Construction Engineering (BSE)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The Construction Engineering, BSE at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus prepares students to work at the intersection of engineering design and construction, combining structural, geotechnical and transportation engineering with construction management, sustainability and building information modeling. It is suited to students who want to design, plan and manage infrastructure projects while developing the technical, computer, management and people skills needed for professional engineering practice.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their engineering and scientific foundation through courses such as FSE 100 Introduction to Engineering, MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I, and PHY 121 University Physics I: Mechanics, alongside first-year composition and introductory construction studies. CON 101 Construction and Culture: a Built Environment introduces the relationship between construction and the built environment, while CNE 210 Engineering Mechanics I: Statics begins the core construction-engineering sequence.

Year 2: The second year develops practical construction and engineering fundamentals through CNE 212 Engineering Mechanics II: Dynamics, CNE 213 Introduction to Deformable Solids, and CNE 243 Heavy Construction Equipment, Methods and Materials. Students also take CNE 271 Construction Safety and complete CNE 296 Summer Field Internship, giving them an early opportunity to connect engineering principles with construction-site practice.

Year 3: Students progress into upper-division engineering and construction subjects including CNE 321 Structural Analysis and Design, CNE 351 Geotechnical Engineering, and CNE 353 Civil Engineering Materials. The curriculum then expands into construction-specific skills through CNE 383 Construction Estimating, CNE 453 Construction Technology, and CNE 455 Construction Project Management, building the technical and managerial capabilities required for complex construction projects.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes integrated design, project delivery and professional construction practice through CNE 487 Integrated Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Design I, CNE 488 Integrated Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Design II, and CNE 495 Construction Planning and Scheduling. Students also study CNE 496 Construction Contract Administration, CON 448 Sustainable Construction, and select advanced design or technical electives such as CEE 420 Steel Structures, CEE 421 Concrete Structures, CEE 452 Foundations, or CON 454 Trenchless Construction Methods, allowing them to develop a focused technical profile.

Focus areas: Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation, construction methods, construction estimating, project management, contract administration, sustainable construction, building information modeling, infrastructure construction, construction planning and scheduling.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are expected to solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics; design solutions considering public health, safety, welfare and global, environmental, social and economic factors; communicate effectively; apply ethical and professional judgment; work effectively in multidisciplinary teams; conduct and interpret experiments; and acquire new knowledge through appropriate learning strategies.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Construction Engineering BSE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Construction Engineering Program Criteria, providing a recognized quality framework for the engineering curriculum. ASU also states that the program is designed for students seeking professional engineering licensure, although licensure requirements can vary by state.

Reputation (employability rankings): ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is ranked #18 among public universities for undergraduate engineering programs in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. ASU also reports that the university is in the top 20 among U.S. public universities for employer reputation and employment outcomes in the QS World University Rankings 2027; these are university-level indicators rather than rankings specifically for the Construction Engineering BSE.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Construction Engineering, BSE at Arizona State University is designed around practical construction environments, combining civil engineering design with construction management and giving students experience with sustainability and Building Information Modeling (BIM). Students learn in the Del E. Webb School of Construction and the Paul C. Helmick Center, a purpose-built “living laboratory” where exposed plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems let students observe building systems in operation rather than only studying them in drawings. ASU also provides dedicated instructional and research laboratories for structures, geotechnical engineering, concrete, pavement, hydraulics and advanced cementitious materials, creating opportunities to connect classroom engineering principles with real construction and infrastructure problems.

Practical learning and facilities include:

