Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Transportation 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 infrastructure that supports communities and transportation networks. Students build a broad civil engineering foundation across structures, geotechnical engineering, water resources, construction, and environmental engineering, while developing specialized knowledge in Transportation Engineering through advanced coursework.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: Students begin with the mathematical, scientific, and technical foundations of civil engineering through MATH 151 – Calculus I, CHEM 122/123 – Principles of Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory, and CAE 100 – Introduction to Engineering Drawing and Design. They also take CAE 101 – Introduction to AutoCAD Drawing and Design, CAE 105 – Surveying, and CS 104/105 – Introduction to Computer Programming, establishing essential skills in engineering graphics, surveying, computing, and technical problem-solving.

Year 2: The second year develops students’ analytical and mechanics knowledge through MATH 251 – Multivariate and Vector Calculus, CAE 286 – Theory and Concept of Structural Mechanics, and CAE 287 – Mechanics of Structural Materials. Courses including CAE 302 – Fluid Mechanics and CAE 312 – Engineering Systems Analysis introduce students to fluid behavior and engineering systems analysis, preparing them for advanced civil engineering applications.

Year 3: Students move deeper into civil engineering disciplines with CAE 304 – Structural Analysis I, CAE 315 – Materials of Construction, and CAE 323 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering. ENVE 401 – Introduction to Water Resources Engineering, MMAE 305 – Dynamics, and the Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) requirement broaden their ability to approach infrastructure challenges from structural, materials, water-resources, mechanical, and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Year 4: The final year brings the curriculum toward professional transportation and infrastructure practice, beginning with CAE 419 – Introduction to Transportation Engineering and Design and continuing through advanced structural and geotechnical courses such as CAE 431 – Steel Structures II, CAE 432 – Concrete Structures II, and CAE 457 – Geotechnical Foundation Design. Students complete CAE 470 – Construction Methods and Cost Estimating, CAE 495 – Capstone Senior Design, and at least nine credits of technical electives; for the Transportation Engineering specialization, electives include CAE 416 – Facility Design of Transportation Systems, CAE 417 – Railroad Engineering and Design, CAE 437 – Homeland Security Concerns in Engineering Systems, and CAE 439 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

Focus areas: Transportation engineering, facility design of transportation systems, railroad engineering and design, geographic information systems (GIS), structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental and water resources engineering, construction engineering and management.

Learning outcomes: Apply science and engineering principles to civil infrastructure; analyze and design engineering systems; use surveying, computer-aided design, programming, and engineering analysis; integrate technical, environmental, and project-management considerations; communicate and collaborate through interdisciplinary projects; prepare for professional engineering practice and the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination.

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. The curriculum also requires all civil engineering students to register for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during their senior year.

Reputation (employability rankings): Illinois Tech reports that more than 90% of its Class of 2025 graduates were employed or continuing their education within six months, based on a 91% First Destination survey response rate. The university also reports that Illinois Tech ranked #1 in Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for Best Salaries of Graduates in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Transportation Engineering specialization at Illinois Institute of Technology combines technical coursework with practical design, laboratory, project-based, research, and industry experiences. Students can work with transportation-focused topics such as highway design, traffic studies, pavement systems, railroads, and geographic information systems, while Illinois Tech’s Elevate initiative provides access to internships, research, competitions, and other hands-on experiences.

Students can develop practical transportation engineering skills through:

