Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) at the University of Washington provides a broad civil engineering education across construction, transportation, structural, geotechnical, hydrology & hydrodynamics, and environmental engineering, making it suitable for students who want either a general civil engineering foundation or deeper study in a particular sub-area. Students build their foundation through mathematics, science, computing, mechanics, and core civil engineering courses before developing specialized knowledge through technical electives and a senior capstone design experience.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the mathematical and scientific foundation needed for engineering through courses such as MATH 124 – Calc/Analytic Geom I, MATH 125 – Calc/Analytic Geom II, and MATH 126 – Calc/Analytic Geom III, alongside CHEM 142 – General Chemistry and PHYS 121 – Mechanics. The year also introduces students to university engineering study and written communication through ENGR 101 and English Composition.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into engineering fundamentals, with students studying AA 210 – Statics, CEE 220 – Mechanics of Materials, and ME 230 – Dynamics & Kinematics while continuing advanced physics and mathematics. Students also develop computational skills through AMATH 301 – Beg Sci Computing and complete their required science and economics preparation.

Year 3: Students enter the core BSCE sequence and gain broad exposure to the major civil engineering disciplines through courses such as CEE 307 – Construction Engineering, CEE 317 – GeoSurveying, and CEE 327 – Transportation Engineering, alongside CEE 337 – Construction Materials, CEE 347 – Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, CEE 357 – Environmental Engineering, CEE 367 – Geotechnical Engineering, and CEE 377 – Introduction to Structural Design. The pre-arranged Track I or Track II sequence gives students a common technical foundation across the department's civil engineering areas.

Year 4: Students use technical and Engineering & Science electives to explore their preferred area, selecting from advanced 400-level CEE courses that provide deeper knowledge and design experience; examples include CEE 424 – GIS for Civil Engineering and other courses across construction, environmental, geotechnical, hydrology/hydrodynamics, structural, and transportation engineering. The year culminates in CEE 440 – Professional Practice and a five-credit Capstone Design Course, allowing students to apply their engineering knowledge to a substantial design experience.

Focus areas: Construction, Transportation, Structural, Geotechnical, Hydrology & Hydrodynamics, Environmental Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Graduates are prepared to formulate and solve complex engineering problems, apply engineering design with consideration for public health and safety, communicate effectively, work collaboratively in teams, recognize ethical and professional responsibilities, conduct and interpret experiments, analyze data, and acquire new knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The BSCE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under ABET's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs, providing an established professional quality framework for the undergraduate engineering curriculum.

Reputation (employability rankings): The University of Washington reported that its Civil Engineering graduate program was ranked No. 13 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, while UW's 2025 U.S. News ranking placed Civil Engineering No. 12 nationally; these are graduate-program rankings and should not be interpreted as a ranking of the BSCE itself.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Washington gives students practical experience through laboratory courses, field-based activities, computer modeling, and collaborative engineering projects. Students work with real construction materials, perform surveying and digital mapping, conduct soil and structural testing, and use professional civil-engineering software through UW’s College of Engineering computing environment. The program also connects undergraduate learning with CEE research facilities and student engineering teams, allowing students to apply classroom concepts to realistic civil infrastructure challenges.

Hands-on learning and facilities include:

