Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Central Florida

Program Overview

The Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE) at the University of Central Florida is a 4-year, on-campus bachelor’s program for students who want to design, construct, and manage infrastructure and the built environment. Students develop a strong foundation in mathematics, science, engineering analysis, and design while studying areas such as structures, transportation, geotechnical engineering, water resources, and environmental engineering.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students build their mathematics, science, and engineering foundation through courses such as MAC 2311 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I, PHY 2048 – Physics for Engineers and Scientists I, and EGN 1006C – Introduction to the Engineering Profession. These courses establish the analytical and problem-solving skills needed for more advanced civil engineering study.

Second Year: The curriculum moves into core engineering concepts with subjects such as CWR 3201 – Fluid Mechanics, EGN 3365 – Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists, and CES 3100 – Mechanics of Materials. Students begin applying mathematics and physical principles to the behavior of fluids, materials, and engineering systems.

Third Year: Students progress into specialized civil engineering subjects including CEE 3200 – Engineering Mechanics: Statics, CEE 3301 – Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics, and CEE 3401 – Civil Engineering Materials. Coursework increasingly connects engineering theory with the analysis and design of civil infrastructure and construction materials.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced civil engineering analysis, design, and professional preparation through subjects such as CEE 4200 – Structural Analysis, CEE 4312 – Reinforced Concrete Design, and CEE 4810 – Civil Engineering Design I. Students integrate knowledge from earlier coursework into engineering design and problem-solving activities relevant to professional practice.

Focus areas: Structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, construction engineering.

Learning outcomes: Engineering analysis, civil infrastructure design, problem solving, mathematics and scientific application, technical communication, teamwork, ethical professional practice, and application of engineering principles to real-world civil engineering challenges.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Civil Engineering B.S. program at UCF is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, demonstrating alignment with established standards for professional engineering education.

Reputation (employability rankings): UCF reports that 94% of its graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, supporting the university’s emphasis on career preparation and graduate outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) at the University of Central Florida combines classroom study with hands-on laboratory work, engineering design, research opportunities, and exposure to professional civil engineering practice. Students can work with structural testing equipment, instrumentation and data-acquisition systems, computational tools such as AutoCAD and finite-element analysis, and specialized laboratories covering structures, transportation, infrastructure resilience, water resources, and other civil engineering areas.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Structural Analysis Laboratory: CES 4100C – Structural Analysis I includes hands-on experiments involving material behavior, instrumentation, engineering measurement, beams, trusses, frames, and structural response, with AutoCAD and an introduction to finite-element analysis included in the laboratory work.
Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory: CGN 3501C – Civil Engineering Materials provides hands-on experience characterizing concrete, steel, soils, bituminous materials, polymers, and composites used in civil engineering applications.
Burton, Braswell, Middlebrooks Structures Laboratory: This large-scale facility supports undergraduate teaching and research involving structural components, infrastructure systems, and materials. Equipment includes a 50 × 25-foot strong floor, 20-ton overhead crane, hydraulic actuators and jacks, a 200-kip universal loading machine, sensors, strain gauges, and NI-SCXI data-acquisition systems.
Civil engineering research laboratories: UCF's CECE department provides access to specialized facilities including the Civil Infrastructures for Resilience and Safety Lab, Intelligent Transportation Systems and Data Analytics Lab, Resilient Infrastructure Sensing and Evaluation Laboratory, Smart and Safe Transportation Lab, Structures Laboratory, Traffic Engineering and Modeling Lab, Hydro-Geomorphology Lab, and Kibler Ecohydraulics Lab.
Multidisciplinary senior design: UCF's IDESIGN brings engineering and computer science students from multiple disciplines together on sponsored, real-world design challenges, with faculty guidance and industry participation.
Internships and professional experience: UCF's Dixon Career Development Center regularly lists civil engineering internships involving roadway, bridge, transportation, water resources, site development, field data collection, engineering documentation, and real project work.
Industry software: Current UCF-posted civil engineering internships specifically reference tools such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation OpenRoads Designer, and structural analysis programs, giving students a clear connection between their coursework and industry software.
Field-based experience: UCF-posted civil engineering internships include site visits, field observations, roadway/highway inspections, field data collection, and active project support, providing opportunities to apply engineering knowledge outside the classroom.
Engineering maker spaces: Engineering Building II, home to the Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering department, includes four maker spaces—the L3Harris Corporation Gathering Lab, Idea Lab, Texas Instruments Innovation Lab, and Manufacturing Lab—where engineering students can develop ideas into working prototypes.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BSCE in Civil Engineering prepares graduates for professional roles across structural, geotechnical, transportation, construction, and water-resources engineering, with UCF specifically identifying careers such as Civil Engineer, Field Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Traffic Engineer, and Water Resources Engineer. The program also provides a pathway toward graduate study, professional licensure, and continued professional development, with UCF’s civil engineering department reporting that graduates are expected to become successfully employed or continue their studies at graduate level.

Typical job roles: Civil Engineer, Field Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Transportation/Traffic Engineer

Career services: The Kenneth G. Dixon Career Development Center supports students through Handshake, career appointments, job and internship searches, employer profiles, career fairs, resume reviews, mock interviews, and career-readiness programs.
Engineering employment experience: UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science reports that about 80% of engineering graduates have job-related experience in their chosen field before graduation, supported by relationships with more than 150 industry partners.
Industry connections: The CECE Career Mixer, held every fall and spring, brings civil, environmental, and construction engineering students together with more than 60 employers for internship, employment, mentoring, and networking opportunities; recent participating organizations have included GAI Consultants and KPM Franklin.
Current civil-engineering opportunities: UCF’s career platform currently features civil engineering internships with employers such as STV, Galloway & Company, and S&ME, involving activities such as civil design, AutoCAD/Civil 3D, multidisciplinary coordination, materials testing, transportation, geotechnical, and environmental engineering.
Employment and salary information: UCF’s Civil Engineer career resource, using Lightcast data, reports 371,883 civil-engineering jobs nationwide in 2025 and an average national salary of $95,847. These figures are occupation-level U.S. data rather than a salary guarantee for UCF graduates.
Accreditation value: The BSCE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under its General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria. UCF’s accreditation records show the program has held this accreditation since 1982, providing an established professional-accreditation foundation for graduates pursuing civil engineering careers and licensure pathways.
Graduation outcomes: UCF reports 125 BSCE degrees awarded in 2024–25, following 132 in 2023–24 and 152 in 2022–23. The department’s published program objectives state that graduates are expected to be successfully employed or employable in civil engineering practice and/or continue at graduate level.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSCE, eligible students can apply for UCF’s accelerated track after completing 64 credit hours, with options to pursue a master’s degree in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering; acceptance into the accelerated track does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.