BS in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Michigan State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Michigan State University provides a broad engineering foundation for students who want to plan, design, and manage public and private infrastructure, while developing technical depth in areas such as structures, transportation, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, and pavements and materials. The four-year, 128-credit program combines mathematics, science, engineering analysis, design, measurements, computing, and sustainability, making it suitable for students interested in professional civil engineering practice or advanced study.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their mathematical, scientific, and engineering foundations through MTH 132 Calculus I, MTH 133 Calculus II, PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, and EGR 100 Introduction to Engineering Design. CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I and CE 273 Civil and Environmental Engineering Measurements begin connecting fundamental science with practical engineering work.

Year 2: Students move into core civil engineering concepts through CE 221 Statics, CE 271 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering, and CE 274 Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineers. CE 275 GIS for Civil and Environmental Engineers and ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids add spatial, graphical, and mechanics-based skills that support later design and analysis.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized and analytical, with students studying CE 305 Introduction to Structural Analysis, CE 312 Soil Mechanics, CE 321 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, and CE 337 Civil Engineering Materials. Students also take CE 361 Computational Methods in Civil Engineering, CE 341 Transportation Engineering, and ENE 371 Sustainable Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems, bringing together computation, infrastructure systems, materials, and sustainability.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced technical electives and integrated design, allowing students to develop interests through subjects such as CE 400 Structural Mechanics, CE 448 Transportation Planning, CE 471 Construction Engineering – Equipment, Methods and Planning, CE 473 Smart and Sustainable Building Design and Operations, or ENE 380 Principles of Environmental Engineering. Students complete CE 495 Senior Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering and CE 496 Review for the CE & ENE Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, bringing their undergraduate learning together in a professional design experience.

Focus areas: Energy and Sustainable Engineering, Hydrology and Water Resources, Pavement and Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are prepared to advance in civil engineering practice or pursue advanced studies, engage in lifelong learning, practise engineering consistent with sustainable development principles, develop professional leadership, and pursue professional licensure.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Civil Engineering B.S. 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): Michigan State University reports a 90%+ placement rate within six months of graduation for Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates, with graduates entering consulting, public agencies, and industry or pursuing advanced degrees. MSU’s institutional rankings page reports its Civil Engineering program at #45 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Michigan State University uses a design-build approach that connects classroom theory with practical engineering applications. Students develop hands-on experience across mechanics, materials, environmental engineering, fluid mechanics, geotechnical engineering, structures, transportation, pavement engineering, and water resources, with opportunities for undergraduate research and a required senior-level, team-based capstone design experience.

Practical learning is strengthened through MSU’s civil engineering research infrastructure and projects involving real infrastructure, sensing technologies, materials testing, and industry-connected design work. Key opportunities include:

Team-based capstone: CE 495 Senior Design in Civil & Environmental Engineering is a comprehensive team-based design course in which students apply civil engineering knowledge to substantial design problems. Recent MSU Design Day projects included teams working on projects connected with the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences development in Detroit.
Industry-connected projects: The Henry Ford Health project gave CE 495 students an opportunity to engage with the project’s design and construction teams and included a site visit to Detroit while foundation construction was underway.
Professional evaluation: Civil engineering design projects have been reviewed by practicing engineers and professionals from organizations such as HNTB, Consumers Energy, East Lansing Department of Public Works, NTH Consultants, Tetra Tech MPS, URS Corporation, and the MSU Physical Plant, giving students exposure to professional engineering perspectives.
Infrastructure monitoring: MSU CEE researchers have installed thousands of self-powered infrastructure sensors on the Mackinac Bridge for real-time monitoring and proactive bridge preservation, while sensor technologies are also used to monitor traffic congestion and building energy performance.
Materials testing: The High-Performance Materials Group provides access to equipment for material treatment, characterization, testing, and analysis, including mechanical-testing equipment, a Keyence Profilometer VR-3050, UV-weathering equipment, and temperature/humidity-controlled incubation chambers.
Research facilities: Civil engineering research is supported through laboratories and workshops across the MSU campus, allowing projects to use appropriate facilities for fabrication, treatment, testing, and analysis of materials.
Design-build education: The CEE department specifically describes its undergraduate education as a robust design-build approach, combining engineering theory with practical application across civil and environmental engineering disciplines.
Undergraduate research: High-achieving undergraduate students have opportunities to participate in undergraduate research, providing an additional route into faculty-led civil and environmental engineering research.
GIS and digital engineering: MSU's civil/environmental engineering curriculum includes dedicated instruction in GIS for Civil & Environmental Engineers (CE 275) and Graphics for Civil & Environmental Engineers (CE 274), providing students with discipline-specific digital and visualization skills.
Specialized research areas: Students can engage with research spanning environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, pavement engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, hydrology, and water resources, matching the program's major areas of specialization.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Michigan State University prepares graduates for professional roles across civil engineering, construction, transportation, water resources, structures, geotechnical engineering, and environmental applications. MSU reports that its civil and environmental engineering graduates have a placement rate above 90% within six months of graduation, with graduates entering both public and private-sector careers.

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

Career progression and employment support:

Career services: The Center for Spartan Engineering supports students with 1-on-1 career coaching, resume and cover-letter preparation, internship/co-op guidance, networking opportunities, employer connections, career courses, and career fairs where 100+ employers recruit Spartan engineers.
Employment outcomes: MSU reports a placement rate above 90% within six months of graduation for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The department's 2023–2025 graduate data shows graduates entering civil engineering, engineering and construction, utilities and renewable energy, design, oil and gas, and architecture and planning.
Salary figures: MSU's current Civil Engineering graduate-outcomes page identifies 2025 average starting salary as a program-specific measure, but the published page does not display the numerical salary figure; therefore, a specific salary amount is not stated on the official source.
Industry employers: MSU's 2023–2025 civil engineering outcomes identify employers hiring four or more graduates, including Kimley-Horn & Associates, Black & Veatch, Michigan Department of Transportation, AECOM, Commonwealth Associates, OHM Advisors, Burns & McDonnell, WSP, The Christman Company, and Colliers Engineering & Design.
Employer partnerships: Through the College of Engineering's Spartaneering Partnership Program, employers engage with engineering students through networking events, company takeover days, career panels, mock interviews, and other student-development activities. MSU's Engineering Intern for a Day program also connects students with employers for job-shadowing, company tours, meetings, and project experiences.
Professional accreditation: 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. This provides an established accreditation framework for the engineering degree and supports graduates pursuing professional engineering development and licensure pathways.
Graduation outcomes: MSU's civil engineering graduates have entered positions such as Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Civil Analyst, Staff Engineer, Structural Engineer, Design Engineer, Field Engineer, Construction Project Engineer, Transportation Engineer, and Bridge Engineer. The department's program objectives also identify advanced professional practice, continuing professional development and leadership, lifelong learning, sustainable engineering practice, and professional licensure as longer-term graduate outcomes.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into MSU's M.S. in Civil Engineering, typically a two-year program with thesis or project options, or pursue the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering for research-focused careers. MSU also offers graduate study in areas including energy and sustainability, hydrology and water resources, geotechnical and pavement engineering, structural engineering, mechanics and materials, and transportation engineering; high-achieving undergraduate students may also pursue MSU's dual B.S.–M.S. pathway in civil engineering.