Program Contact: Priscilla Fonseca  203-582-7919

The BS in Civil Engineering has a broad-based curriculum that provides exposure to technical issues and design in a number of civil engineering sub-disciplines including: structural, environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic/water resources and construction management. Civil engineering projects are often multidisciplinary in nature and can involve large public works. Specifically, civil engineers design, build and maintain a variety of projects including: roads, buildings, tunnels, retaining walls, dams, bridges, airports, water supplies and sewerage systems.

Through exposure to the University Curriculum, foundational coursework in science and mathematics, major field courses and extracurricular activities, students graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering achieve intellectual proficiencies in critical thinking and reasoning, scientific literacy, quantitative reasoning, information fluency, creative thinking and visual literacy. They also achieve interpersonal proficiencies in written and oral communication, responsible citizenship, diversity awareness and sensitivity, and social intelligence.

The BS in Civil Engineering program requires a minimum of 124 credits for degree completion:

Within the policies of the School of Computing & Engineering, the Civil Engineering program enforces credit limits during the academic terms. Exceeding 18 credits in the Fall or Spring semesters, 4 credits in the January term, or 10 credits in each Summer term requires the approval of the dean's office.

University Curriculum50
Foundational Courses for Civil Engineering
CSC 1063
MA 1532
MA 1542
MA 2514
MA 2654
Common Engineering Curriculum
ENR 3951
Civil Engineering Courses
CER 2103
CER 220
& CER 220L
and 		4
CER 2303
CER 2603
CER 240
& CER 240L
and 		3
CER 3103
CER 3203
CER 3251
CER 330
& CER 330L
and 		3
CER 340
& CER 340L
and 		4
CER 350
& CER 350L
and 		4
CER 4203
CER 4453
CER 455
& CER 455L
and 		3
CER 4900
CER 4973
CER 4983
Select two Civil Engineering Electives6
Technical Elective 13
Required courses that also count toward the University Curriculum
ENR 110
EC 111
MA 151
CHE 110
& CHE 110L

and
BIO 101
& BIO 101L

and
PHY 121
University Physics
Take 4 credits from:
CHE 111
& 111L

and General Chemistry II Lab
BIO 102
& BIO 102L

and
PHY 122
University Physics II
Total Credits124
1

Includes any CER elective or an MER, IER, SER, MA, PHY, BIO or CHE course at 200 level or higher with department chair approval.

Course plans are subject to change. Course availability, potential transfer credits, and course prerequisite completion may influence the final course schedule for each program. 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
ENR 110 UC Personal Inquiry 2 3
CSC 106 3
MA 151 UC Math 4
FYS 101 First-Year Seminar (UC Foundations Inquiry) 3
EN 101 Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing (UC Writing 1) 3
 Credits16
Spring Semester
MA 153 2
MA 154 2
EN 102 Academic Writing and Research (UC Writing 2) 3
CER 210
or MER 210
or
3
University Curriculum course 3
PHY 121 University Physics (UC Personal Inquiry 2) 4
 Credits17
Second Year
Fall Semester
CER 220
or MER 220
or
3
CER 220L
or MER 220L
or
1
MA 251 4
CER 230 3
CHE 110
& CHE 110L
and UC Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Sciecne		 4
 Credits15
Spring Semester
CER 260 3
CER 240
& CER 240L
and 		3
CER 320 3
MA 265 4
EC 111 UC Disciplinary Inquiry Social Sciences 3
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall Semester
CER 330
& CER 330L
and 		3
CER 310
or MER 310
or
3
CER 420 3
CER 340
& CER 340L
and 		4
University Curriculum course 3
 Credits16
Spring Semester
CER 455
& CER 455L
and 		3
CER 350
& CER 350L
and 		4
CER elective 3
BIO 101
& BIO 101L
and UC Personal Inquiry 1 Natural Science		 4
ENR 395 1
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CER 497 3
CER 325 1
CER elective 3
UC Curriculum Course 3
UC Natural Science course 1 4
CER 490 0
 Credits14
Spring Semester
CER 498 3
CER 445 3
Technical elective 3
University Curriculum course 3
University Curriculum course 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits124
1

Students should choose from PHY 122 or CHE 111 and CHE 111L or BIO 102 and BIO 102L

Student Outcomes

Attainment of the following competencies prepares graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Educational Objectives

Within four to seven years following graduation, graduates of the civil engineering program shall become successful professionals recognized for their:

  1. Ability to apply new knowledge, tools and technology to find sustainable solutions to the problems of a rapidly changing world.
  2. Communication of complex ideas and problems to a professional audience.
  3. Professionalism and ability to consider the technical, social and ethical consequences of their work.
  4. Leadership, mentorship and contributions to their profession and community.
  5. Pursuit of intellectual, personal and professional development.

Admission Requirements: School of Computing & Engineering

The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Computing & Engineering programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.

Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.

For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.

Seamless Transfer Agreement with Gateway Community College (GCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC) and Norwalk Community College (NCC)

Under this Transfer Agreement, GCC, HCC and NCC graduates will be guaranteed admission into a bachelor’s degree program with third year (junior) status at Quinnipiac University on the condition that they: 

  • Graduate with an associate in arts, an associate in science in business, College of Technology engineering science and computer science, nursing or an allied health degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (this may be higher in specific programs). 
  • Satisfy all other Quinnipiac University transfer admission requirements and requirements for intended major.

Quinnipiac University agrees to accept the general education embedded in these associate degree programs in accordance with Quinnipiac preferred choices for general education as meeting all the requirements of its undergraduate general education except for the Integrative Capstone Experience and where courses are encumbered by the major (e.g., General Chemistry for the Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Science requirement for a Biochemistry major).

Suggested Transfer Curriculum for BS in Civil Engineering

A minimum of 60 credits is required for transfer into the BS in Civil Engineering program. Below is a sample plan of study for the first two years.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
English I 3
Calculus I 4
Introduction to Engineering 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
Spring Semester
English II 3
Calculus-Based Physics 4
Calculus II 4
General Chemistry I with Lab 4
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall Semester
Calculus-Based Physics II 4
Calculus III - Multivariable 4
Introduction to Biology with Lab 4
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring Semester
Differential Equations 3
Engineering Statics 3
History Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits61