Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil Engineering (CE) is the oldest of the engineering professions, broadest in scope, and parent of all other branches of engineering.

The CE curriculum at VMI includes a traditional array of course that allows cadets to pursue different subdisciplines after graduation. Cadets that successfully complete the curriculum receive an ABET accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.

The Civil Engineering Program’s Educational Objectives are to produce graduates who strive to:

  1. Use their broad-based civil engineering backgrounds to perform as entry-level engineers in industry, the military, government, or other fields.
  2. Enter graduate schools in the disciplines of civil engineering or closely related areas, work training programs, self-study programs, military service schools, as well as other areas such as business schools.
  3. Continue the process of life-long learning as required for long-term personal and professional growth.
  4. Use their communication, computer, and teamwork skills to help themselves and their employees succeed.
  5. Recognize their professional and ethical responsibilities to society as members of the professional engineering community, pass the FE exam, and pursue professional licensure upon graduation.
  6. Relate their personal and professional lives to moral and ethical practices.

High School Preparation

Prepare by taking the full college preparatory program augmented by as many math and science courses as your schedule permits. Courses in pre-calculus are particularly important.  Engineering drawing (drafting) and computer programming courses are recommended, but they should not be taken in lieu of basic math and science courses.

Accreditation

The Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission's General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.


Check out some Civil and Environmental Engineering cadets here.


Degrees and Programs

Major(s): Civil Engineering

Degree(s): Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Subdisciplines:

  • Construction Management
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation & Planning Engineering

Minor(s):

  • n/a

 Subdisciplines

Construction Management is the application of engineering to time, material, labor, cost, and quality management of construction projects including the complex coordination of construction events, conformance with design specifications, and design and contract modifications to meet project-specific field conditions. 

Courses pertaining to Construction Management...

  • CE302 Dynamics (ESE I)
  • CE350 Project Management (required)
  • CE403 Foundations (DE)
  • CE436 Transportation Planning & Design (DE)
  • CE437 Construction Methods & Management (TE)
  • GE306 Engineering Geology (NSE)
  • 1 open Engineering Science Elective II
  • 3 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE and ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Environmental Engineering encompasses a wide spectrum of activities to help protect human health and promote environmental quality.

Issues addressed include air quality and air pollution, municipal and industrial solid waste, hazardous waste, risk assessment, soil and groundwater contamination, water and wastewater treatment, water quality monitoring and protection, and others.  Examples are clean rivers and clear air.

 

Courses pertaining to Environmental Engineering…

  • BI101 Biology (NSE)
  • CE321W Environmental Engineering (required)
  • CE401 Hydrology (ESE II)
  • CE408 Hydraulic Engineering (DE)
  • CE409 Hazardous Waste Treatment and Site Remediation (ESE II)
  • CE415 Env. Engr. Unit Process Design (DE)
  • 4 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME 311, EE531
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE and ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Engineering address the properties and analysis of fluids for applications in static and dynamic systems such as pressure on immersed objects, hydraulic machinery such as pumps and turbines, conveyance of water and other fluids.

 

Courses pertaining to Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Engineering…

  • CE302 Dynamics (ESE I)
  • CE309 Fluid Mechanics (required)
  • CE401 Hydrology (TE)
  • CE404 Advanced Fluid Mechanics (ESE II)
  • CE408 Hydraulic Engineering (DE)
  • 1 open Natural Science Elective
  • 1 open Design Elective
  • 3 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective I from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE and ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Geotechnical Engineering involves soil and its properties relevant to groundwater flow, bearing capacity for foundations, settlement and compaction, slope stability, tunneling and mining, and a variety of other issues associated with activities on or below the ground surface.

 

Courses pertaining to Geotechnical Engineering…

  • CE302 Dynamics (ESE I)
  • CE310 Soil Mechanics (required)
  • CE403 Foundations (DE)
  • CE406 Contaminant Hydrogeology (ESE II)
  • CE428 Topics in Structural Design (DE)
  • GE306 Engineering Geology (NSE)
  • 4 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE and ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering focus on surface and ground water quantity and supply, storm water runoff and control, canals and river channels, reservoirs, flood control, irrigation supply, water policy, and many other related activities.

 

Courses pertaining to Hydrology and Water Resources…

  • BI101 Biology (NSE)
  • CE322 Water Resources Engineering (required)
  • CE401 Hydrology (TE)
  • CE406 Contaminant Hydrogeology (ESE II)
  • CE408 Hydraulic Engineering (DE)
  • CE415 Env. Engrg. Unit Process Design (DE)
  • 3 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Basic Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Basic Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE or ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Structural Engineering is the understanding of material properties and static and dynamic forces that affect structures built out of concrete, steel, wood, and other materials. Structural engineering is the basis for anything that is built.

 

Courses pertaining to Structural Engineering…

  • CE302 Dynamics (ESE I)
  • CE327 Concrete Design (required) 
  • CE402 Structural Mechanics (ESE II)
  • CE423 Structural Steel Design (DE)
  • CE428 Topics is Structural Design (DE)
  • CE429 Advanced Structural theory (TE)
  • GE306 Engineering Geology (BSE)
  • 3 open Technical Electives or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479,  other EE or ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Transportation & Planning Engineering applies to the efficient movement of people and goods by planning, designing, building, and maintaining facilities such as highway, rail, airport, and mass transit systems. These systems are the infrastructure backbone of much of the developed world's economy.

 

Courses pertaining to Transportation and Planning…

  • CE302 Dynamics (ESE I)
  • CE333 Transportation Engineering (required)
  • CE401 Hydrology (ESE II)
  • CE436 Transportation Planning & Design (DE)
  • CE437 Construction Methods & Management (TE)
  • GE306 Engineering Geology (BSE)
  • 1 Design Elective
  • 3 open Technical Elective or Independent Research

DE = Design Elective

TE = Technical Elective

ESE = Engineering Science Elective (I, II)

NSE = Natural Science Elective

The technical electives selected from within the Civil and Environmental Department must meet the following distribution requirements:

  • 6 credits of Design Elective from CE403, CE408, CE415, CE423, CE428, CE436
  • 4 credits of Natural Science Elective from GE306 or BI101
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective I from CE302, ME311, EE351
  • 3 credits of Engineering Science Elective II from CE401, CE402, CE404, CE406, CE429, CE479, other EE or ME 300 or 400 level courses
  • 12 credits of other technical electives from above or CE437, CE443, CE455-460, CE461

 

Course Flow Chart

Download our Civil & Environmental Engineering Course Flow Chart to learn more about required courses, pre-requisites, and elective options within the department.

 


CEE in the News

Find out more about the department's cadets and faculty in recent VMI news.

Honors student Annie Townsend '24 presents her senior thesis on the security and history of barracks.

Honors Week: Barracks Security At VMI

Annie Townsend '24 blended her interest with history, architecture, and security to form her senior thesis, “A Security Analysis of the Virginia Military Institute’s Barracks through the Lens of Infrastructure," which she presented during Honors Week at Virginia Military Institute.

Members of the VMI delegation gather at the BEYA STEM Conference in Baltimore.

Cadets Attend BEYA STEM Conference

The annual conference provides a forum for the nation’s minority STEM-educated students to learn, interact, and build professional networks with corporate, government, military, and industry leaders.

VMI: Forging 21st Century Leaders