Program Contact: John Greenleaf  203-582-5018

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.

BS in Civil Engineering Curriculum

The program requires 124 credits as outlined here:

A minimum grade of C- is required to satisfy the prerequisites of all civil engineering courses having the CER designation.

Within the policies of the School of Computing and 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 Curriculum
Foundations of Inquiry:
FYS 101First-Year Seminar3
EN 101Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing3
EN 102Academic Writing and Research3
MA 151Calculus I4
Disciplinary Inquiry:
CHE 110
110L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Lab
4
EC 111Principles of Microeconomics3
Humanities3
Fine Arts3
Personal Inquiry 1:
BIO 101
101L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Lab
4
Take 2 courses from the following disciplinary areas. (Only 1 course for each area.)6
Social Science
Humanities
Fine Arts
Personal Inquiry 2:
ENR 110The World of an Engineer3
PHY 121University Physics4
and 4 credits from the following course options. 4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Lab
or
General Biology II
and General Biology Lab II
or
University Physics II
Integrative Capstone:
University Capstone3
Intercultural Understanding
3 credits within the breadth component of the university curriculum (everything other than foundations of inquiry) must be from classes marked as "I" (intercultural understanding).3
In addition to the University Curriculum requirements, students majoring in Civil Engineering must take the following:
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 210Engineering Economics and Project Management3
ENR 395Professional Development Seminar1
Civil Engineering Courses
MER 210Fundamentals of Engineering Mechanics and Design3
MER 220
220L
Mechanics of Materials
and Mechanics of Materials Lab
4
MER 310Fluid Mechanics3
CER 210Infrastructure Engineering3
CER 220
& CER 220L

and
3
CER 3103
CER 325Concrete 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
Total Credits124
1

Includes any CER elective or a 200-level or higher MER, IER, SER, MA, BIO or CHE course with program director approval.

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 and Engineering

The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Computing and 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