Civil Engineering, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Hawaii Manoa

Program Overview

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is a 4-year, on-campus program for students who want to design and improve infrastructure while addressing challenges in areas such as structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, construction, hydraulics, and water-resources engineering. Students build a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering science, communication, and engineering design, followed by specialized civil engineering coursework and project-based learning.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the mathematical and scientific foundations needed for engineering, alongside introductory engineering and general education coursework. The curriculum establishes core preparation in calculus, physics, chemistry, and engineering fundamentals, while communication and humanities/social-science requirements provide a broader academic foundation.

Second Year: Students move from foundational science into engineering analysis and civil engineering fundamentals, developing the mathematical and physical tools needed for later design courses. Coursework introduces areas such as engineering mechanics, materials, fluid mechanics, and civil engineering analysis, preparing students for upper-division specialization.

Third Year: The program becomes more specialized, with students studying major civil engineering areas including structural analysis and design, soil mechanics, hydraulics/hydrology, transportation engineering, and environmental engineering. This stage strengthens students’ ability to apply engineering principles to infrastructure and sustainability challenges.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their technical knowledge through advanced civil engineering coursework and engineering design, bringing together concepts from construction, environmental, geotechnical, hydraulics/hydrology, structural, and transportation engineering. The final stage prepares students for professional civil engineering practice while supporting the program’s emphasis on sustainability, ethical practice, professional development, and potential advanced study or licensure.

Focus areas: Construction engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics and hydrology, structural engineering, transportation engineering, water resources, sustainability.

Learning outcomes: Apply civil engineering principles to technical and design problems, integrate sustainability into engineering projects, communicate effectively, practice ethically, develop professional skills, contribute to public and private-sector engineering projects, and pursue professional licensure or advanced study.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BS in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, with the current accreditation cycle extending through 2028.

Reputation (employability rankings): UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering ranked No. 92 in Civil Engineering in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate engineering rankings; university-wide, UH Mānoa ranked No. 84 in the United States and No. 643 globally in the 2027 QS World University Rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Civil Engineering, BS at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa combines engineering coursework with practical design, laboratory research, internships, and industry-connected experiences. Civil engineering students can use AutoCAD, participate in design and research projects, gain professional experience through internships and cooperative opportunities, and work with the College of Engineering’s hands-on facilities and research teams.

Students can develop practical skills through:

AutoCAD: The College of Engineering specifically identifies AutoCAD as software generally used by Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering students.
Civil engineering design projects: The engineering curriculum includes project courses that introduce the engineering method of design, giving students opportunities to apply technical concepts to engineering problems.
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP): Undergraduates can join research teams and earn academic credit while working collaboratively on real-world engineering challenges.
Capstone experience: Civil engineering students undertake capstone courses and design projects that can involve project management, structural design, engineering ethics, and site development.
FabLab: The College of Engineering’s FabLab in Holmes Hall is a maker space where students can fabricate designs and collaborate, with equipment and software training provided to users.
Internships: The College maintains an engineering job and internship board with opportunities including Construction Engineer Intern, Field Engineer Intern, and Board of Water Supply Summer Watership Program positions.
Co-op and industry projects: The College offers industry-connected opportunities including the Pearl Harbor Co-op program, Senior Design courses, and the Community Innovation Mentorship Program, allowing students to gain real-world experience while earning college credit.
Career and industry engagement: Students can participate in Career Expos, industry information sessions, resume workshops, and mock interviews; the College reports that its Career Expos attract roughly 100 companies and organizations.
Research environment: The College of Engineering supports hands-on learning through laboratory research, design projects, internships, and partnerships with industry and government organizations, providing opportunities to connect classroom learning with practical engineering work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Civil Engineering, BS at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa can pursue professional roles across civil infrastructure, construction, transportation, environmental engineering, and public-sector engineering. Typical roles include Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, and Construction Engineer, while the university’s ABET-accredited program provides preparation relevant to professional engineering pathways.

Career development and graduate outcomes:

Career services: The Mānoa Career Center provides career counseling, workshops for résumé building and interview preparation, job and internship postings, and career fairs; the College of Engineering also holds a career fair every semester where students can meet recruiters for internships and post-graduation positions.
Industry connections: Official UH Mānoa engineering career events have included employers such as AECOM, Kiewit, SSFM, State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, NAVFAC Pacific, Pacific Geotechnical Engineers, Wilson Okamoto Corporation, and Yogi Kwong Engineers.
Internship opportunities: The university supports internships and co-op experiences, with the Career Center reporting that its career-fair programs connect students with internship and job opportunities; a UH Mānoa student profile specifically documents a Civil Engineering major completing an internship with SSFM International.
Employment support: UH Mānoa maintains a jobs database for full-time and internship opportunities, while its Career Center provides employer recruitment, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and career fairs.
Employment and salary figures: The official UH Mānoa sources reviewed do not state a current Civil Engineering-specific graduate employment rate or salary figure. UHERO reports that, across the University of Hawaiʻi system, bachelor’s degree holders have estimated lifetime earnings of $2.8 million, but this is not specific to Civil Engineering or UH Mānoa graduates.
Graduation outcomes: UH Mānoa’s College of Engineering reports 48 Civil Engineering BS graduates in 2024–25 and more than 11,000 engineering degrees awarded across its major engineering disciplines since the college’s inception.
Accreditation value: The Civil Engineering BS is ABET-accredited through 2028, with the most recent review completed in 2021. UH Mānoa states that graduation from an ABET-accredited engineering program substantially supports the pathway toward professional engineering licensure, although licensure requirements also depend on the applicable jurisdiction.
Professional environment: UH Mānoa also holds WSCUC institutional accreditation, reaffirmed for 10 years in 2022 through 2032.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can continue into the Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MS), offered through thesis or non-thesis options, or progress toward the PhD in Civil Engineering for advanced research and academic careers. UH Mānoa also offers a Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s (BAM) pathway in Civil Engineering, allowing qualified students to begin graduate study during the senior year and complete the MS in the fifth year.