B.S. in Civil Engineering

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Lehigh University combines rigorous technical coursework with practical laboratory instruction, design activities, research opportunities, and professional experiences. Students have access to the Fritz Engineering Laboratory and STEPS Building laboratories, where civil engineering research and instruction cover structural, geotechnical, water-resources, and environmental engineering, while the department also provides opportunities for co-op, internships, undergraduate research, and hands-on project work.

Students can develop practical, professional, and research skills through:

• Fritz Engineering Laboratory: Civil engineering laboratories in Fritz Lab support structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, and environmental engineering instruction and research. The structural facilities include dynamic testing machines and a five-million-pound universal hydraulic testing machine.
• STEPS Building laboratories: The department also operates laboratories in the STEPS Building, providing additional facilities for civil and environmental engineering research and instruction.
• Laboratory-based environmental engineering: Civil and environmental engineering coursework includes experiments involving soil, sludge, water, solute transport, and water/wastewater treatment, allowing students to apply engineering principles to environmental problems.
• Community-based projects: CEE 284 – Practicum for Community Based Design and Solutions uses hands-on, project-based work in which interdisciplinary teams address local and international projects while working directly with community stakeholders.
• Team-based design: Civil engineering students encounter interdisciplinary and team-based design work, including projects that involve students from different departments or colleges working together on civil and environmental engineering problems.
• Professional development and capstone preparation: CEE 289 – Professional Development II introduces design practice, professional conduct, ethics, communication, project management, company operations, and the development of capstone project proposals and presentations by student design teams.
• Internships: ENGR 160 – Engineering Internship allows students with at least junior standing to complement their coursework with professional work experience; the course carries 1–3 credits and requires preapproval.
• Co-op opportunities: The Civil and Environmental Engineering department specifically identifies co-op and international experience opportunities for undergraduate students, giving students pathways to gain experience beyond the classroom.
• Undergraduate research: The department provides undergraduate research opportunities, enabling students to engage with civil and environmental engineering research alongside their academic studies.
• Independent study: CEE 480 – Independent Study allows students to undertake intensive study in civil and environmental engineering topics not normally covered by formal courses, with faculty supervision and a possible written report.
• Professional engineering experience: Undergraduate internships and other professional work experiences are available through the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, with eligible work assignments capable of earning free-elective credit. 

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Lehigh University prepares graduates for careers in civil engineering and related professional fields, with opportunities to develop into practitioners, innovators, and future leaders. The program also prepares students for professional licensure or certification and for further graduate study, including engineering, engineering management, or business-related programs.

Typical job roles: Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Transportation Engineer.

Career and professional opportunities include:

• Career services: Lehigh’s Center for Career & Professional Development supports engineering students with internship and job-search strategies, application planning, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, mock interviews, career coaching, employer events, and alumni networking through Lehigh Connects.
• Internships and co-ops: Engineering students can gain industry experience through internships and cooperative education, with eligible students able to earn academic credit through ENGR 160 – Engineering Internship or ENGR 200 – Engineering Work Experience. Students can search opportunities through Handshake, where Lehigh employer and industry partners recruit for summer, fall, and spring positions.
• Employment and salary: Lehigh’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Undergraduate Outcomes report for the Class of 2024 lists an average starting salary of $64,479 for Civil Engineering graduates. The same report identifies Civil Engineering as 6% of the top industries represented among Rossin College graduates.
• Industry connections: Lehigh’s civil engineering community is connected to research and industry initiatives, including the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, which has worked toward an industry-university cooperative research center involving industry participation, student recruitment and internships, and industry advising on research projects.
• Global engineering partnerships: Lehigh has an institutional partnership with IIT Bombay involving joint studies, research, training, and educational activities, with potential collaboration areas specifically including civil and structural engineering.
• Professional accreditation: The Civil Engineering B.S. is ABET-accredited through the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing an established professional accreditation framework for the engineering degree.
• Graduation outcomes: The program’s stated educational objectives include graduates developing civil engineering careers, pursuing additional professional training, applying skills to innovative solutions and technologies, pursuing professional licensure or certification, and progressing toward professional leadership.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Civil Engineering, students can continue into graduate-level study at Lehigh, including master’s programs in engineering and related interdisciplinary areas. Eligible students can also use Lehigh’s Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Accelerated Program, while students seeking broader academic preparation can pursue the university’s five-year Civil Engineering and Earth & Environmental Sciences dual-degree pathway, earning two bachelor’s degrees.