CMU/CU Boulder BS in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Colorado Boulder

Program Overview

The CMU/CU Boulder BS in Civil Engineering is a four-year partnership degree that allows students in Grand Junction to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, with the first two years taught by Colorado Mesa University faculty and the final two years taught in person by CU Boulder faculty based at CMU. The program suits students who want a hands-on civil engineering education focused on solving infrastructure and environmental challenges, with study spanning mathematics, physical sciences, engineering mechanics, construction, structures, geotechnical engineering, water resources and environmental engineering.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students build their engineering foundation through Engineering Calculus I, Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Chemistry Laboratory, Introduction to Engineering, and Engineering Drawing. The curriculum also introduces practical engineering work through First-Year Engineering Projects, giving students an early foundation in technical problem-solving and engineering design.

Year 2: Students progress into Engineering Calculus II, Fundamentals of Mechanics, Introduction to Engineering Computer Science, and Statics & Structures, strengthening their mathematical, physical-science and computational preparation. Courses such as Mechanics of Solids, Dynamics, and Introduction to Geomatics then connect fundamental engineering principles with civil engineering applications.

Year 3: The CU Boulder portion moves into professional civil engineering subjects including Probability, Statistics & Decision, Introduction to Construction, Hydraulic Engineering, Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, Structural Analysis, and Geotechnical Engineering. Students begin applying mechanics, materials, fluid behavior, construction methods and environmental principles to increasingly complex civil engineering problems.

Year 4: Students complete advanced technical study through CVEN 4897 Professional Issues, CVEN 4899 Senior Design Project, technical electives and civil engineering proficiency courses. The Senior Design Project provides the culminating opportunity to integrate engineering analysis, design, teamwork and professional practice into a substantial civil engineering project.

Focus Areas: Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics, Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics, Water Resources Engineering and Management, with a theoretically based Engineering Science track also available for students interested in research and development.

Learning Outcomes: Complex engineering problem solving, engineering design, technical and professional preparation, management and leadership, advanced study and continual learning, professional registration or certification, and applying engineering knowledge to activities that benefit communities.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): ABET-accredited — the CMU/CU Boulder Civil Engineering Partnership BS is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): CU Boulder engineering recognition — CU Boulder reports that it is ranked No. 46 among public universities in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, while its civil engineering program is listed by the university as a top-20 public university undergraduate civil engineering program based on the U.S. News ranking cited by CU Boulder. The CMU/CU partnership page also reports a $79,600 median salary for CU Boulder civil engineering students 1–5 years after graduation, and identifies M.A. Mortenson, Merrick & Company, and MWH Global among common employers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder gain practical experience through hands-on laboratory work, undergraduate research, design projects, internships, and engineering service activities. The department provides specialized instructional and research facilities covering structural engineering, materials, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, and computational work, while opportunities such as the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program allow civil engineering students to participate in active research projects. Students can also connect with employers through department-specific career fairs and access internships through the department’s career resources.

Practical opportunities and facilities include:

