BS Engineering in Civil Engineering with Hydraulics and Water Resources

The BSE in Civil Engineering with a Hydraulics and Water Resources focus at the University of Iowa connects classroom learning with hands-on experimentation, computational modeling, field data collection, and research through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering. Students can work with physical flow systems, hydraulic models, sensors, advanced instrumentation, and computational resources, while the university also provides opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, Study Abroad, and student organizations.

Students can develop practical skills through:

• Engineering Fluids Laboratories: Students use a dedicated suite of three laboratories for fluid-mechanics experiments, including the Fluids Fundamentals Lab, Fluids Workshop, and Advanced Measurements Laboratory. Facilities include an open-channel flume, visualization water channel, wind tunnel, towing tank, data-acquisition systems, high-speed imaging, and advanced flow-measurement instrumentation.
• Hydraulics Laboratory: Students can gain practical experience with flumes and pipe systems used to study open-channel and closed-conduit flows, with instruments measuring discharge, pressure, velocity, and temperature.
• IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering: This major research institute integrates laboratory experimentation, fieldwork, data collection, and computational modeling in hydraulic engineering and water resources. Its research covers river hydraulics, hydrology, hydraulic structures, flood monitoring, water quality, remote sensing, and hydroinformatics.
• Research computing and software: IIHR provides high-performance computing, computational and physical modeling support, flood-data processing systems, and design and drafting software for research and engineering applications.
• Large-scale hydraulic modeling: The James Street Laboratory provides 17,000 square feet for constructing large hydraulic models, giving students involved in research exposure to physical-scale water-resources experimentation.
• Watershed and river fieldwork: IIHR resources include hydrologic sensor networks, research vessels with specialized instrumentation, sediment sampling and coring, and single- and multi-beam bathymetry, supporting field-based water-resources research.
• Undergraduate research: The Engineering Fluids Laboratories explicitly support undergraduate research and open-ended student projects, while the Iowa Flood Center employs undergraduate students in flood-related research.
• Iowa Flood Center: Students interested in water resources can engage with research focused on flood monitoring, prediction, hydrology, and flood-related modeling through the Iowa Flood Center, which is affiliated with the CEE department and IIHR.
• Internships and professional experience: The University of Iowa identifies internships, research, Study Abroad, and student organizations as opportunities available to civil engineering undergraduates alongside their academic program.
• C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory: The university's flagship hydraulics facility houses fluid dynamics, environmental hydraulics, hydrometeorology, the Iowa Flood Center, research computing services, and a ship towing tank, giving students access to a broad water-engineering research environment. 

 The BS Engineering in Civil Engineering with Hydraulics and Water Resources prepares graduates for professional roles involving water systems, hydrology, hydraulic engineering, infrastructure, and environmental challenges, supported by the University of Iowa’s specialized strengths in water research. Typical career roles include water resources engineer, hydraulic engineer, hydrologist, and civil engineer. The university reports a 98% placement rate within seven months of graduation for its Civil and Environmental Engineering programs and cites a $77,370 mean annual wage in Iowa, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Career development and employment opportunities:

• University career services: Engineering Career Services connects students with employers, provides career advising, resume and cover-letter support, practice interviews, job-search resources, and access to Handshake for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions. The College of Engineering also hosts multiple career fairs each year, with more than 100 companies and 800–1,400 students attending each in-person fair.
• Internships and co-ops: The College of Engineering supports professional engineering experiences ranging from 10-week summer internships to multi-term co-ops, with students able to find opportunities through career fairs, employer websites, networking, and Handshake.
• Employment statistics: The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering reports a 98% placement rate within seven months of graduation and a $77,370 mean annual wage in Iowa, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Industry engagement: Iowa’s IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering works with industries including hydroelectric energy, wind energy, municipal water systems, sewer systems, and stormwater conveyance, giving the university’s water-resources ecosystem direct connections to applied engineering challenges.
• Water-resources partnerships: The Iowa Watershed Approach brought together the University of Iowa with organizations including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, municipalities, counties, and private contractors for watershed planning and management projects.
• Research-to-industry opportunities: IIHR’s Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program develops pilot-scale data intended for use by technology developers, industry, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, connecting water research with practical engineering applications.
• Accreditation value: The University of Iowa’s Civil Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria. The department’s stated educational objectives include professional practice, continued learning, professional licensure, and advanced study, supporting the degree’s long-term professional relevance.
• Graduation outcomes: The department reports that graduates are prepared to contribute to the civil engineering profession as practitioners, entrepreneurs, researchers, or teachers, while continuing to develop their knowledge and pursuing professional licensure or advanced study where appropriate.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSE, students can continue into the University of Iowa’s Civil and Environmental Engineering MS or PhD programs, including specialized graduate study in Hydraulics and Water Resources. The department also offers a U2G Undergraduate-to-Graduate pathway, allowing eligible students to apply up to 9 semester hours of engineering courses toward both the BSE and MS and normally complete the MS one year after receiving the bachelor’s degree.