Two internships: Students complete two internships, allowing them to put classroom knowledge into practice in real construction environments and develop professional experience before graduation.
BIM learning: The program incorporates Building Information Modeling (BIM), with dedicated BIM labs in the Paul C. Helmick Center supporting construction-focused learning.
Living laboratory: The Paul C. Helmick Center functions as a hands-on learning environment, with normally concealed plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems deliberately exposed so students can study how building systems operate.
Construction learning spaces: The Helmick Center provides specialized classrooms, mediated classrooms, laboratories and collaboration/study spaces for the Del E. Webb School of Construction and Construction Engineering.
Concrete laboratory: The Concrete Instructional Laboratory and Cement and Concrete Materials Laboratory provide dedicated environments for learning and research involving concrete and cementitious materials.
Structures laboratory: The Structures Laboratory provides a dedicated facility for structural engineering experimentation and applied learning relevant to construction engineering.
Geotechnical laboratory: The Geotechnical Instructional Laboratory and E.M. Hoque Geotechnical Laboratory support practical and research work involving geotechnical engineering.
Hydraulics laboratory: The Hydraulics Laboratory provides a specialized environment for hands-on work related to water flow and hydraulic engineering.
Pavement and materials research: The Advanced Pavement Laboratory and Advanced Cementitious Materials Research Laboratory provide research-focused facilities relevant to infrastructure materials, pavement systems and construction materials.
Industry interaction: Students connect with industry through career fairs each semester, professional organizations, student activities and competitions, industry visits, the Construction Engineering Advisory Board and the Industry Partner Circle. These activities provide direct opportunities to interact with construction professionals and employers.
Team-based learning: The Helmick Center includes specialized classrooms and spaces designed for students to work separately or together, supporting collaborative construction education and project-based learning.
Emerging digital tools: ASU’s construction faculty are incorporating AI tools, data analysis, custom AI skills, agent-based workflows and software development into construction education; an ASU construction course has students create working software applications and portfolio websites around construction problems.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Construction Engineering BSE at Arizona State University prepares graduates to work at the intersection of engineering design and construction, with career pathways in infrastructure, buildings, industrial facilities, transportation and other major construction projects. Graduates can enter roles such as Field Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Designer, and Construction Manager, with ASU specifically highlighting construction companies, design firms, facility owners, material suppliers and specialty subcontractors as potential employers.

Career progression: ASU combines career preparation, employer engagement, internships and professional accreditation to support students as they move from undergraduate study into engineering and construction careers:

Career services: The Fulton Schools Career Center supports students with internships, employer connections, career fairs, company information sessions, career-development preparation and CareerLink, where students can access job and internship postings. SSEBE also provides construction-focused recruitment presentations, employer information tables and interviews, with students automatically enrolled in construction-related Blackboard organizations providing targeted recruitment updates and job postings.
Employment statistics: Across the Fulton Schools of Engineering, 86% of new graduates were employed or had received a job offer within six months of graduation, while 16% of undergraduates were accepted into an additional education program. These figures are for Fulton Schools bachelor's graduates overall rather than specifically for Construction Engineering BSE graduates.
Salary figures: ASU lists a $114,990 median salary for Construction Managers, with projected employment growth of 9.1%; it also lists $100,840 median salary and 6.4% projected growth for Civil Engineers, Transportation Engineers and Water/Wastewater Engineers. ASU notes that these figures are not necessarily entry-level salaries and can vary with experience and location.
University–industry partnerships: Fulton Schools employers participating in career fairs, company information sessions and recruitment activities include construction and engineering organizations such as DPR Construction, Hensel Phelps, Sundt Companies, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Kimley-Horn, Kiewit, Skanska USA, Turner & Townsend, PCL and Mortenson. These employer relationships give students opportunities to engage with companies recruiting engineering talent.
Professional accreditation: The Construction Engineering BSE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Construction Engineering Program Criteria. ASU states that accreditation signals that the program meets established academic standards and supports recognition by employers and graduate schools.
Professional development: The program emphasizes professional practice, lifelong learning, certifications and professional development, while preparing students to balance the technical aspects of engineering with practical construction applications and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates are prepared for roles as field engineers, project engineers and project designers, and ASU indicates that career progression can lead toward increasing management responsibility in the delivery of sustainable facilities and major built-environment projects.
International career value: The BSE is identified by ASU as STEM-OPT extension eligible. Eligible F-1 international students may qualify for a 24-month extension after standard OPT, providing additional opportunity to gain U.S. work experience related to their field.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Construction Engineering BSE, students can continue into graduate-level study, including ASU's Master of Science in Construction Engineering, or pursue related graduate engineering programs. ASU also identifies additional education as a progression for its Fulton Schools bachelor's graduates, with 16% of undergraduates accepted into an additional education program in the reported outcomes.