Civil Engineering, B.S.E.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of South Carolina

Program Overview

The Civil Engineering, B.S.E. at the University of South Carolina is a 4-year, on-campus bachelor’s program for students who want to design and develop the infrastructure and systems that support communities, including buildings, bridges, transportation networks, water systems, and environmental facilities. Students build a broad foundation across structural, environmental, transportation, water resources, and geotechnical engineering, with the curriculum allowing them to develop deeper expertise through electives and specialization options.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the mathematical and scientific foundations of engineering through MATH 141 – Calculus 1, CHEM 111 – General Chemistry I, and ECIV 101 – Intro. to Civil Engr. The year also develops communication and general academic skills through ENGL 101 – Critical Reading and Composition and Carolina Core coursework.

Second Year: Students move into fundamental civil engineering analysis with courses such as ECIV 201 – Statics and Mechanics of Solids, ECIV 220 – Computational Methods for Civil Engineering, and ECIV 270 – Engineering Graphics and Visualization. Mathematics and science continue alongside these subjects, giving students the analytical and visualization skills needed for later civil engineering applications.

Third Year: The curriculum expands into the major civil engineering disciplines through ECIV 303 – Civil Engineering Materials, ECIV 320 – Structural Analysis I, and ECIV 340 – Intro. to Transportation Engineering, alongside ECIV 350 – Intro. to Environmental Engineering. Students also study ECIV 330 – Intro. to Geotechnical Engineering and ECIV 362 – Intro. to Water Resources Engr., gaining exposure to the program's principal areas of civil engineering.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their technical knowledge through ECIV 307 – Professional Dev. for Civil Engineers and advanced distribution electives before completing ECIV 470 – Civil Engineering Design. The senior design experience brings together civil engineering concepts and design skills, preparing students to apply their knowledge to professional engineering problems.

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

Learning outcomes: Complex engineering problem solving, engineering design, effective communication, ethical and professional judgment, teamwork and leadership, experimentation and data analysis, engineering judgment, and lifelong learning.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Civil Engineering B.S.E. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Criteria.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of South Carolina is ranked #711–720 in the QS World University Rankings 2027; the university’s Civil Engineering program also highlights internships with engineering companies in Columbia that may lead to job offers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Civil Engineering, B.S.E. at the University of South Carolina combines classroom learning with hands-on design, laboratory work, undergraduate research, internships, and team-based projects. Students work on real-world engineering challenges through the Civil Engineering Design capstone, where teams partner with project sponsors, while large-scale laboratories support practical work across materials, geotechnical, transportation, environmental, and water-resources engineering.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Senior Design and industry mentoring: ECIV 470 – Civil Engineering Design is a team-based capstone in which students work with a project sponsor on complex, real-world problems spanning multiple civil engineering disciplines; students also receive guidance from an industrial mentor.
Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory: ECIV 303L provides experiments, exercises, and demonstrations connected to civil engineering materials, supporting practical understanding of materials used in infrastructure.
Geotechnical Laboratory: ECIV 330L gives students hands-on experience with soil mechanics experiments, exercises, and demonstrations.
Transportation Engineering Laboratory: ECIV 340L provides laboratory-based experience connected to transportation engineering.
Environmental Engineering Laboratory: ECIV 350L – Introduction to Environmental Engineering Laboratory provides practical laboratory experience within environmental engineering.
Water Resources Engineering Laboratory: ECIV 362L includes experiments involving flow in pipes and open channels, pumps, flow measurement, seepage, and infiltration.
Engineering graphics and CAD: ECIV 111 – Introduction to Engineering Graphics and Visualization teaches visualization and graphical representation using modern computer-aided design tools.
Computational tools: ECIV 201 – Computational Methods for Civil Engineering focuses on using computational tools and techniques to solve civil and environmental engineering problems.
Community-focused design projects: ECIV 270 – Fundamentals of Civil Engineering Design introduces students to civil engineering design through projects addressing community needs.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in research as volunteers, for course credit, or in paid positions, with projects covering advanced materials, non-destructive evaluation, transportation-network safety, railway infrastructure, and physical modeling of geosystems exposed to floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Research laboratories and groups: The department has active research facilities and groups working in transportation, environmental engineering, geotechnics, and smart infrastructure, including the Advanced Railroad Technology Group and Autonomous Real-Time Systems Laboratory (ARTS-Lab), which works with digital twins, sensors, robotics, UAVs, and civil infrastructure applications.
Internships and co-ops: The university specifically identifies internships at engineering companies across Columbia as an employment opportunity for civil engineering students, and its broader experiential-learning offerings include internships and cooperative education.
Professional organizations: Students can gain additional practical and professional exposure through organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Engineers Without Borders-USA, and Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
Study abroad: The program lists study abroad among its experiential-learning opportunities, allowing students to complement their engineering education with an international experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Civil Engineering, B.S.E. at the University of South Carolina prepares graduates for professional careers in designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure and applying engineering solutions to real-world challenges. Graduates can pursue roles such as civil engineer, structural engineer, transportation engineer, and construction engineer, with opportunities across consulting, construction, transportation, environmental services, and government.

Career development and outcomes:

University career services: UofSC Career Center supports students with career advising, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, career fairs, employer events, job and internship resources, and professional development.
Employment and salary: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $99,590 for civil engineers, with employment projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033. These figures are for the occupation nationally and are not specific to UofSC graduates.
University–industry connections: Students can gain professional exposure through the university’s Career Center employer events, career fairs, internships and cooperative education opportunities, connecting them with employers seeking engineering talent.
Professional preparation: The program provides the technical foundation needed for graduates pursuing professional engineering careers and eventual Professional Engineer (PE) licensure; graduates can continue building their credentials through relevant professional experience and licensing requirements.
Graduation outcomes: UofSC’s engineering programs provide students with opportunities to transition from undergraduate study into professional employment, internships, graduate education, and other engineering pathways.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S.E. in Civil Engineering, students can continue into graduate-level study in areas such as civil engineering, environmental engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, or related engineering disciplines, depending on their interests and career goals. Graduate study can provide deeper specialization and support pathways toward advanced technical, research, consulting, or academic careers.