Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) at Illinois Institute of Technology is a 4-year, on-campus, 130-credit-hour program for students interested in designing, analyzing, and improving the structures that form the built environment, with the opportunity to specialize in Structural Engineering. Students build a foundation in mathematics, physics, programming, surveying, structural mechanics, materials, steel and concrete structures, and engineering design before progressing into advanced structural subjects and a senior capstone.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students establish their engineering foundation through CAE 100 – Introduction to Engineering Drawing and Design, CAE 101 – Introduction to AutoCAD Drawing and Design, and CAE 105 – Surveying, alongside calculus, chemistry, physics, and computer programming. This year introduces students to technical drawing, design, surveying, and the quantitative skills needed for later structural engineering study.

Second Year: Students move into the mechanics and analytical side of civil engineering through CAE 286 – Theory and Concept of Structural Mechanics, CAE 287 – Mechanics of Structural Materials, CAE 302 – Fluid Mechanics, and CAE 312 – Engineering Systems Analysis. Mathematics and physics continue to develop the analytical foundation needed to understand structural behavior and engineering systems.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes more focused on structural design through CAE 304 – Structural Analysis I, CAE 303 – Steel Structures I, and CAE 307 – Concrete Structures I, while CAE 315 – Materials of Construction examines materials used in the built environment. Students also complete MMAE 305 – Dynamics, CAE 323 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, and an Interprofessional Project, connecting structural engineering with broader civil engineering practice.

Fourth Year: Students deepen their structural specialization through CAE 411 – Structural Analysis II, followed by at least six additional credits selected from courses such as CAE 408 – Bridge and Structural Design, CAE 410 – Introduction to Wind and Earthquake Engineering, and CAE 436 – Design of Masonry and Timber Structures. The final year also includes CAE 495 – Capstone Senior Design, allowing students to integrate their engineering knowledge into a comprehensive design experience.

Focus areas: Structural Engineering, Civil-Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Structural analysis and design, engineering mechanics, construction materials, surveying, computer-aided design, engineering systems analysis, professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, project design, and preparation for professional engineering licensure.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.S. in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under its General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs; all civil engineering students are also required to register for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during their senior year.

Reputation (employability rankings): Illinois Tech reports #1 in Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings, while its 2025 First-Destination survey reported that 67.7% of undergraduate graduates were employed full-time and 10.4% continued their education within six months of graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology combines classroom learning with laboratory practice, engineering design, surveying, structural analysis, and computer-aided design. Students specializing in Structural Engineering can work with modern structural and materials testing facilities and use industry technologies through the university’s Trimble Technology Lab, where undergraduate courses including CAE 303 Structural Design I, CAE 304 Structural Analysis I, CAE 307 Structural Design, CAE 411 Structural Analysis II, CAE 432 Concrete and Foundation Design, and CAE 495 Capstone Senior Design incorporate Trimble technology for hands-on learning.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Structural Engineering Laboratories: The Concrete Materials and Structures Laboratory provides hands-on opportunities in concrete materials and structural testing. Its upgraded facilities include concrete mixing and batching equipment, compression-testing machines for hardened concrete samples, and a structural testing bay with a reaction wall and floor for testing larger structural components.
Trimble Technology Lab: Students have access to professional technologies for 3D modeling, structural analysis, surveying, construction layout, augmented reality, virtual reality, laser scanning, and construction-site measurement.
Structural-design software and digital tools: Trimble technology is integrated into undergraduate courses including CAE 303 Structural Design I, CAE 304 Structural Analysis I, CAE 307 Structural Design, CAE 411 Structural Analysis II, and CAE 432 Concrete and Foundation Design, giving students direct exposure to digital tools used in civil and structural engineering.
AutoCAD and engineering drawing: CAE 100 Introduction to Engineering Drawing and Design and CAE 101 Introduction to AutoCAD Drawing and Design develop computer-aided design skills, while CAE 105 Surveying provides practical surveying experience.
Laboratory-based engineering: Professional civil engineering courses supplement lectures with laboratory practice covering infrastructure materials, structural engineering, fluid mechanics, environmental and water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction engineering and management, surveying, and computer-aided design.
Capstone design: CAE 495 Capstone Senior Design is supported by the Trimble Technology Lab, allowing students to apply digital engineering technologies in an advanced undergraduate design experience.
Industry internships and co-ops: Illinois Tech’s Elevate career platform provides access to civil and structural engineering internship and co-op opportunities. Current university-posted opportunities include roles involving AutoCAD, Revit, engineering design documents, structural design, CAD/Revit digital models, and collaboration with practicing engineers.
Concrete and structural research: Students interested in research can engage with the Concrete Materials and Structures Laboratory, where faculty research includes reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, innovative precast/prestressed components, cementitious materials, experimental testing of concrete materials and structural systems, and blast design and analysis.
Professional structural specialization: The structural engineering pathway includes CAE 411 Structural Analysis II plus options such as CAE 408 Bridge and Structural Design, CAE 410 Introduction to Wind and Earthquake Engineering, and CAE 436 Design of Masonry and Timber Structures, connecting academic study with structural-design applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology prepares graduates for professional engineering careers in areas including structural engineering, construction, transportation, environmental engineering, and consulting, with the program specifically designed to support progression toward professional engineering licensure and leadership roles. Illinois Tech also provides a pathway into graduate study, including structural engineering through its M.S. in Civil Engineering, while its accelerated B.S./M.Eng. option can allow eligible students to complete both degrees in as few as five years.

Typical career roles: Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Construction Engineer, Transportation Engineer.

Career development and progression opportunities include:

Career services: Illinois Tech’s Career Services provides access to curated internships, research positions, and job opportunities, employer connections, professional development workshops, and a network of industry partners recruiting for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions.
Guaranteed experiential opportunities: Through the Elevate program, Illinois Tech states that every student receives access to hands-on experiences such as internships, research, competitions, and study away, helping students build experience before graduation.
Employment outcomes: For the 2025 graduating class, Illinois Tech collected career-outcome information from 91% of graduates; the university reports that the vast majority obtained full-time employment or continued their education through graduate studies.
Salary outcomes: Illinois Tech reports that its 2024 graduates had a mean starting salary within six months of graduation that was above the national average, although the university's public career-outcomes page does not state a civil-engineering-specific salary figure.
University–industry connections: Students can connect with employers through Illinois Tech's employer network, which actively recruits students for internships, co-ops, and full-time roles; graduates also enter organizations ranging from start-ups and early-stage companies to Fortune 500 corporations.
Professional licensure value: The Civil Engineering B.S. is ABET-accredited, and the program's educational objectives explicitly prepare graduates to pursue professional licensure and progress into responsible positions in consulting, industry, government, and other professional settings.
Graduation outcomes: Illinois Tech's First Destination reporting tracks graduate status within six months of graduation, including employment, graduate study, military service, and volunteer activities, giving students a formal picture of post-graduation pathways.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can progress to Illinois Tech's M.S. in Civil Engineering, where they can specialize in structural engineering or transportation and infrastructure systems engineering and choose either a coursework-based or thesis-based route. Eligible undergraduates can also pursue the B.S. Civil Engineering/M.Eng. Construction Engineering and Management accelerated master's, which Illinois Tech states can be completed in as few as five years.