Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Northwestern University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Northwestern University prepares students to plan, design, build, and operate infrastructure such as roads, airports, bridges, tunnels, water systems, and power facilities, while developing a strong systems perspective on sustainability and resilience. The program suits students interested in combining mathematics, science, engineering analysis, design, and real-world infrastructure challenges, with opportunities to tailor the degree through focus areas and technical electives.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with Northwestern’s integrated engineering foundation and gain early exposure to real engineering through the Engineering Analysis and Design Thinking and Communication sequences. Courses such as CIV_ENV 201-0 Cornerstone Design and CIV_ENV 301-1 Cornerstone Design Lab introduce sustainable infrastructure design, industry-standard modeling and analysis tools, teamwork, and technical decision-making.

Year 2: Students build their core civil engineering knowledge through subjects such as CIV_ENV 216-0 Mechanics of Materials I, CIV_ENV 221-0 Theory of Structures I, and CIV_ENV 250-0 Earth Surface Engineering. These courses develop understanding of material behavior, structural analysis, soils, permeability, deformation, and the engineering properties of the earth.

Year 3: Students progress into systems analysis and specialized civil engineering topics, including CIV_ENV 304-0 Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems Analysis, CIV_ENV 306-0 Uncertainty Analysis, and focus-area courses selected according to their interests. The curriculum allows students to explore areas including Architectural Engineering & Design, Environmental, Geotechnics, Management, Structures, and Transportation.

Year 4: Students apply their accumulated knowledge through advanced technical electives and the two-part CIV_ENV 382-1 Capstone Design I and CIV_ENV 382-2 Capstone Design II sequence. The capstone provides a culminating team-based design experience focused on the function, design, and operation of modern infrastructure systems, while CIV_ENV 301-2 Professional Development Seminar II prepares students for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination.

Focus areas: Architectural Engineering & Design, Environmental, Geotechnics, Management, Structures, Transportation.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are expected to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems using mathematics, science, engineering principles, and modern tools; conduct experiments and analyze data; design solutions that consider public health, safety, welfare, and environmental factors; communicate effectively; work in teams; and apply professional and ethical judgment.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Reputation (employability/rankings): Northwestern Engineering identifies Northwestern as #7 among national universities according to U.S. News & World Report on its Civil Engineering program page. The university also describes its Civil and Environmental Engineering department as among the nation’s premier research and academic departments, supported by 7 National Academy of Engineering members and 10 NSF Young Investigator Award recipients.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Northwestern University combines engineering theory with practical design, laboratory work, and project-based learning. Students can develop hands-on skills through dedicated civil and environmental engineering laboratories, Northwestern’s extensive engineering facilities, computational tools, and opportunities to work on research and design projects with faculty. The program also allows students to connect civil engineering with areas such as structural engineering, environmental engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, and water resources, giving them opportunities to apply classroom concepts to real engineering problems.

These opportunities give students multiple ways to turn engineering concepts into practical experience:

Structural Engineering Laboratory: Students can gain practical experience with structural materials, structural systems, and experimental testing through Northwestern’s Structural Engineering Laboratory, supporting research in structural engineering and mechanics.
Geotechnics Laboratory: The Geotechnics Laboratory provides facilities for studying soil and geotechnical engineering, including experimental investigation of soil behavior and foundation-related problems.
Environmental Engineering Laboratory: Northwestern’s environmental engineering facilities support research and practical work involving water and wastewater treatment, environmental chemistry, and contaminant transport.
Transportation Engineering: Students interested in transportation can engage with Northwestern research and facilities focused on transportation systems, traffic operations, infrastructure, and mobility.
Segal Design Institute: The Segal Design Institute provides collaborative design spaces and project-based environments where engineering students can work in multidisciplinary teams to develop and prototype solutions to real-world problems.
Knight Lab: The Knight Lab supports hands-on prototyping and fabrication, giving students access to tools and equipment for building and testing physical designs.
The Garage at Northwestern: Students can pursue entrepreneurial projects through The Garage, an interdisciplinary innovation space offering prototyping resources, mentorship, workshops, and opportunities to develop ideas into practical ventures.
Northwestern University Transportation Center: Civil engineering students can benefit from research and learning opportunities connected with the Northwestern University Transportation Center, which focuses on transportation research, education, and collaboration with public- and private-sector organizations.
Computational tools: Civil engineering coursework and research at Northwestern use computational methods for engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, and design. Students can build quantitative and computational skills alongside physical laboratory experience.
Research opportunities: Undergraduate students can participate in faculty-led research across Northwestern’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, including areas such as structures, geotechnics, environmental engineering, transportation, water resources, and infrastructure systems.
Team-based engineering projects: Northwestern’s engineering curriculum emphasizes collaborative problem-solving and design, allowing students to work with peers on multidisciplinary engineering challenges rather than relying exclusively on lecture-based learning.
McCormick School facilities: As a McCormick School of Engineering student, the BSCE student has access to Northwestern’s engineering makerspaces, laboratories, computational resources, and collaborative project environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Northwestern Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering prepares students for careers spanning infrastructure engineering, construction, transportation, project management, energy, architecture, and related technical fields. Recent graduates have moved into roles such as Project Engineer, Project Manager, Field Engineer, and Designer, while others have continued to graduate study at universities including Princeton, Michigan, UT Austin, and Northwestern.

Career pathways: Graduates can build careers as Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Field Engineer, and Construction/Project Manager across consulting, construction, transportation, government, environmental services, and infrastructure.

Career support and opportunities:

Career services: Northwestern Engineering Career Development and Northwestern Career Advancement provide professional-development and career-placement resources, while the CEE department maintains opportunities for internships, industry jobs, and academic positions. Students can also receive personalized career guidance and attend career events.
Employer connections: Northwestern Engineering hosts dedicated recruiting events, including the Civil & Environmental Engineering Career Fair, where employers connect directly with students interested in civil engineering, construction, infrastructure, transportation, and sustainability. Employers can also post internship, co-op, and full-time positions through McCormickConnect and Handshake.
Employment examples: Northwestern lists alumni and graduate employment with organizations including Amazon, Boeing, ARCADIS, Mass Electric Construction, and the National Forest Service. The department also identifies employers and industry areas such as AECOM, IBM, Baxter International, The Walsh Group, Lendlease, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA, and transportation and utility organizations.
Employment statistics: Northwestern's current Civil Engineering page states that recent graduates enter a wide range of professional fields and that around one-third continue to graduate studies. The university's current public pages do not provide a Civil Engineering-specific graduate salary figure, so a program-specific salary number is not stated in the official sources reviewed.
Industry exposure: Students can gain direct exposure to employers through the dedicated CEE Career Fair, internships, industry job postings, and Northwestern Engineering's broader recruiting events. The department's career resources specifically encourage students to pursue internships and professional positions related to civil and environmental engineering.
Professional accreditation: The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria. Northwestern's accreditation record lists the McCormick civil engineering program as accredited for the 2023–24 to 2029–30 accreditation period, providing an established professional-quality framework for the degree.
Graduation outcomes: Northwestern reports 25 Civil Engineering degrees conferred in the 2024–25 academic year, with 88 Civil Engineering majors enrolled as of Fall 2025. Graduates have progressed into industry as well as advanced study, including programs at Northwestern, Princeton, the University of Michigan, and UT Austin.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Civil Engineering, students can continue into graduate engineering and interdisciplinary programs, depending on their interests. Northwestern's Civil Engineering graduates have progressed to advanced study at institutions including Northwestern, Princeton, the University of Michigan, and UT Austin, while the university also identifies graduate pathways in engineering, data science, operations research, management science, law, business, and other fields.