Universities that help graduates thrive in civil engineering
Carnegie Mellon University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thanks to the ever-growing need for new and improved infrastructures and the boom of developing countries, civil engineering jobs are now more in demand than ever.

Civil engineering jobs are available all over the world, so those who receive an education in this field can work across multiple industries worldwide.

It’s a well-paid career path, especially for those who take on leadership roles. According to InterestingEngineering, “The type of civil engineering role you hold also impacts how much you make.

“Some of the top three jobs for the highest civil engineering salary include engineering project managers, engineering managers, and senior civil engineers, making as much as $196,000 per year in the United States.”

Emergent technologies are also impacting the civil engineering world, so graduates must be well-equipped to adapt to different kinds of working environments that might not yet exist.

Besides leadership skills, they must also possess skillsets such as critical thinking, innovation and collaboration.

They must also be able to learn new technologies and how to apply them effectively in civil engineering.

According to Stuart Calvert, Head of the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) programme, Digital Railway, “Civil engineers will need to understand digital tools – whether that’s surveying tools, BIM tools, planning tools, virtual reality, or the associated control systems that support the civil engineering. Understanding how they all come together as a system to solve a problem is the most important thing.”

Students who wish to land civil engineering jobs in which they become valuable employees with the ideal capabilities and leadership skills must choose a degree programme that prepares them for the working world.

Here are four leading universities in the US and Canada that are producing job-ready graduates in civil engineering:

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

At Carnegie Mellon, students who pursue the Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering become innovative leaders in the industry, largely due to its non-traditional approach to education.

The department values students who collaborate within and across the College of Engineering and the larger university community as it prepares them for collaborative thinking in civil engineering jobs.

As such, the department strongly supports interdisciplinary education and research which tackles global challenges and the environmental impact of engineering.

Students here have opportunities to work with world-class faculty to structure a course of study that will develop their professional skill set to advance their career and make change in the world.

Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

In order for students to adapt well to new working environments, flexible programmes are designed to help students solve the challenges of tomorrow.

They also benefit from a strong sense of student community, and work with their academic advisor to plan an individualized, structured course of study tailored to their career goal.

The graduate programme offers coursework in industry-relevant areas such as traffic engineering, water quality engineering, energy, climate change, air quality, smart infrastructure, etc.

There are also joint programmes in architecture and construction management, an MBA (Tepper School of Business at CMU and international at the Porto School of Business in Portugal), and dual degrees in innovation and entrepreneurship.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Both undergraduate and graduate programmes at this Canadian university are designed to give students the opportunity to study issues that affect the global community.

Students learn valuable skills from expert faculty members while gaining practical experience in state-of-the-art facilities.

To facilitate the development of soft skills, programmes are focused on team-based collaborative project work, design experience and professional development, while those in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering are exposed to a variety of sub-discplines within civil engineering.

They also learn transferrable skills which can benefit them if they choose to venture into non-engineering programmes like business or management.

Those who wish to specialise and become consultants or managers often choose to further their studies with the Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (MEng) programme – a non-thesis, course-based graduate programme in civil engineering.

In this programme, students can specialise in the following areas: Environmental Systems Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering Hydrotechnical Engineering, Project & Construction Management, Structural & Earthquake Engineering, and Transportation Engineering.

GRAINGER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Students in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Grainger College enjoy studying in one of the top-ranked programmes in the country.

Faculty here are world-class experts who have strong reputations for their leadership abilities in research, teaching and innovation.

Students here also enjoy global experiences that expose them to international settings and different working environments.

Students in the CEE 499 course have recently travelled to countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mexico, while those in the Global Leaders in Construction Management group have visited construction sites in Johannesburg, Seoul, Istanbul and Bucharest.

The focus on impactful research here allows both undergraduate and graduate students to participate in cutting-edge research projects that tackle societal and global challenges in civil and environmental engineering.

Research is also across interdisciplinary areas such as Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Structural Engineering so students can learn first-hand from working in collaborative environments.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY (UC BERKELEY)

With its cutting-edge research, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering here is a leader in developing solutions to challenges that affect society as a whole, such as well-designed and operated buildings, energy, transportation and water systems.

Students also benefit from CEE laboratories that are among the best in the nation, providing opportunities for hands-on experience for all students.

Education in the department is designed to prepare students for leadership in the profession of civil and environmental engineering.

Its strategic location in the thriving San Francisco Bay Area also offers international students the chance to experience ground-breaking local civil and environmental engineering projects and participate in professional activities.

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley is ABET-accredited, and provides students with a strong fundamental background in engineering science, design and practice.

Curricula have been designed to help students become more creative, flexible and adaptable, and students also get support from mentors in an inclusive and respectful community.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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