BS in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a 4-year on-campus bachelor’s program that prepares students to design and improve infrastructure while addressing environmental and societal needs. Students build a strong foundation in mathematics, science and engineering before progressing into environmental, geotechnical and materials, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering, with design integrated throughout the degree.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals through CIVE 101 – Introduction to Civil Engineering, which introduces engineering design through hands-on projects, alongside CIVE 102 – Geomatics for Civil Engineering, covering surveying, geospatial data, GIS and measurement technologies. MATH 106 – Calculus I, CSCE 101 – Fundamentals of Computer Science, CHEM 109A/109L – General Chemistry I and Laboratory, and PHYS 211 – General Physics I establish the mathematical, scientific and computational foundation for later engineering work.

Second Year: Students develop analytical and engineering-mechanics skills through CIVE 201 – Civil Engineering Analysis I and CIVE 202 – Civil Engineering Analysis II, which apply programming, spreadsheets, data analysis and visualization to authentic civil engineering projects. CIVE 371 – Materials of Construction, MECH 223 – Engineering Statics, MECH 325 – Mechanics of Elastic Bodies, and MECH 373 – Engineering Dynamics introduce students to material behavior, structural mechanics and engineering forces.

Third Year: Students move into the major civil engineering disciplines through CIVE 310 – Fluid Mechanics, CIVE 341 – Structural Analysis Fundamentals, and CIVE 361 – Principles of Transportation Engineering, supported by practical hydraulics and structural-design work. They then broaden their expertise through CIVE 321 – Principles of Environmental Engineering, CIVE 331 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering, CIVE 351 – Introduction to Water Resources Engineering, and the synthesis courses CIVE 301 and CIVE 302, which connect multiple civil engineering disciplines through authentic projects.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes professional-level design through CIVE 401 – Civil Engineering Design I and CIVE 402 – Civil Engineering Design II, with students developing integrated solutions for structural and infrastructure challenges. Depth electives such as CIVE 420 – Environmental Engineering Process Design, CIVE 436 – Foundation Engineering, CIVE 441 – Steel Design I, CIVE 462 – Highway Design, and CIVE 472 – Pavement Design and Evaluation allow students to develop specialized expertise aligned with their interests.

Focus areas: Environmental engineering, geotechnical and materials engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, water resources engineering.

Learning outcomes: Engineering problem identification and solution, application of mathematics and science, engineering design, data analysis, technical communication, professional skills, teamwork, ethical practice, and acquisition of new knowledge for civil engineering practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BSCE program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is ranked #801–850 in the QS World University Rankings 2027; UNL’s College of Engineering was ranked No. 71 nationally in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report ranking for engineering programs whose highest degree is a doctorate.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln combines engineering coursework with hands-on laboratory work, design experiences, undergraduate research, and professional experiences. Students can work with specialized civil engineering facilities and equipment while developing practical skills in areas such as structural engineering, transportation, water resources, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and construction; internships and co-op opportunities can also connect classroom learning with engineering practice.

Students can strengthen their practical experience through:

Engineering laboratories: Civil engineering students have access to dedicated laboratories for structures, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, transportation, and water resources, supporting hands-on experimentation and testing.
Nebraska Transportation Center: The Nebraska Transportation Center provides research and learning opportunities in transportation engineering, with facilities supporting transportation materials, pavement, traffic, and infrastructure research.
Structures and materials: Students can gain practical exposure to structural and materials testing through facilities equipped for experimental civil engineering research and large-scale structural testing.
Water Sciences Laboratory: The university's Water Sciences Laboratory supports research and hands-on work related to water quality, hydrology, and environmental systems.
Nebraska Hall: Civil and environmental engineering teaching and research facilities are housed within Nebraska Hall, providing classrooms, laboratories, faculty research spaces, and engineering resources.
Design experience: The undergraduate curriculum includes civil engineering design work where students apply engineering analysis and technical knowledge to develop solutions to real engineering problems.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led research and use departmental research facilities to explore civil engineering topics beyond the standard classroom curriculum.
Internships and co-op opportunities: UNL's engineering career resources connect students with internships, cooperative education, and employer opportunities, allowing them to gain professional engineering experience before graduation.
Student organizations and projects: Civil engineering students can participate in engineering organizations and project-based activities that provide opportunities to collaborate with other students and apply technical knowledge outside the classroom.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln prepares graduates to enter civil and environmental engineering or related fields, while also providing a pathway into advanced study. The university specifically reports graduate roles spanning structural, transportation, water resources, hydraulic, railroad bridge, environmental, and geotechnical engineering.

Typical career roles: Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer.

Career development and outcomes include:

Career services: Students can access 1-to-1 career counseling and career fairs through College of Engineering and university career-services professionals, connecting them with companies and organizations offering paid internships and jobs.
Employment outcomes: Across the UNL College of Engineering, 88% of graduates secured employment or continued education within six months; 71% accepted employment and 16% committed to further education.
Salary: The 2024–2025 mean annual salary reported for Civil Engineering undergraduates was $72,070.
Industry connections: Civil engineering students have reported internships with HDR Inc., Olsson Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Lamp Rynearson & Associates, Arco Murray Construction, and the Nebraska Department of Roads, giving students exposure to transportation, structural, roadway, construction, and infrastructure work.
Career examples: Recent graduates have reported positions including Assistant Traffic Engineer at Olsson Associates, Water Resources Engineer at Boulder Associates, Railroad Bridge Engineer at HDR Inc., Hydraulic Engineer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Researcher, and Geotechnical Engineer.
Accreditation value: The BS in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET through 2030. UNL states that graduation from an ABET-accredited program provides preparation for civil and environmental engineering employment and the education needed toward professional engineer licensure; UNL also identifies the program as meeting educational requirements for engineering licensure across U.S. states and several territories.
Graduation outcomes: The department’s educational objectives expect graduates to be employed in civil/environmental engineering or related fields or to pursue advanced degrees, while also contributing through professional, community, or service organizations.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate study in civil and environmental engineering or related disciplines, including UNL’s accelerated BSCE/MSCE pathway, where eligible students can count up to 12 approved graduate credit hours toward both degrees. UNL also lists graduates progressing to programs such as a Master’s in Structural Engineering at Stanford University.