Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE) – Structural and Geotechnical Engineering BS to MS Track

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Central Florida

Program Overview

The Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE) – Structural and Geotechnical Engineering BS to MS Track at the University of Central Florida is a 4-year, on-campus bachelor’s pathway for students interested in designing and analyzing infrastructure, with particular depth in structural and geotechnical engineering. Students build a broad civil engineering foundation and can progress into graduate-level study during their junior or senior years, with up to 12 approved graduate credits counting toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of engineering and science through courses such as EGS 1006C – Introduction to the Engineering Profession and EGN 1007C – Engineering Concepts and Methods, alongside mathematics, science, and general education requirements. The engineering introduction emphasizes professional practice and engineering concepts that prepare students for the technical curriculum that follows.

Second Year: Students move into core engineering analysis through EGN 3310 – Engineering Analysis-Statics, EGN 3321 – Engineering Analysis-Dynamics, and EGN 3331C – Mechanics of Materials, developing the mechanics and analytical foundation needed for structural and geotechnical applications. Courses including STA 3032 – Probability and Statistics for Engineers and CWR 3201 – Engineering Fluid Mechanics broaden their ability to work with engineering data and physical systems.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes increasingly specialized with CEG 4011C – Geotechnical Engineering I, CES 4100C – Structural Analysis I and Lab, and CGN 3501C – Civil Engineering Materials. Students also study CGN 3700C – Civil Engineering Measurements and CGN 3405 – Applied Numerical Methods for Civil Engineering, combining laboratory, measurement, computational, and materials-based skills relevant to structural and geotechnical practice.

Fourth Year: Students develop advanced expertise through depth-area courses such as CEG 4012 – Geotechnical Engineering II, CEG 4203 – Geotechnical Methods and Case Histories, CES 4605 – Steel Structures, and CES 4702 – Reinforced Concrete Structures. The degree concludes with a specialization design course such as CEG 4801C – Geotechnical Engineering Design or CES 4743C – Structural Design, together with CGN 4808C – CECE Capstone Design; eligible students can also begin approved graduate coursework as part of the BS-to-MS pathway.

Focus areas: Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, mechanics and materials, foundations, soil and geomaterial characterization, computational modeling, structural analysis and design.

Learning outcomes: Engineering analysis, structural and geotechnical design, mechanics and materials application, engineering measurements, numerical methods, problem solving, technical communication, professional engineering practice, and civil engineering design.

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 Engineering. UCF also requires civil engineering students to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam during their senior year, supporting preparation for the professional licensure pathway.

Reputation (employability rankings): UCF reports that its civil engineering program is consistently ranked among the top civil engineering programs by ShanghaiRanking, while its College of Engineering and Computer Science reported Civil Engineering at No. 61 in its 2026 national engineering rankings. UCF also highlights proximity to major employers and organizations including WSP Global, HNTB, Atkins, Kiewit Corporation, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the City of Orlando.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE) – Structural and Geotechnical Engineering BS to MS Track at the University of Central Florida combines hands-on civil engineering coursework with laboratory-based learning, structural testing, geotechnical engineering, and a senior capstone design experience. Students can work with specialized structural testing equipment and data-acquisition systems, while the accelerated BS-to-MS structure allows qualified students to begin graduate-level coursework during their junior or senior years, with up to 12 approved graduate credit hours counting toward both degrees.

Students gain practical experience through:

