Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

The Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is strongly focused on learning by doing, with students applying engineering principles through laboratory work, design projects, and WPI’s project-based curriculum. Students can work with specialized civil engineering facilities, conduct experiments with structural and materials systems, use surveying and geospatial technologies, and gain professional experience through internships and WPI’s signature Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) and Major Qualifying Project (MQP):

• Major Qualifying Project (MQP): As a culminating undergraduate experience, students complete an engineering project in their major, applying civil engineering knowledge to a substantial real-world problem and working in a project environment.
• Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP): Students investigate the relationship between science, technology and society through an interdisciplinary project, often working with external organizations and communities.
• Structural Engineering Laboratory: Students gain hands-on experience investigating structural behavior and engineering materials through laboratory experimentation and testing.
• Geotechnical Engineering: Civil engineering students work with soil and foundation concepts through laboratory-based activities involving geotechnical testing and analysis.
• Construction and materials: Practical coursework exposes students to construction materials and engineering testing, connecting classroom theory with the behavior and performance of materials used in infrastructure.
• Surveying and geomatics: Students develop practical skills in surveying and spatial data collection, supporting applications in land development, construction and infrastructure engineering.
• Project-based learning: WPI’s curriculum integrates substantial project work rather than relying exclusively on traditional classroom instruction, allowing students to collaborate, investigate problems and produce engineering solutions.
• Internships and professional experience: WPI provides students with access to career development, internships and cooperative education opportunities, allowing civil engineering students to gain experience in professional engineering environments.
• Research opportunities: Undergraduate students can participate in faculty-led research and use engineering laboratories and facilities for projects in areas such as structural engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering and construction.

Facilities and project resources: Students have access to WPI’s engineering laboratories and project spaces, supported by specialized equipment for civil engineering experimentation, design and research.

Graduates of the Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) can move into engineering, infrastructure, construction, transportation, environmental, and project-management roles, supported by WPI’s project-based curriculum and industry-connected learning. WPI reports an average starting salary of $77,674 for its Class of 2025 bachelor’s graduates in Civil Engineering, with employers including Arup, Burns & McDonnell, HNTB Corporation, and Consigli Construction Co.

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

Career development and progression opportunities:

• Career services: WPI’s Career Development Center provides access to jobs, internships, co-ops, career fairs, and employer opportunities, including a dedicated category for Architectural, Civil & Fire Protection Engineering positions.
• Employment and salary: WPI reports an average starting salary of $77,674 for Civil Engineering bachelor’s graduates in its Class of 2025 First Destination Survey. Its Civil Engineering career page also lists roles such as Project Engineer, Civil Designer, Transportation Engineer, Design Engineer, and Field Engineer.
• Industry connections: Students undertake projects with industry partners and community organizations, with examples including Arup, Burns & McDonnell, HNTB Corporation, and Consigli Construction Co. WPI also identifies real-world civil engineering work through project centers and partnerships, including work with Stantec Inc.
• Professional accreditation: The Civil Engineering BS is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Civil Engineering Program Criteria. This provides an established accreditation framework for the program and supports the educational foundation relevant to professional engineering practice.
• Graduation outcomes: WPI’s published Civil Engineering outcomes include graduates entering roles such as Engineer, Analyst, Researcher, Project Manager, Consultant, Designer, Specialist, Coordinator, Developer, and Scientist, with graduates also continuing to institutions such as WPI, Purdue, Stanford, UC Davis, and the University of Tokyo.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor’s degree, students can continue into WPI’s B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering, an accelerated pathway that allows students to work toward both degrees, or pursue WPI’s M.S. in Civil Engineering, M.Eng. in Civil Engineering, or Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. WPI also offers related graduate pathways in Construction Project Management and Environmental Engineering, allowing students to deepen their specialization according to their academic and professional interests.