Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1-ENG) at MIT is a flexible, interdisciplinary program designed for students who want to use engineering, computation, data, and scientific principles to address challenges involving sustainability, infrastructure, climate, energy, water, mobility, and the environment. Students build a strong foundation in engineering while choosing a specialized core and exploring areas such as mechanics and materials, environmental systems, or energy, transportation, and societal systems through design, modeling, experimentation, and research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin developing the mathematical, scientific, and engineering foundation required for the major while being introduced to engineering design and computation. Key subjects include Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design (1.101) and Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods for Engineering Applications (1.000), where students work with programming, numerical methods, engineering concepts, and team-based projects.

Year 2: Students build greater depth in analytical and quantitative methods, including Probability: Concepts and Applications (1.010A) and Differential Equations (18.03), while beginning to develop their preferred CEE direction. Depending on their interests, they can move toward areas such as Fundamentals of Ecology (1.018J), Mechanics of Materials (1.035), or Transportation: Foundations and Methods (1.041J).

Year 3: Students develop specialized knowledge through one of MIT CEE's core areas and can combine engineering theory with data, experimentation, and modeling. Options include Fluid Mechanics (1.060), Structural Mechanics and Design (1.036), Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab (1.106), Water and Air Quality Laboratory (1.107), or Sensing and Intelligent Systems (1.104), depending on the selected direction.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes applying accumulated engineering knowledge to substantial design and problem-solving work. Senior Civil and Environmental Engineering Design (1.013) provides the capstone experience, while restricted electives allow students to develop a coherent specialization within or beyond CEE and prepare for professional practice or graduate study.

Focus areas: Environment; Mechanics/Materials; Energy, Transportation, and Societal Systems; computational and data-driven engineering; sustainability; infrastructure; climate; water; mobility.

Learning outcomes: Apply engineering fundamentals; use computation, probability, data analysis, experiments, and modeling; design sustainable and resilient systems; evaluate environmental and societal impacts; communicate engineering solutions; work effectively on multidisciplinary problems.

Professional alignment (accreditation): ABET-accredited undergraduate program, with MIT CEE stating that its educational objectives and student outcomes are consistent with ABET requirements.

Reputation (employability rankings): QS World University Rankings 2026–27: MIT ranked No. 1 globally in Civil and Structural Engineering, with QS considering factors including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, faculty/student measures, and internationalization. MIT was also ranked No. 1 overall in the QS World University Rankings for the 15th consecutive year.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

MIT’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Course 1-ENG) places strong emphasis on hands-on design, research, experimentation, computation, and fieldwork. Students combine theory with real engineering applications through laboratory subjects, design courses, research with faculty, field-based courses, internships, and site visits. The curriculum offers focused study in Environment, Mechanics & Materials, and Energy, Transportation & Societal Systems, with opportunities to work on problems involving sustainability, infrastructure, climate, transportation, water, and advanced materials.

Hands-on opportunities and facilities include:

