BS Engineering in Civil Engineering with Structures Mechanics and Materials

Students in the BSE Civil Engineering – Structures, Mechanics, and Materials focus area at the University of Iowa develop practical skills through design-focused coursework, computing, engineering laboratories, research opportunities, and professional experiences. The curriculum includes structural design and analysis courses such as Design of Concrete Structures, Design of Steel Structures, Finite Element I, and Structural Modeling & Health Monitoring, while the College of Engineering provides technology-equipped classrooms, computing laboratories, and collaborative spaces in the Seamans Center. Students can also work with faculty on real-world research and pursue internships or co-ops that connect classroom engineering principles with field and professional practice.

Practical opportunities and facilities include:

• Structural design projects: Students complete design-based coursework including CEE:4506 Design of Concrete Structures and CEE:4535 Design of Steel Structures, with additional options such as Introduction to Bridge Engineering, Design of Wood Structures, and Structural Systems for Buildings.
• Structural analysis and simulation: The focus area offers CEE:4533 Finite Element I, CEE:4532 Fundamentals of Vibrations, CEE:4539 Foundations of Structures, and CEE:5540 Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Bodies for advanced computational and analytical work.
• Research experience: Civil and environmental engineering students can work directly with faculty on research involving real-world problems, including sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
• Internships and co-ops: Iowa engineering students gain professional experience through internships and co-ops; a recent civil engineering student, for example, used Civil 3D during an internship for infrastructure design work and combined office design with visits to active construction projects.
• Engineering software: College of Engineering computing resources provide access to engineering software including ANSYS, Abaqus, AutoCAD, and programming tools, while engineering computer labs support both Windows and Linux environments.
• Computing laboratories: The Elder and Hering Labs in the Seamans Center provide 127 workstations, including Windows and Linux systems, along with printers and scanners for engineering coursework and projects.
• Technology-enabled classrooms: The College maintains classrooms designed for computer-assisted engineering instruction, with open-lab access that allows students to work on computing tasks outside scheduled classes.
• Engineering library: Students have access to the Lichtenberger Engineering Library, which the College identifies as a dedicated resource supporting engineering students alongside tutoring and communication services.
• Collaborative learning environment: The recently renovated Seamans Center includes technology-rich classrooms, laboratories, and open collaborative spaces supporting hands-on engineering education.

Graduates with the Structures, Mechanics, and Materials focus are prepared for civil engineering roles involving structural design and construction, while the university also identifies opportunities in structural engineering, project engineering/management, and civil engineering. The focus area also provides preparation for MS or PhD study in structural engineering, allowing students to build toward advanced technical or research careers.

Typical Career Roles: Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Project Engineer/Manager, Construction Engineer.

Career Development & Industry Connections:

• Engineering Career Services: Students can use Handshake to access internships, co-ops, and full-time positions, attend College of Engineering career fairs, and participate in employer interviews. The university reports that its in-person engineering career fairs attract 100+ companies and 800–1,400 students per fair.
• Industry experience: In 2025, Iowa engineering students reported 120 professional experiences with 63 unique employers, including Collins Aerospace, John Deere, MSA Professional Services, and Skyworks Solutions; the university notes that these figures are self-reported.
• Employment outcome: The University of Iowa Civil and Environmental Engineering department reports a 98% placement rate within seven months of graduation.
• Salary information: The department reports a $77,370 mean annual wage in Iowa, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is an occupation/state-level wage figure rather than a guaranteed starting salary for University of Iowa graduates.
• Employer network: The department identifies employers including Burns McDonnell, Collins Engineers, Gilbane Building Co., HR Green, Kansas Department of Transportation, Shive Hattery, and Snyder Associates, providing examples of organizations connected with civil engineering graduates.
• Senior design experience: Iowa highlights 200+ senior design projects in 80 communities, giving students opportunities to work on projects serving communities across Iowa.
• Professional licensure: The ABET-accredited program supports the pathway toward the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination and subsequently Professional Engineer licensure. For 2023, Iowa reports a 68% FE pass rate among civil engineering majors who took the exam prior to or within 12 months of graduation, compared with a 64% national rate.
• Long-term accreditation value: The Civil Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under its General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria. The program was first ABET-accredited in 1936, providing a long-established accreditation history.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSE in Civil Engineering, students can continue into the University of Iowa’s MS or PhD programs in Structures, Mechanics, and Materials, which develop advanced expertise in mechanics of solids, structures, and civil infrastructure systems. The university also offers a U2G Undergraduate-to-Graduate pathway, allowing qualified students to apply 9 semester hours of engineering coursework toward both the BSE and MS and normally complete the MS one year after the bachelor's degree.