Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology is a 4-year, on-campus program that prepares students to plan, design, analyze, and manage infrastructure while applying engineering science to real-world public and environmental challenges. Students build a broad foundation across construction, environmental, water resources, geotechnical, structural, materials, and transportation engineering, with opportunities to develop deeper expertise through technical and depth electives.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students establish their mathematical, scientific, and engineering foundation through courses such as MATH 1214/1211, CHEM 1305 – General Chemistry, and PHYSICS 1135, alongside FR ENG 1100 – Freshman Engineering and MECH ENG 1720. This stage builds the quantitative and physical-science knowledge needed for more advanced civil engineering study.

Second Year: Students begin focused civil engineering study with CIV ENG 2003 – Engineering Communications and Computations, CIV ENG 2200 – Statics, and CIV ENG 2401 – Fundamentals of Surveying. They also progress into CIV ENG 2210 – Mechanics of Materials, CIV ENG 2211 – Materials Testing, and related mathematics, statistics, physics, and geotechnical coursework, combining analytical concepts with laboratory and surveying practice.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into major civil engineering applications through CIV ENG 2601 – Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering and Science, CIV ENG 3201 – Structural Analysis I, and CIV ENG 3116 – Construction Materials, Properties and Testing. Students also study areas including construction, structures, environmental engineering, and transportation, developing the ability to analyze materials, structures, environmental systems, and engineering problems.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their technical knowledge through CIV ENG 3210 – Structural Design in Metals, CIV ENG 3220 – Reinforced Concrete Design, and CIV ENG 4097, complemented by civil engineering depth and technical electives. These advanced courses allow students to tailor their final year toward areas such as structural, construction, environmental, geotechnical, materials, transportation, or water resources engineering while completing the program's professional preparation.

Focus areas: Construction engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, materials engineering, transportation engineering.

Learning outcomes: Complex engineering problem solving, engineering design, effective communication, ethical and professional judgment, teamwork and leadership, experimentation and data analysis, independent learning, civil engineering system/component/process design, project management, business and public policy awareness, and professional licensure preparation.

Professional alignment (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.

Reputation (employability rankings): Missouri S&T reported that its undergraduate civil engineering program ranked No. 31 nationally in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings; the university also reports an average starting salary of $73,093 for civil engineering undergraduate students as of 2024.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology emphasizes active, hands-on learning through laboratories, design teams, professional internships, and research facilities. Students can work with advanced testing equipment in Butler-Carlton Hall, including structural, geotechnical, construction-materials, and environmental laboratories, while design teams such as Steel Bridge Design Team, Concrete Canoe Design Team, Engineers Without Borders, and Solar House Design Team provide opportunities to apply engineering concepts to practical projects.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Construction and Materials Laboratories: Four specialized laboratories allow students to test aggregates, asphalt, concrete, and structural materials using equipment such as asphalt mixture performance testers, gyratory compactors, environmental chambers, concrete mixers, compression machines, and data-acquisition workstations.
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory: Undergraduate laboratory sessions cover soil testing including sieve and hydrometer analysis, Proctor compaction, permeability, consolidation, CBR, direct shear, triaxial testing, and unconfined compression, along with field-testing equipment.
Engineering software: The geotechnical research facilities provide access to COMSOL Multiphysics, ABAQUS, Fluent, PFC 2D/3D, OpenSees, GeoStudio Suite, Simpleware, and ImageJ, supported by high-performance computers.
Structural Engineering Research Laboratory: The high-bay facility provides a 770 m² testing area, a 20-ton overhead crane, and a 5.5-metre-high reaction wall for large- and full-scale structural testing, creating opportunities for hands-on student research and learning.
Design and service teams: Students can apply civil engineering knowledge through the Steel Bridge Design Team, Concrete Canoe Design Team, Engineers Without Borders, and Solar House Design Team, working on collaborative engineering and service projects.
Professional internships: Missouri S&T operates an Experiential Learning Program coordinated with professional internships and fellow programs, with defined learning objectives intended to strengthen students' professional preparation.
Center for Intelligent Infrastructure: The Center for Intelligent Infrastructure provides interdisciplinary research environments, including the Structural Engineering Research Laboratory, Systems Analytics Laboratory, and SPAR Laboratory, connecting civil engineering with areas such as sensing, computing, materials, and infrastructure systems.
Butler-Carlton Hall: The 143,000-square-foot civil engineering facility contains 32 laboratories, a senior design lab, computer learning centers, a high-bay structures laboratory, hydraulics laboratory, environmental laboratories, and classrooms, giving students access to purpose-built engineering spaces.
Hands-on technology: Missouri S&T specifically describes its civil engineering undergraduate program as preparing students to use latest technology and high-tech equipment to address infrastructure and environmental challenges.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology can pursue careers across infrastructure, construction, transportation, water resources, structural systems, and geotechnical engineering. Typical roles include Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, and Transportation Engineer, with the university also identifying construction engineering/management and water-resource engineering among relevant career fields.

Career support and progression:

Career services: Missouri S&T’s Career Opportunities and Employer Relations (COER) provides personalized career coaching, employer connections, career fairs, professional-development events, and access to Handshake for internships, co-ops, part-time jobs, and full-time positions.
Employment and salary: Missouri S&T reports an average starting salary of $73,093 for civil engineering undergraduate students as of 2024.
Industry connections: S&T career fairs average 378 registered companies, with recent participating employers including Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Burns & McDonnell, WSP, Terracon Consultants, Nucor Corporation, Caterpillar, Clayco, Kiewit, and Black & Veatch.
Co-op and internship opportunities: Employer partnerships support paid, degree-related internships and co-op placements, with co-ops potentially providing 8–9 months of work experience alongside academic credit.
Professional accreditation: The Civil Engineering BS is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria. The program specifically prepares graduates for professional development, including progression toward FE and/or PE examinations.
Graduation outcomes: The program’s educational objectives emphasize graduates progressing into professional civil engineering practice, leading or managing projects, working effectively in teams, maintaining professional development, pursuing advanced education, and keeping pace with technological developments.

Further Academic Progression: Missouri S&T students can continue into graduate study in civil engineering, including advanced work across construction engineering, construction materials, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering. The department also offers a Grad Track Bachelor’s + Master’s pathway, allowing eligible students to earn coursework credit toward a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree in the same discipline.