Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder emphasizes open-ended design problems, hands-on learning, undergraduate research and strong faculty interaction, allowing students to connect classroom theory with real civil engineering applications. Students can gain practical experience through specialized laboratories, design spaces, research projects, internships, field-based work and engineering organizations, with opportunities spanning structures, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental engineering and construction.

The department’s facilities provide opportunities to work with engineering testing equipment, computational tools and real-world infrastructure problems, while university-wide spaces such as the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory and Idea Forge support collaborative design and prototyping. Specific opportunities include:

• Structural & materials laboratories: Students can work with structural and materials testing equipment through the Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing, including MTS universal testing machines for tension and compression testing of structural and geological materials, along with concrete and steel testing equipment.
• Geotechnical engineering: The Geotechnical Engineering & Geomechanics facilities include three centrifuges, including a 400 g-ton Wyle centrifuge, used for instructional, research and industry applications involving foundations, slopes, dams, levees and other geotechnical systems.
• Hands-on laboratory courses: Undergraduate civil engineering laboratories cover mechanics and structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, fluid mechanics, hydraulics and water resources engineering, giving students opportunities to conduct experiments and collect data in teams.
• Water and environmental research: Department facilities support testing related to water quality, environmental transport, soil behavior and water resources, while undergraduate students have participated in field research involving water quality, highway construction safety and structural applications for earthquake disaster management.
• Computing facilities: CEAE maintains state-of-the-art software and computing facilities, including the Computer-Aided Design Laboratory, Bechtel Laboratory and M.Y. Leung Computational Laboratory.
• Software and digital tools: Civil engineering students have access to engineering computing environments configured with the software tools required for engineering coursework; research opportunities can also involve MATLAB, data processing and specialized research instrumentation, depending on the project.
• Collaborative design: The Idea Forge provides a cross-disciplinary space where student teams can imagine, design, create and test products and solutions, while the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory (ITL) provides hands-on undergraduate design facilities, team meeting spaces and dedicated learning environments.
• Undergraduate research: Students can participate in the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program and work alongside faculty and research teams. CIEST also provides undergraduate technical assistant opportunities involving hands-on testing, data acquisition, mechanical tools and report preparation.
• Internships and employer engagement: CEAE provides exclusive internship opportunities and holds department-specific career fairs twice each year, giving students opportunities to meet employers for internships and full-time positions.
• Field and professional experience: Civil engineering students can gain exposure through engineering service organizations such as Engineers Without Borders USA, as well as student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Associated General Contractors (AGC).
• Research and innovation centers: Students can engage with the Mortenson Center for Global Engineering, which focuses on engineering challenges affecting developing communities, as well as research activities across structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction, environmental engineering and water resources. 

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder prepares graduates for professional roles in planning, design, construction, infrastructure, water resources, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and structural engineering. Graduates can enter roles such as Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Field Engineer, and Design Engineer, while the program also provides a pathway into advanced study and research.

Career opportunities: The degree supports progression into engineering consulting, construction, transportation, utilities, government, and infrastructure organizations:

• Career services: CU Boulder Career Services provides Handshake, career advising, employer events, career fairs, and salary and wage resources. The CEAE department also maintains job and internship postings specifically for civil, environmental, and architectural engineering students.
• Employment and salary figures: CU Boulder reports a $79,600 median salary for its civil engineering students 1–5 years after graduation. The department also reports Colorado civil and architectural engineering salaries of approximately $75,000–$80,000 upon graduation and $106,000 five years after graduation, citing Glassdoor (April 2025) and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Industry employers: Common employers of CU Boulder civil engineering graduates include M. A. Mortenson, Merrick & Company, and MWH Global. The CEAE Career & Internship Fair also connects students with employers such as Kiewit, WSP, Kimley-Horn, Burns & McDonnell, AECOM, Terracon, Mortenson, and Turner Construction.
• University–industry partnerships: The Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program connects engineering students with financial support, industry mentorship, professional-development events, site tours, and internship opportunities; CU Boulder has also partnered with Kiewit to develop engineers and builders focused on infrastructure needs.
• Industry engagement: CEAE's external advisory board includes senior professionals from organizations such as Kiewit Engineering Group, Whiting-Turner, Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers, Milender White, and RockSol Consulting Group, providing professional input to the department.
• Long-term accreditation value: The BS in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria. This provides an established external quality framework for the engineering education and supports graduates pursuing professional engineering careers and further credentials.
• Graduation outcomes: CU Boulder Engineering reports 91% of engineering students are employed, in the military, or in graduate school shortly after graduation, while its College of Engineering & Applied Science reports a $85,918 median annual income for undergraduate alumni 1–5 years after graduation across the college. The civil engineering program specifically states that its graduates are prepared for professional practice or graduate study.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can continue into CU Boulder graduate programs including the MS, Professional MS, or PhD pathways associated with civil engineering and related areas. The university also offers a Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's (BAM) option, allowing qualified civil engineering students to combine bachelor's and master's study over approximately five years while taking advanced coursework and completing an independent research project.