Bachelor of Science in Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Princeton University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University combines engineering science, design, experimentation, and independent research to prepare students to address complex challenges involving infrastructure, structures, natural systems, and the environment. It suits students interested in civil and environmental engineering careers or advanced study, with the flexibility to build a coherent academic pathway through Architecture and Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, or Engineering and the Liberal Arts.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin with the common B.S.E. mathematics, basic science, computer science, and writing requirements, establishing the quantitative and scientific foundation needed for engineering study. The first year is shared across Princeton Engineering's B.S.E. programs, with students progressing toward courses such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science before entering CEE-specific study.

Year 2: Students move into CEE foundations and prepare to declare their subplan, with structural students taking CEE 205: Mechanics of Solids and CEE 312: Statics of Structures, while the wider curriculum introduces areas such as CEE 207: Introduction to Environmental Engineering, CEE 364: Materials in Civil Engineering, and CEE 365: Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. By the end of the sophomore year, students select their CEE subplan and work with an academic adviser to develop a coherent course sequence.

Year 3: Students deepen their engineering science and design knowledge through courses such as CEE 361: Matrix Structural Analysis and Introduction to Finite-Element Methods, CEE 364: Materials in Civil Engineering, CEE 365: Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and CEE 306: Hydrology: Water and Climate or CEE 305: Environmental Fluid Mechanics, depending on their pathway. Students can also pursue program electives and are encouraged to undertake independent research; Princeton additionally provides the opportunity for junior-year study abroad.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced engineering design and independent research, including CEE 366: Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures or CEE 467: Design and Behavior of Steel Structures, followed by CEE 461: Design of Large-Scale Structures: Buildings for the structural engineering pathway. Students complete the required two-course CEE 498: Senior Thesis I and CEE 499: Senior Thesis II, undertaking a year-long research project under faculty supervision and presenting their work through poster and oral sessions.

Focus Areas: Architecture and Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, Engineering and the Liberal Arts — the accredited Civil Engineering program includes the first three subplans, while Engineering and the Liberal Arts is a non-ABET-accredited pathway.

Learning Outcomes: Complex engineering problem solving, engineering design, effective communication, ethical and professional judgment, teamwork and leadership, experimentation and data analysis, application of new knowledge, interdisciplinary problem solving, critical thinking, and lifelong professional learning.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): ABET-accredited — Princeton's Civil Engineering program of study is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs; the Architecture and Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Structural Engineering subplans are included in the accredited Civil Engineering program.

Reputation (Employability/Official Statistics): Career outcomes: Princeton reports that 90.2% of the Class of 2025 had secured a post-graduation outcome by December 31, 2025, including 65.3% who accepted employment and 23.2% who confirmed admission to graduate or professional school. Princeton Engineering also identifies employers of engineering graduates including Microsoft, Google, Meta, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Intel, SpaceX, Tesla, and Ford; these figures are university-wide/engineering-level rather than specific to Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Princeton University’s B.S.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) gain practical experience through design projects, laboratory courses, independent research, and field-based learning. The program connects engineering theory with real infrastructure and environmental challenges, while facilities such as the Engineering Quadrangle, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and specialized CEE laboratories provide spaces for experimentation, modeling, materials testing, and environmental research. Students can also pursue faculty-guided research, summer internships, independent work, and senior thesis projects, giving them opportunities to apply engineering methods beyond the classroom:

