Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Oklahoma State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University is a 4-year, 128-credit-hour program that prepares students to design and manage infrastructure while developing a broad foundation across structural, transportation, geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and construction engineering. It suits students interested in applying mathematics, science, engineering analysis, design, and project-management skills to real-world civil engineering challenges.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the mathematical and scientific foundations required for engineering through MATH 2144 – Calculus I, MATH 2153 – Calculus II, and PHYS 2014 – University Physics I, alongside general education and the first-year seminar. ENGR 1322 – Engineering Design with CAD and ENGR 1412 – Introductory Engineering Computer Programming introduce students to computer-aided engineering design and programming.

Second Year: Students move into core engineering analysis through ENSC 2113 – Statics, ENSC 2123 – Elementary Dynamics, and ENSC 2143 – Strength of Materials, while CIVE 2041 – Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar introduces professional ethics, communication, contemporary issues, and the different civil engineering disciplines. CIVE 3614 – Engineering Surveying adds practical surveying knowledge, complemented by CIVE 3813 – Environmental Engineering Science.

Third Year: The curriculum develops specialist civil engineering knowledge through CIVE 3413 – Structural Analysis, CIVE 3513 – Structural Steel Design, and CIVE 3523 – Reinforced Concrete Design, while CIVE 3623 – Engineering Materials Laboratory provides laboratory-based experience. Students also study CIVE 3633 – Transportation Engineering, CIVE 3714 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, CIVE 3833 – Applied Hydraulics, and CIVE 3843 – Hydrology I, building knowledge across major civil engineering areas.

Fourth Year: The final stage focuses on professional practice and integrated engineering design through CIVE 4041 – Engineering Practice, CIVE 4043 – Senior Design, and CIVE 4273 – Construction Engineering and Project Management. Students also complete CIVE 4833 – Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering and select technical electives such as CIVE 4033 – GIS Applications for Water Resources, CIVE 4193 – BIM for Construction, CIVE 4693 – Pavement Design and Analysis, or CIVE 4723 – Foundation Engineering, allowing them to develop more specific technical interests.

Focus areas: Construction Engineering & Management, Environmental Engineering & Water Resources, Geotechnical Engineering & Construction Materials, Structural Engineering & Engineering Mechanics, Transportation & Pavement Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Complex engineering problem solving, engineering design, experimentation and data interpretation, effective communication, teamwork, ethical and professional responsibility, sustainable engineering solutions, and the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Reputation (employability rankings): Oklahoma State University received a 5-Star QS Stars rating, including 5 Stars for Employability; QS assessed factors including employer reputation, graduate employment rate, employability outcomes, alumni impact, career support, apprenticeships, and internships.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University combines classroom engineering theory with practical laboratory work, design activities, field-based learning, and professional experiences. Students can work with specialized civil engineering facilities and equipment while developing skills in areas such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation, water resources, and environmental engineering; the program also provides opportunities for internships and undergraduate research.

Students gain practical experience through:

Civil Engineering Laboratories: Students have access to dedicated facilities for materials, structures, geotechnical engineering, transportation, environmental engineering, and hydraulics, supporting hands-on experimentation and testing.
Structural Engineering: Laboratory activities provide opportunities to investigate the behavior and performance of structural systems and materials using engineering testing equipment.
Geotechnical Engineering: Students gain practical experience with soil testing and geotechnical engineering methods, connecting classroom concepts with real engineering applications.
Hydraulics and Water Resources: Dedicated laboratory facilities support practical work involving fluid mechanics, hydraulics, and water-resource engineering.
Transportation Engineering: Students can apply transportation engineering principles through laboratory and project-based activities related to highway and transportation systems.
Senior design projects: Students complete advanced engineering design work that integrates knowledge developed across the civil engineering curriculum and emphasizes solving realistic engineering problems.
Internships and professional experience: Oklahoma State provides students with opportunities to obtain internships and cooperative education experiences, allowing civil engineering students to apply their academic knowledge in professional engineering environments.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led research and undergraduate research opportunities, gaining experience with engineering investigation, experimentation, data analysis, and technical communication.
School facilities and resources: Civil engineering students benefit from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s laboratories, research facilities, computing resources, and specialized engineering spaces for learning and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University are prepared for professional careers across structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, water resources, and construction engineering. The university identifies roles including Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Construction Project Manager, Project Engineer, and Field Engineer, giving graduates multiple directions across public agencies and private consulting firms.

Career and progression opportunities include:

CEAT Career Services: Students receive individualized career assistance, specialized workshops, résumé and job-search support, interview preparation, salary-negotiation guidance, career assessments, and access to the Cooperative Education Program.
Internships and co-op: CEAT's Cooperative Education Program allows undergraduate students to alternate full-time academic terms with major-related employment, providing substantial professional experience while maintaining full-time enrollment and earning academic credit.
Industry networking: OSU hosts a Construction Industry Career Fair specifically attended by Civil Engineering students, with employers recruiting for both full-time positions and internships/co-ops.
ODOT partnership: The Oklahoma Department of Transportation Design Squad gives sophomore Civil Engineering students and above hands-on experience under professional engineers, including plan review, calculations, computer modeling, project-component inspection, and roadway, bridge, and traffic design. The program also identifies an opportunity for transition to full-time employment after successful completion.
ODOT facility partnership: OSU and ODOT are expanding their partnership through the Gary Ridley Construction Residency and Training Center; the expanded facility includes space for more ODOT employees and more Civil Engineering students to gain experience with ODOT.
Salary information: OSU CEAT's published Civil Engineering career guide reports starting average salaries of $56,000 for 2017, $66,800 for 2018, and $60,780 for 2019, based on OSU CEAT graduate data. These figures are historical rather than current salary guarantees.
Employer outcomes: OSU's alumni survey records Civil Engineering graduates working with organizations including ODOT, Missouri Department of Transportation, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Crafton Tull, ExxonMobil, Peloton Land Solutions, and Tulsa Engineering & Planning Associates.
Professional accreditation: The B.S. in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria, providing an established professional quality framework for the degree.
Professional preparation: OSU's Civil Engineering career guidance recommends taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination during or shortly after the senior year and pursuing the Professional Engineering (PE) examination after the required professional experience.
Graduation-to-career preparation: The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering states that its graduates work in local, state and government agencies and small, medium and large consulting firms, both domestically and internationally.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Civil Engineering, students can continue into Oklahoma State University's Master of Science in Civil Engineering, with technical areas including Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Transportation Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering. Students interested in advanced research or university-level teaching can progress further to the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, which includes research and dissertation work and is available in the same broad civil engineering areas.