Design projects: Students take 1.101 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Design I and 1.102 Introduction to CEE Design II, building engineering design skills; the senior curriculum also includes 1.013 Senior Civil and Environmental Engineering Design.
Environmental laboratories: Students can take 1.105 Environmental Biology Laboratory, 1.106 Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, and 1.107 Water and Air Quality Laboratory, where they design experiments, collect and analyze environmental data, use modern analytical techniques, and complete student-designed projects.
Fieldwork in Hawaii: 1.091 Traveling Research Environmental eXperience (TREX) provides hands-on environmental field research in a global context, allowing students to investigate earth systems and their sustainable management.
Fieldwork in Italy: The 1.034/3.094 Materials in Human Experience course includes three weeks of fieldwork in Rome, Sermoneta, and Pompeii, where students analyze ancient infrastructure and materials and explore lessons for sustainable future development.
Undergraduate research: Through UROP, students work directly with CEE faculty on research projects. Projects have included durable concrete using agricultural waste and nanoadditives, Mars City design, water treatment, transportation, and environmental research.
Mini-UROP: First-year students can participate in 1.097 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering Research, working with a CEE graduate student or postdoctoral researcher on a research project for an intensive laboratory experience, followed by a research presentation.
Internships: MIT CEE operates a CEE Internship Program that uses alumni connections and MIT and departmental resources to help students identify suitable internship opportunities. Students can also participate in MIT’s UPOP, which combines professional-development training, alumni mentoring, and access to internship opportunities.
Group and site-based learning: CEE students can participate in group site visits to nearby worksites, laboratories, and other engineering environments, giving them direct exposure to professional applications of civil and environmental engineering.
Computing and data tools: The curriculum emphasizes large-data analysis, computation, probability, and data analysis, while the Systems area incorporates network science, optimization, control theory, machine learning, and data analytics. The curriculum also includes 1.000 Introduction to Computer Programming and Numerical Methods for Engineering Applications.
Environmental research facilities: The Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory for Environmental Science and Engineering supports multidisciplinary research in natural waters and the environment, including environmental chemistry, environmental fluid mechanics and coastal engineering, environmental microbiology, hydrology, and hydroclimatology.
Sustainable materials research: MIT CEE’s Sustainable Materials and Infrastructure research facilities support experimental and computational work on cement-based, polymer-based, bio-inspired, and other advanced materials, including research focused on durability, resilience, and reducing environmental impacts.
Research institutes and interdisciplinary work: Students can engage with research spanning environmental chemistry, microbiology, fluid mechanics, hydrology, ecology, geotechnics, structural mechanics and materials, systems science, and transportation and logistics, creating opportunities to connect CEE studies with wider MIT research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT prepares graduates for careers across engineering, technology, government, consulting, sustainability, and research. MIT CEE specifically identifies pathways into civil, structural, geomechanical, environmental, systems, transportation, clean-energy, sustainability, and climate-tech roles, while also supporting graduates who pursue entrepreneurship or advanced study.

Career opportunities: Graduates can pursue roles such as Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer, and Transportation/Systems Engineer.

Career support: MIT’s Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD) helps students with career searches, résumé preparation, practice interviews, job boards, career resources, and connections with industry representatives. CEE also provides internship support through alumni connections and Institute and departmental resources.
Employment and salary figures: MIT’s official CEE pages do not publish a program-specific graduate employment rate or median salary for the 1-ENG degree. MIT’s CAPD job listings do, however, show current opportunities relevant to CEE graduates; for example, a 2026 GHD Graduate Civil Engineer role lists $75,000–$80,000, while a 2027 entry-level Civil/Site Engineer position lists $76,000–$79,000. These are advertised job salaries rather than MIT graduate salary outcomes.
University–industry partnerships: MIT CEE research connects students with industry through initiatives such as the Concrete Sustainability Hub, which brings together academia, industry, and government to develop sustainable infrastructure solutions. The department has also collaborated with a Japanese industry consortium through the EC³ Hub on conductive cement and infrastructure decarbonization technologies.
Industry exposure: CEE alumni panels give students direct access to graduates discussing internships, the transition from coursework to industry, career paths, and entrepreneurship. MIT also reports that CEE students can hear from industry representatives through seminars and talks while developing professional connections.
Accreditation value: The MIT 1-ENG undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under its General Criteria. This provides long-term professional value by demonstrating that the engineering program meets established accreditation standards for curriculum, student outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Graduation outcomes: MIT reports that CEE graduates enter private companies, engineering firms, government, nonprofits, technology startups, and research careers. The department's educational objectives also include graduates becoming professional engineers and industry leaders, recognized experts in government and consulting, researchers and professors, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners pursuing further education.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into MIT CEE's Master of Engineering (MEng), SM, or PhD pathways, depending on their academic and professional goals. MIT also offers advanced study in areas including environmental science and engineering, environmental chemistry, hydrology and hydroclimatology, transportation and systems engineering, materials, structures, and geomechanics. Interdisciplinary options include the PhD in Computational Science and Engineering, the MIT–WHOI joint program, and the Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) dual-degree pathway combining an MBA with an SM.