Independent research: Undergraduates can work with CEE faculty on research projects and pursue independent research for academic credit, allowing students to investigate current civil and environmental engineering problems.
Senior thesis: B.S.E. students complete a substantial independent research project and senior thesis, applying engineering analysis and research methods to a focused problem.
Design experience: The curriculum includes engineering design experiences in which students apply principles of structures, mechanics, environmental engineering, transportation, water resources, and infrastructure to practical engineering problems.
Laboratory experience: CEE students use specialized laboratories for areas including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation, and water resources, supporting experimental and applied research.
Environmental research facilities: The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment provides interdisciplinary facilities for research related to energy, environmental sustainability, and climate-related engineering challenges.
Structural engineering facilities: Princeton’s CEE facilities support research involving structural mechanics, materials, earthquake engineering, computational mechanics, and infrastructure systems.
Geotechnical engineering: Specialized facilities support experimental investigation of soil mechanics, foundations, geotechnical materials, and infrastructure–ground interactions.
Environmental engineering: Students can engage with laboratory research involving water quality, environmental chemistry, biological processes, pollutants, and sustainable environmental systems.
Computational tools: CEE research and coursework make use of computational modeling, numerical methods, data analysis, and simulation tools relevant to civil and environmental engineering.
Field-based learning: CEE research and coursework can involve field measurements, environmental sampling, infrastructure observation, and site-based engineering investigations, connecting laboratory and classroom concepts with real systems.
Internships and summer opportunities: Princeton provides undergraduate opportunities for summer research and internships, allowing CEE students to gain experience in academic, government, and industry settings.
Engineering library resources: Students have access to the Engineering Library, which provides engineering databases, technical literature, research assistance, and study resources supporting CEE coursework and research.
Collaborative facilities: The Engineering Quadrangle provides laboratories, research spaces, classrooms, and collaborative environments where students work alongside faculty and researchers on engineering projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Princeton’s B.S.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering develop engineering, design, experimentation, and independent research skills that can support careers across infrastructure, environmental systems, structural engineering, consulting, and related fields. The program’s flexible pathways and year-long senior thesis also provide preparation for graduate study, research, and interdisciplinary engineering work.

Typical Career Roles: Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Engineering Consultant

Career Development & Employment Support:

Center for Career Development: Students receive one-on-one career advising, help with resume and cover-letter reviews, interview preparation, networking guidance, internship/job search strategies, and graduate-school planning.
Handshake & Campus Recruiting: Princeton provides students with Handshake, employer information sessions, career education programs, interviews, and access to internship and full-time job postings.
Princeternship: Undergraduate students can undertake one- to five-day job-shadowing experiences or one- to four-week projects with Princeton alumni, including opportunities in engineering.
Internships: Princeton offers university-supported opportunities including High Meadows Environmental Institute internships, which can involve environmental field research, and Andlinger Center summer internships focused on energy and environmental challenges.

Employment & Salary: Princeton’s official CEE pages do not state a program-specific undergraduate employment rate or salary figure in the sources reviewed, so no salary or employment percentage is inserted here. Princeton Engineering notes that engineering graduates enter companies, research careers, government, consulting, and other professional fields, but these figures are not presented as CEE-specific employment statistics.

University–Industry Connections: CEE students have opportunities to interact with design and consulting companies in structural engineering, while Princeton’s broader Campus Recruiting Program provides employer-led information sessions, career programs, and interviews for internships and full-time positions.

Long-Term Accreditation Value: The CEE B.S.E. program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering. Princeton specifically explains that academic advisers discuss the importance of ABET accreditation for graduates pursuing engineering careers, while the accredited program develops abilities in engineering problem-solving, design, communication, teamwork, experimentation, and continuing professional learning.

Graduation Outcomes: Princeton CEE graduates complete a year-long senior thesis, applying their engineering knowledge through independent research that can involve laboratory experiments, field observations, GIS mapping, satellite imagery, computer simulation, and data analysis. The department’s stated educational objectives include preparing graduates for interdisciplinary problem-solving, leadership pathways, independent thinking, and lifelong professional learning.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S.E., students can continue into Princeton CEE’s M.S.E., M.Eng., or Ph.D. programs. The M.S.E. is research-focused and normally takes two years, the M.Eng. is a one-year applied degree oriented toward professional practice and consulting, and the Ph.D. is designed for advanced research and normally takes about five years; Princeton also offers graduate research areas including Mechanics, Materials and Structures, Sustainable, Resilient Cities and Infrastructure Systems, Water, Climate and Energy, and Hydrology and the Atmospheric Environment.