Structures Laboratory: The Burton, Braswell, Middlebrooks Laboratory provides a large-scale testing environment for structural components, infrastructure systems, materials, and undergraduate teaching laboratories, with a 50-by-25-foot strong floor, steel reaction frame, 20-ton overhead crane, and 100-kip tie-down capacity per point.
Structural testing equipment: Students and researchers can access MTS servo-controlled hydraulic actuators, hydraulic jacks, a 200-kip Instron/Satec Universal Loading Machine, NI-SCXI data-acquisition systems, sensors, accelerometers, strain gauges, and displacement transducers.
Geotechnical engineering: The curriculum includes CEG 4011C – Geotechnical Engineering I, followed by options such as CEG 4012 – Geotechnical Engineering II and CEG 4203 – Geotechnical Methods and Case Histories, giving students specialized preparation in soil, foundation, and geotechnical engineering.
Structural engineering: Students can develop structural expertise through CES 4100C – Structural Analysis I and Lab, with advanced depth courses including CES 4605 – Steel Structures, CES 4702 – Reinforced Concrete Structures, and CES 4205 – Structural Mechanics.
Design projects: Students complete CGN 4808C – CECE Capstone Design and select a civil engineering design specialization such as CEG 4801C – Geotechnical Engineering Design or CES 4743C – Structural Design, providing an opportunity to integrate technical knowledge into a substantial design experience.
Engineering measurements: CGN 3700C – Civil Engineering Measurements provides practical measurement experience, while CGN 3501C – Civil Engineering Materials develops knowledge of materials used in civil infrastructure.
Computational methods: CGN 3405 – Applied Numerical Methods for Civil Engineering introduces numerical approaches used for civil engineering analysis. At the graduate level, the Structural and Geotechnical Engineering track also specifically emphasizes computational modeling and faculty research includes software development.
Internship opportunities: UCF’s career system lists civil and geotechnical engineering internships for undergraduate students, including opportunities involving geotechnical investigations, engineering analysis, roadway and bridge design, site visits, project documentation, plans, specifications, reports, and cost estimates.
BS-to-MS research progression: Qualified students can take approved 5000- and 6000-level graduate courses while completing the bachelor’s degree, with up to 12 credit hours potentially shared between the B.S. and M.S. requirements.
Engineering research infrastructure: UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has more than 80 specialized facilities, nearly 12 million dollars of equipment, and research laboratories supporting engineering and computer science activities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor in Civil Engineering (BSCE) – Structural and Geotechnical Engineering BS to MS Track prepares graduates for professional work involving structural systems, foundations, soils, infrastructure design, and engineering analysis, while the accelerated structure provides a direct route into graduate-level study. UCF identifies career paths including civil engineer, field engineer, geotechnical engineer, and structural engineer, with graduates also able to continue into advanced civil engineering study.

Typical job roles: Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Field Engineer.

Career development and progression opportunities:

University career services: UCF’s Dixon Career Development Center provides engineering-focused career resources and Labor Market Insights, including employment trends, annual earnings, technical skills, job titles, education requirements, and employers.
Industry connections: UCF specifically identifies nearby employers such as WSP Global, HNTB, Atkins, Kiewit Corporation, the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Transportation, and the City of Orlando as organizations where civil engineering graduates can pursue careers.
Employment opportunities: UCF’s career center currently lists civil engineering opportunities, including a 2026 Early Career Civil Engineer recruitment from CHA Consulting involving infrastructure planning, design, and implementation with multidisciplinary project teams.
Salary information: UCF reports an average national salary of $95,847 for civil engineering careers based on Lightcast data, while its Civil Engineering MS page reports an annual average salary of $92,000 for civil engineering graduates; salary figures vary according to role, experience, location, and employer.
Professional preparation: Students can sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during their senior year, providing an important step toward professional engineering licensure.
Accreditation value: The BSCE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the Civil Engineering program criteria. UCF’s accreditation inventory records the Civil Engineering BSCE as accredited since 1982, with the current accreditation review cycle listed for 2026–2027.
Graduation outcomes: UCF reports 125 Civil Engineering BSCE degrees awarded in 2024–25, following 132 in 2023–24 and 152 in 2022–23. The program’s stated educational objectives include graduates being successfully employed or employable in structural, geotechnical, transportation, construction, water-resources, or related fields and/or continuing their studies at graduate level.

Further Academic Progression: The BS-to-MS track is specifically designed to let qualified UCF undergraduates begin master’s coursework during their junior/senior years and double-count up to 12 graduate credit hours toward both degrees, reducing the time normally required to complete the BS and MS separately. Students can progress into UCF’s M.S. in Civil Engineering – Structural and Geotechnical Engineering or other civil engineering graduate options, depending on their academic interests.