Bachelor of science in civil engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Wayne State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Wayne State University is a 4-year, on-campus program designed for students who want to apply mathematics, science, and engineering principles to the analysis, design, and management of infrastructure and environmental systems. Students build a broad civil engineering foundation and then develop advanced expertise through concentrations in Structural and Materials Engineering, Transportation and Mobility Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental and Sustainability Engineering, or Civil Engineering.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin with the mathematical and scientific foundations of engineering through MAT 2010 – Calculus I, CHM 1125 – General Chemistry I for Engineers, and BE 1200 – Basic Engineering I: Design in Engineering. They also develop programming and communication foundations through BE 1500/BE 1600 – Introduction to Programming and Computation for Engineers/Python and ENG 1020 – Introductory College Writing.

Second Year: The second year develops core analytical skills through MAT 2030 – Calculus III, CE 2410 – Statics, and CE 2420 – Elementary Mechanics of Materials. Students then begin connecting these principles to civil engineering practice through CE 3450 – Civil Engineering Materials and CE 4020 – Introduction to Construction Engineering and Management.

Third Year: Students move into major civil engineering disciplines through CE 3250 – Applied Fluid Mechanics, CE 4400 – Structural Analysis, and CE 4510 – Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering. They also study CE 4210 – Introduction to Environmental Engineering, CE 4230 – Environmental Engineering Laboratory, and CE 4600 – Transportation Engineering, while beginning their selected concentration coursework.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced engineering design and professional application through CE 4420 – Reinforced Concrete Design, concentration courses, and CE 4995 – Senior Design Project. Students complete their chosen specialization while developing technical communication through ENG 3060 – Technical Communication II: Presentations, bringing together their engineering knowledge in a senior design experience.

Focus areas: Structural and Materials Engineering, Transportation and Mobility Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental and Sustainability Engineering, Civil Engineering.

Learning outcomes: Engineering analysis and design, experimentation and data interpretation, engineering judgment, problem solving, technical communication, teamwork, professional responsibility, application of mathematics and science, and the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.S. in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) through its Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), with accreditation listed through 2030.

Reputation (employability rankings): Wayne State University does not state a current QS or Guardian employability ranking specifically for this civil engineering program on its official program page. The university's College of Engineering highlights Detroit's extensive engineering and industrial environment and opportunities for engineering students to gain work experience through full- or part-time employment and cooperative education.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Wayne State University combines engineering coursework with hands-on laboratory and design experiences, giving students opportunities to work with civil-engineering software, surveying methods, fluid-flow experiments, structural testing, and transportation systems. Students can also gain professional experience through Wayne State’s Cooperative Education Program, while the College of Engineering provides dedicated teaching and research laboratories and collaborative project spaces.

Students can develop practical skills through:

CAD and Civil 3D: CE 3010 – Introduction to CAD: For Civil Engineers provides hands-on training in AutoCAD and Civil 3D, including surfaces, alignments, profiles, corridors, pipe networks, and professional civil drawing sets; the course includes a term project producing a coordinated civil drawing set.
Surveying: CE 3070 – Surveying develops practical skills in measuring horizontal and vertical distances, directions, angles, traverses, and areas.
Fluid mechanics laboratory: CE 3250 – Applied Fluid Mechanics includes a laboratory component where students experimentally verify fluid-mechanics theories and use computer visualization.
Civil engineering laboratories: Department facilities support teaching and research in structures/materials, transportation, hydraulics, geotechnical, geoenvironmental, infrastructure systems, and environmental engineering, including structural-load testing, strain measurement, traffic simulation, fluid-flow studies, environmental characterization, and hydraulic/hydrologic assessment.
Engineering computer facilities: Students have access to College of Engineering computing resources supporting data acquisition and analysis, along with engineering simulation, analysis, and design software.
Cooperative education: The Engineering Cooperative Education Program allows eligible undergraduate engineering students to alternate full-time study terms with full-time work assignments in cooperating industries, providing structured on-the-job engineering experience.
Internship experience: BE 3510 – Internship Experience is available to B.S. Civil Engineering students and provides supervised engineering practice through cooperative/internship education, with a written report required.
Team-based engineering projects: The PACE Teaming Center supports collaborative student projects and interdisciplinary work, with access to industry-oriented software and tools.
Engineering facilities: The Marvin I. Danto Engineering Development Center provides research and educational space for interdisciplinary work, while the College has dedicated teaching laboratories, sophisticated research laboratories, computer facilities, machine shops, and student project space.
Library computing resources: Wayne State Libraries provide student computing facilities with software including AutoCAD, Autodesk Fusion 360, Rhino3D, SketchUp Pro, Microsoft Office 365, and Enscape, supporting digital design and technical coursework.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at Wayne State University prepares graduates for professional practice in civil and environmental engineering, with the university specifically identifying opportunities in private corporations, consulting firms, construction companies, and government agencies. The program also develops preparation for professional licensure, advanced degrees, multidisciplinary teamwork, leadership, and lifelong professional development.

Typical job roles: Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Environmental Engineer

Career development and opportunities:

Engineering Career Services: Students can use Handshake, resume reviews, career workshops, employer networking, and the annual College of Engineering Career Fair, which connects engineering students and alumni with employers offering full-time, internship, co-op, and part-time opportunities.
Internships and co-op: Civil engineering students can participate in the College of Engineering's cooperative education and internship programs, with BE 3500 – Co-Op Record and BE 3510 – Internship Experience specifically available to B.S. Civil Engineering students.
Industry connections: Wayne State's Detroit location provides connections with engineering employers, while the College of Engineering reports that more than 100 companies participate in its annual career fairs across industries including environmental and other engineering sectors.
Civil engineering employer networking: The university's 2026 Civil & Environmental Engineering Career Connections event brought students together with Walbridge, Infrastructure Engineering, OHM Advisors, and Johnston Contracting Inc. for company-focused discussions and networking.
Employment statistics and salary: Wayne State's current official Civil Engineering program sources do not publish a program-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure, so no salary statistic is stated here rather than substituting a third-party estimate.
Accreditation value: The Civil Engineering B.S. is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Engineering Accreditation Commission through 2030, providing an established professional-accreditation framework relevant to engineering education and preparation for professional practice.
Graduation outcomes: Within 3–5 years of graduation, the program expects graduates to apply engineering knowledge in professional settings, work effectively on multidisciplinary teams, pursue professional licensure or advanced degrees, demonstrate ethical practice, develop leadership skills, and participate in professional societies or community service.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into Wayne State's M.S. in Civil Engineering, which offers advanced study and research opportunities across areas including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structures, transportation, and construction management. Students interested in research or academic careers can subsequently pursue the Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, with doctoral study covering the major civil engineering specialization areas.