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 106Introduction to Programming for Engineers3
MA 153Calculus II: Part A2
MA 154Calculus II: Part B2
MA 251Calculus III4
MA 265Matrix Algebra and Differential Equations4
Common Engineering Curriculum
ENR 395Professional Development Seminar1
Civil Engineering Courses
CER 210Statics3
CER 220
220L
Mechanics of Materials
and Mechanics of Materials Lab
4
CER 230Infrastructure Engineering3
CER 260Introduction to Construction Management3
CER 240
240L
Civil Engineering Site Design
and Civil Engineering Site Design Lab
3
CER 310Fluid Mechanics3
CER 320Structural Analysis3
CER 325Construction Materials1
CER 330
330L
Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering
and Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering Lab
3
CER 340
340L
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design
and Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design Lab
4
CER 350
350L
Hydrology/Hydraulic Design
and Hydrology/Hydraulic Design Lab
4
CER 420Design of Concrete Structures3
CER 445Advanced Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design3
CER 455
455L
Advanced Environmental Engineering
and Advanced Environmental Engineering Lab
3
CER 490Engineering Professional Experience0
CER 497Design of Civil Engineering Systems I3
CER 498Design of Civil Engineering Systems II3
Select two Civil Engineering Electives6
Technical Elective 13
Required courses that also count toward the University Curriculum
The World of an Engineer
Principles of Microeconomics
Calculus I
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
General Biology I
and General Biology I Lab
University Physics
Take 4 credits from:
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
General Biology II
and General Biology Lab II
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 The World of an Engineer (UC Personal Inquiry 2) 3
CSC 106 Introduction to Programming for Engineers 3
MA 151 Calculus I (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 Calculus II: Part A 2
MA 154 Calculus II: Part B 2
EN 102 Academic Writing and Research (UC Writing 2) 3
CER 210
Statics
or Statics
3
University Curriculum course 3
PHY 121 University Physics (UC Personal Inquiry 2) 4
 Credits17
Second Year
Fall Semester
CER 220
Mechanics of Materials
or Mechanics of Materials
3
CER 220L
Mechanics of Materials Lab
or Mechanics of Materials Lab
1
MA 251 Calculus III 4
CER 230 Infrastructure Engineering 3
CHE 110
110L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab (UC Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Sciecne)
4
 Credits15
Spring Semester
CER 260 Introduction to Construction Management 3
CER 240
240L
Civil Engineering Site Design
and Civil Engineering Site Design Lab
3
CER 320 Structural Analysis 3
MA 265 Matrix Algebra and Differential Equations 4
EC 111 Principles of Microeconomics (UC Disciplinary Inquiry Social Sciences) 3
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall Semester
CER 330
330L
Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering
and Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering Lab
3
CER 310
Fluid Mechanics
or Fluid Mechanics
3
CER 420 Design of Concrete Structures 3
CER 340
340L
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design
and Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design Lab
4
University Curriculum course 3
 Credits16
Spring Semester
CER 455
455L
Advanced Environmental Engineering
and Advanced Environmental Engineering Lab
3
CER 350
350L
Hydrology/Hydraulic Design
and Hydrology/Hydraulic Design Lab
4
CER elective 3
BIO 101
101L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Lab (UC Personal Inquiry 1 Natural Science)
4
ENR 395 Professional Development Seminar 1
 Credits15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CER 497 Design of Civil Engineering Systems I 3
CER 325 Construction Materials 1
CER elective 3
UC Curriculum Course 3
UC Natural Science course 1 4
CER 490 Engineering Professional Experience 0
 Credits14
Spring Semester
CER 498 Design of Civil Engineering Systems II 3
CER 445 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design 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