Construction Materials Laboratory: Undergraduate students gain direct experience designing concrete mixes, preparing specimens, performing testing, and evaluating materials such as steel, aluminum, wood, aggregates, Portland cement concrete, and hot-mix asphalt. The laboratory includes equipment such as an Instron Testing Machine and facilities for concrete curing and testing.
GeoSurveying field experience: Civil engineering students can undertake outdoor surveying activities using specialized surveying equipment while learning measurement and digital-mapping techniques applicable to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure.
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories: Students working in geotechnical areas can engage with soil-classification, compaction, consolidation, direct-shear, permeability, unconfined-compression, and triaxial-testing equipment. The laboratories also have computer data-acquisition systems and equipment for extracting field samples.
Large-Scale Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory: UW’s structural testing facility provides experience with large-scale civil infrastructure experiments using a strong floor, strong wall, hydraulic actuators, universal testing machines, shake table, strain gauges, accelerometers, and other instrumentation. The facility also supports undergraduate research and laboratory activities associated with structural engineering courses.
Digital engineering software: Through the College of Engineering virtual desktop environment, CEE students can access professional tools including Abaqus, ArcGIS Pro, Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Bluebeam Revu, QGIS, RAM Concept, Rocscience, R, VISSIM, Visual MINTEQ, and WWHM2012.
Computer laboratories: CEE provides student computing facilities including the More 320 Lab, which has 16 workstations and the full software bundle, while the CEE virtual desktop provides remote access to course software. UW students also receive access to MATLAB and Microsoft Office 365.
Collaborative design projects: Students can participate in CEE student teams such as the ASCE/AISC Steel Bridge Team, UW Concrete Canoe Team, and PCI Big Beam Team, with the structural testing laboratory supporting these activities.
Senior capstone projects: CEE works with external partners who can sponsor senior capstone projects, giving groups of students the opportunity to collaborate on focused design/build projects over two academic terms.
Research laboratories: CEE hosts research groups including the Construction Materials Lab, Geotechnical Engineering Laboratories, Harris Hydraulics Laboratory, Large-Scale Structural Engineering Testing Laboratory, Smart Transportation Applications and Research Laboratory, Sustainable Transportation Lab, Urban Freight Lab, UW Hydro Computational Hydrology Group, and X-ray Computed Tomography Laboratory, providing pathways into undergraduate research and interdisciplinary work.
Transportation research connections: The Washington State Transportation Center (TRAC) connects UW researchers with the Washington State Department of Transportation, government agencies, and private organizations, creating a research environment focused on transportation engineering and infrastructure.
Natural-hazards research tools: The RAPID Natural Hazards Reconnaissance Experimental Facility provides equipment, software, and support for collecting, processing, and analyzing data from natural-hazard events, giving relevant students exposure to field-data and disaster-reconnaissance methods.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Washington prepares graduates for careers spanning structural design, transportation, construction, infrastructure, environmental systems, and emerging technology. UW CEE reports that more than 80% of CEE students have completed an internship by graduation, while alumni work with organizations ranging from WSDOT and Sound Transit to Boeing, Amazon, Jacobs, WSP, and Kiewit.

Typical career roles: Structural Engineer, Civil/Design Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Construction/Project Engineer.

Career services: The Career Center @ Engineering provides career consultations, resume reviews, professional-development support, salary-negotiation guidance, internship credit, Handshake job and internship postings, and employer networking through events including the annual Engineering Hiring Expo.
Civil engineering career support: CEE provides a dedicated annual career fair connecting students and recent graduates with civil and environmental engineering employers, while students can also access job listings through Handshake, the CEE Student News Blog, ITE, ASCE Careers, and AfterCollege.
Employment experience: More than 85% of undergraduate CEE students pursue internships, often working on high-profile projects that help them transition from university into engineering practice.
Salary figures: UW CEE reports a $85,000 median starting annual salary for CEE students. For comparison, the department cites a $99,590 median annual wage for civil engineers nationwide and $104,170 for environmental engineers, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Graduate employment: UW CEE reports that a majority of seniors receive job offers before graduation, with the remaining graduates finding employment within several months; 79% of CEE alumni working in the field for 1–3 years were reported as very satisfied with their jobs in the department's graduate survey.
Industry connections: The annual CEE Career Fair connects students with more than 80 employers, and UW's CEE employer records include Washington State Department of Transportation, KPFF, Kiewit, Walsh, Clark Construction, HNTB, Skanska, Seattle Department of Transportation, Boeing, Jacobs, Amazon, Sound Transit, SpaceX, and WSP USA.
Industry partnerships: CEE maintains active partnerships with industry leaders and organizations, supporting collaboration and the transition of graduates into engineering careers. Its employer network covers structural engineering, transportation, construction, geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting, infrastructure, aerospace, and technology.
Accreditation value: The BS in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This provides an established quality framework for the engineering degree and supports the program's preparation for professional engineering practice.
Professional preparation: UW's BSCE educational objectives specifically prepare graduates to develop technical proficiency, adapt to advanced technologies, practice ethically and sustainably, continue professional learning, and succeed in industry, continuing education, academia, or public service.
UW-wide graduation outcomes: Across UW Seattle undergraduate programs, the Career & Internship Center reports an 85% positive outcome rate for the Class of 2024, combining employment and continuing-education outcomes; the university notes that its career-outcomes data has a 57% knowledge rate for that cohort, so this figure should be interpreted in that context.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSCE, students can continue into graduate study in civil engineering and related specializations. UW's Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering offers MSCE pathways including Construction, Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydrology and Hydrodynamics, Structural Engineering and Mechanics, and Transportation Engineering; the department's BSCE objectives also explicitly identify graduate studies and research as continuing pathways.