Transportation engineering design: CAE 419 – Introduction to Transportation Engineering and Design covers highway functions, design criteria, intersections, interchanges, highway capacity, and pavement management, giving students direct exposure to transportation-system design principles.
Transportation facilities: The specialization includes CAE 416 – Facility Design of Transportation Systems, where students design and analyze transportation facilities such as guideways, terminals, railroads, airports, and harbors.
Railroad engineering: CAE 417 – Railroad Engineering and Design provides practical understanding of railroad track structures, train operations, vehicle/track interaction, and railway performance.
Pavement laboratory work: CAE 415 – Pavement Design, Construction and Maintenance includes a laboratory component and covers pavement stresses, vehicle-pavement interaction, flexible and rigid pavement design, construction, drainage, rehabilitation, and maintenance.
GIS and digital tools: CAE 439 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems is an available transportation specialization course, giving students experience with GIS concepts for transportation and infrastructure applications.
Surveying and CAD: Core civil engineering coursework includes CAE 105 – Surveying and CAE 101 – Introduction to AutoCAD Drawing and Design, building practical skills in field measurement and computer-aided engineering drawing.
Trimble Technology Lab: Illinois Tech’s Trimble Technology Lab was established to bring advanced technology into civil and environmental infrastructure, construction field systems, project controls, and collaboration, providing a dedicated technology environment relevant to civil engineering students.
Industry internships: Illinois Tech’s Elevate guarantees students access to experiences including internships, research, study-away opportunities, and competitions. A documented transportation-focused Elevate opportunity with Baxter & Woodman includes plan review, CAD, quantity computation, plan preparation, traffic analysis, data collection, surveying, and construction inspection.
Civil engineering internship with IDOT: An Illinois Tech Elevate experience with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) places civil engineering students on real infrastructure projects involving roads, bridges, and transportation systems.
Interprofessional Projects (IPRO): Illinois Tech’s IPRO Program places students in real-world project teams where they collaborate with fellow students to address practical societal and engineering challenges.
Research opportunities: Illinois Tech allows students to participate in research from as early as their first year, with opportunities available through Elevate, academic schools, research offices, and student groups.
Kaplan Institute and Idea Shop: Students have access to the Kaplan Institute and Idea Shop, which provide collaborative spaces, maker facilities, advanced tools, training, and emerging technologies that support hands-on project development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering) at Illinois Institute of Technology prepares graduates for professional engineering careers involving transportation systems, infrastructure design, construction, and project delivery, while also providing a pathway toward professional engineering licensure. The program’s transportation specialization can lead into roles such as Transportation Engineer, Civil Engineer, Traffic Engineer, and Infrastructure Engineer, while Illinois Tech’s hands-on curriculum and industry connections support the transition from study to professional practice.

Career opportunities and progression:

Typical job roles: Transportation Engineer, Civil Engineer, Traffic Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer; Illinois Tech specifically identifies civil engineering career pathways and offers transportation-focused study in areas such as transportation engineering and design.
Career Services: Illinois Tech Career Services provides individual career coaching, résumé and cover-letter support, interview preparation, networking, career fairs, and access to Handshake, the university’s platform for internships, co-ops, jobs, and employer events.
Internships and co-ops: Elevate guarantees Illinois Tech students access to hands-on experiences, while Career Services supports cooperative education, internships, micro-internships, job shadows, externships, competitions, and immersion experiences through industry engagement.
Employment outcomes: Illinois Tech’s 2025 First Destination survey collected responses from 91% of graduates, and the university reports that the vast majority of graduates obtained full-time employment or continued their education within six months of graduation. The published university data is institution-wide rather than specifically for Civil Engineering/Transportation Engineering.
Salary information: Illinois Tech publishes starting-salary information through its Career Outcomes resources, including salary expectations by industry, sector, and geographic location; the current public career-outcomes page does not provide a Civil Engineering-specific salary figure, so a program-specific salary should be recorded as not stated.
Employer connections: Illinois Tech Career Services connects students with employers through career fairs, employer panels, networking events, on-campus interviews, employer spotlights, and Handshake. The university’s recruiting network includes employers offering internships, co-ops, and full-time positions.
Transportation industry engagement: The Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure Research Center (STAIR) brings together private industries, transportation agencies, and universities to develop and promote innovations for highway construction work zones, giving students a direct connection to transportation research and industry challenges.
Accreditation and licensure value: The B.S. 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. Illinois Tech states that the program prepares students for professional engineering licensure, while its educational objectives emphasize continued professional development and leadership in consulting, industry, academia, or government.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter professional civil and transportation engineering practice or continue into graduate education. Illinois Tech’s M.S. in Civil Engineering offers a Transportation and Infrastructure Systems Engineering specialization, while the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering also includes transportation engineering as a research area.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Civil Engineering, students can progress to Illinois Tech’s M.S. in Civil Engineering, specializing in Transportation and Infrastructure Systems Engineering, with advanced study in areas such as Urban Transportation Planning, Public Transportation Systems, Transportation Systems Evaluation, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and Algorithms in Transportation. Students interested in research can continue to the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, where transportation engineering is one of the available research areas; Illinois Tech also offers an accelerated B.S./M.Eng. in Construction Engineering and Management pathway that can allow both degrees to be completed in as few as five years.