Structural & Materials Laboratory: Students can gain exposure to structural testing and materials research through facilities within the Center for Infrastructure, Energy and Space Testing (CIEST). The laboratory includes MTS universal testing machines, concrete and steel testing equipment, and the Fast Hybrid Testing laboratory, which combines physical structural testing with numerical finite-element simulation.
Structural Engineering & Structural Mechanics: CIEST supports quasi-static and dynamic testing, large-scale structural components, shake-table testing, and real-time hybrid simulations. Its equipment includes high-force actuators, uniaxial loading frames, a machine shop, concrete-preparation equipment, a strong floor, reaction wall, and materials-testing equipment.
Geotechnical & Geomechanics Laboratory: Undergraduate students use dedicated facilities containing triaxial testing systems, direct-shear apparatus, permeability equipment, mechanical sieve shakers, and an instructional centrifuge. These resources are used for hands-on investigations involving soil classification, slope stability, foundations, earth pressure, and mechanically stabilized earth walls.
Advanced Geotechnical Research: The department operates three research centrifuges, including a 400 g-ton Wyle centrifuge, for studying geotechnical systems such as slopes, retaining walls, foundations, levees, and dams.
Computational facilities and software: CEAE maintains state-of-the-art software and computing centers, including the Computer-Aided Design Laboratory, Bechtel Laboratory, and M.Y. Leung Computational Laboratory. Computational research in structural engineering includes finite-element and other advanced computational methods.
Undergraduate research: Civil engineering students can participate in research involving earthquakes, water quality, soil behavior, environmental transport, structural applications, highway construction safety, and disaster management. The university also provides the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Program for undergraduate research participation.
Research projects: Current Discovery Learning opportunities include projects such as 3D Printing of Bio-Stabilized Earthen and Martian Regolith Materials, giving participating civil engineering students practical experience with materials, additive manufacturing, experimentation, and testing.
Design and collaborative projects: The Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory (ITLL) provides hands-on design facilities, while the Idea Forge supports collaborative student teams working on invention, design, prototyping, and testing projects.
Internships: CU Boulder’s CEAE department provides dedicated internship opportunities and career resources, with current postings including civil engineering internships and project-engineering positions. The department also hosts department-specific career fairs twice each year to connect students with employers.
Engineering service experience: Students can apply civil engineering knowledge through organizations such as Engineers Without Borders-USA, while the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities provides opportunities connected with engineering challenges in developing communities.
Water Resources Laboratory: The CEAE facilities include a dedicated Water Resources Laboratory, alongside environmental laboratories and other specialized research facilities supporting civil and environmental engineering education.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the CMU/CU Boulder BS in Civil Engineering are prepared for professional practice across areas such as construction, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources and environmental engineering, while also being positioned for graduate study and professional registration. The partnership program specifically identifies civil engineer, project engineer and field engineer as common graduate job titles, with M. A. Mortenson, Merrick & Company and MWH Global listed as common employers.

Typical Career Roles: Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Field Engineer, Construction Engineer

Career Development & Employment Opportunities:

Career Services: CU Boulder provides access to Career Services and its job and internship resources, while the CEAE department runs dedicated career and internship fairs covering structural, geotechnical, water resources and construction engineering. The September 2026 CEAE fair specifically connects students with employers seeking interns and full-time employees.
Employment & Salary: The official CMU/CU Boulder program page reports a $79,600 median salary for CU Boulder civil engineering students 1–5 years after graduation. It also identifies M. A. Mortenson, Merrick & Company and MWH Global among common employers and lists civil engineer, project engineer and field engineer as common graduate positions.
University–Industry Connections: Students have access to department-level recruiting involving companies such as JVA Consulting Engineers, Kiewit, Kimley-Horn, Knight Piesold, Langan Engineering, LJA Engineering, Manhard Consulting, Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers and Merrick & Company through the CEAE Career and Internship Fair.
Professional Preparation: The program's objectives include successful employment in engineering, science or technology, progression into management or leadership roles, pursuit of professional registration or certifications, and further educational opportunities. Students also complete a yearlong senior design project during their final year, providing a direct transition from academic study to professional engineering practice.
Accreditation Value: The BS in Civil Engineering delivered through the CMU/CU Boulder partnership is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the Civil Engineering Program Criteria. CU Boulder states that civil engineering students take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam as part of their degree requirements, providing an important step toward the U.S. professional engineering pathway.
Graduation Outcomes: The partnership's stated graduate objectives include employment in engineering, science or technology, advancement into management and leadership, pursuit of advanced degrees, professional registration or certifications, and engagement in activities benefiting society. The university also reports 9 CMU/CU Boulder Civil Engineering partnership degrees awarded in fiscal year 2025.
Professional Reputation: CU Boulder’s CEAE department reports that its Civil Engineering undergraduate program ranked #10 among public programs in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Civil Engineering, students can progress to graduate study in areas including civil engineering, structural engineering and structural mechanics, geotechnical engineering and geomechanics, construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering and management. The CMU/CU Boulder partnership also explicitly identifies advanced degrees and additional educational opportunities as a graduate objective, while CU Boulder offers graduate-level study within its Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering department.