyone takes:

CE 3110 Route Engineering
CE 3610 Transportation Engineering

You could take these additional electives to specialize in this area:

CE 4630 Introduction to Highway Safety
CE 4640 Transportation Planning Fundamentals
CE 4680 Traffic Signal Systems
CE 4910 Land Development Senior Design