Bachelor's in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Georgia Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech prepares students for professional engineering practice while also providing a strong foundation for advanced study, combining essential civil engineering knowledge with flexible electives that allow students to explore different areas of the profession. It is well suited to students interested in designing and improving infrastructure and the built environment, with opportunities to specialize in Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials, Geosystems Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or Transportation Systems Engineering.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their mathematical, scientific, and engineering foundations through subjects such as MATH 1551 Differential Calculus, MATH 1552 Integral Calculus, PHYS 2211 Principles of Physics I, CHEM 1310 Principles of General Chemistry for Engineers, and COE 2001 Statics. Early CEE study also introduces the discipline through CEE 1090 Exploring Civil and Environmental Engineering, while CEE 1070 Engineering Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineering develops skills in sketching, computer-aided design, and interpreting engineering drawings.

Year 2: Students progress from foundational mathematics and science into core civil engineering concepts, developing an understanding of engineering systems, mechanics, materials, and spatial information. Courses such as CEE 2040 Dynamics, CEE 2090 Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems, and CEE 3010 Geomatics introduce motion and forces, infrastructure planning and sustainability, and spatial data collection through surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, and GPS.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized as students study the behavior and design of civil engineering systems and begin using breadth and technical electives to shape their academic direction. Subjects such as CEE 3020 Civil Engineering Materials, CEE 3040 Fluid Mechanics, and CEE 3051 Introduction to Structural Engineering address the properties of construction materials, fluid behavior and flow, and the analysis and design of structures, while electives can introduce areas such as geotechnical, water resources, transportation, or construction engineering.

Year 4: Students consolidate their technical knowledge through advanced electives and focused study in their selected area, with options spanning construction, structural systems, geosystems, water resources, and transportation. Advanced subjects can include CEE 4050 Infrastructure System Management, CEE 4100 Construction Engineering & Management, and other approved technical courses, while students can also pursue the Research Option, International Plan, co-op, or internship experiences alongside their degree.

Focus areas: Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials, Geosystems Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Transportation Systems Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and mathematics; design solutions while considering public health, safety, welfare, environmental, economic, social, and global factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively in teams; apply ethical and professional judgment; conduct experiments and interpret data; and acquire new knowledge as needed.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Reputation (employability rankings): Georgia Tech’s undergraduate Civil Engineering program is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released in September 2026; the university states that Civil Engineering has remained among the nation’s top two programs for the past eleven years.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech gives students practical exposure through engineering design, laboratory work, data analysis, research, and project-based learning. The curriculum includes CEE 1070 Engineering Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineering, CEE 3090 Data Analytics in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and CEE 4090 Capstone Design, while students can also gain experience through undergraduate research, co-op, study abroad, and specialized CEE concentrations.

Students have access to purpose-built facilities across structural engineering, hydraulics, environmental engineering, geosystems, transportation, materials, and digital fabrication, giving them opportunities to work with professional-scale equipment and research technologies:

Capstone design: CEE 4090 Capstone Design provides a dedicated senior design experience where students apply civil engineering knowledge to an integrated engineering project.
Engineering graphics: CEE 1070 Engineering Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineering develops practical engineering visualization and graphics skills used in civil engineering applications.
Data and digital tools: CEE 3090 Data Analytics in Civil and Environmental Engineering gives students formal exposure to data analytics within civil and environmental engineering, while CS 1371 Computing for Engineers builds computing skills applicable to engineering problems.
Structural testing: The Structural Engineering and Materials Laboratory is an 18,000-square-foot facility featuring an 8,000-square-foot strong floor, reaction wall, hydraulic testing systems, bridge cranes, digitally controlled servo-hydraulic rams, and multiple data-acquisition systems for laboratory and field testing.
Hydraulics laboratory: The Jesse W. Mason Building houses a 14,000-square-foot hydraulics laboratory, providing a dedicated environment for civil engineering instruction and research.
Environmental laboratory: The Daniel Environmental Engineering Laboratory provides approximately 14,500 square feet of wet-lab space with analytical equipment and technology supporting environmental engineering education and research.
Sustainable technology: The O. Lamar Allen Sustainable Education Building (SEB) functions as a living laboratory for sustainable technology education and research and includes computer centers, research laboratories, and a full-size-car driving simulator.
Geosystems research: Geosystems Engineering facilities include the Soil Mechanics Instruction Laboratory, Damage Poromechanics Laboratory, Geoenvironmental Engineering Laboratory, and Sustainable Geotechnical Systems Laboratory, supporting practical work in geotechnical and subsurface engineering.
Digital fabrication and prototyping: The BRIDGE Makerspace provides CEE students with 24/7 Buzzcard access to equipment for 3-D printing, 3-D scanning, laser cutting, and engraving, with equipment training available during scheduled sessions.
Student engineering projects: Students can participate in hands-on organizations and competitions including the Concrete Canoe Team, Steel Bridge Team, Timber Strong Team, Engineers Without Borders, Engineers in Action, and American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter.
Research experience: Georgia Tech specifically offers undergraduate opportunities to work on research, alongside options for co-op and study abroad, allowing students to extend their classroom learning into professional, international, or research environments.
Specialized concentrations: Students can focus their practical and technical electives through concentrations in Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials, Geosystems Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, and Transportation Systems Engineering.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech prepares graduates for professional careers in planning, design, construction, research and development, operations, and infrastructure management, while also providing a foundation for advanced study. Georgia Tech’s program specifically identifies career pathways such as Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, and Construction Engineer, with graduates also moving into consulting, government, entrepreneurship, and related fields.

Career pathways: The degree can lead to roles across the built environment, infrastructure, construction, transportation, water systems, and engineering consulting:

Career services: Georgia Tech’s Career Center provides recruitment and career support, while its co-op and internship programs connect students with employers; Georgia Tech reports that more than 1,200 businesses, industries, and organizations employ its co-op students and interns each year.
Employment and salary figures: Georgia Tech’s 2023–24 Career & Salary Report records 86.5% of surveyed Civil Engineering bachelor’s graduates in the reported outcome measure, with 37 respondents, a $70,000 median salary, $82,100 salary at the 75th percentile, and a $4,058 median signing bonus. The university notes that its career-survey figures are self-reported and can vary according to factors such as experience, skills, and location.
Industry connections: Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering highlights corporate partnerships that allow students to interact with industry professionals, while Atlanta provides access to major engineering firms and Fortune 500 companies. The Construction and Infrastructure Systems Engineering (CISE) Concentration is specifically designed in partnership with industry professionals to prepare students for construction-industry roles.
Industry exposure: Georgia Tech identifies employers of its civil and environmental engineering graduates including Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Shell, ExxonMobil, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia Power/Southern Co., GE, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Arcadis, Atkins, Schlumberger, Skanska, and Bechtel Corp.
Long-term accreditation value: The Civil Engineering B.S. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. Georgia Tech explains that accreditation provides assurance that the program meets professional quality standards and is relevant to employers, graduate schools, and licensure, certification, and registration boards.
Graduation outcomes: Georgia Tech’s BSCE educational objectives expect graduates to enter civil- and environmental-related careers or other professional paths, pursue graduate education and research, collaborate globally, advance toward leadership, and continue professional development through licensure, certifications, continuing education, or postgraduate study.
Professional development: The curriculum can support students interested in professional practice as well as advanced degrees, with concentrations in Construction Engineering, Environmental and Water Systems, Geotechnical Systems, Structural Systems, and Transportation Systems providing opportunities to develop a focused technical profile.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor’s degree, students can continue into master’s and doctoral study in civil and environmental engineering or related fields. Georgia Tech explicitly identifies graduate education and research as a BSCE progression route, allowing graduates to deepen their expertise in areas such as structural engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, environmental and water systems, construction, or other interdisciplinary research areas.