At Purdue University Northwest, civil engineering is a four-year program of full-time study leading to a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE). The course of study is preparation for a career in a constantly changing field and provides a basis for lifelong learning.

Why Civil Engineering at Purdue University Northwest?

• Engineering classes are small and are taught by faculty members dedicated to teaching or adjunct faculty who have many years of experience.
• Most faculty members also engage in research, consulting, or other professional activities, and participate in professional engineering societies.
• The laboratory facilities provide a mechanism for students to gain hands-on experience that will aid their understanding of the engineering and scientific theories taught in the lectures.
• Courses are provided both days and evenings on a publicized schedule to meet the needs of both full-time and part-time students.
• Incoming students are assigned to an advisor familiar with the problems and special needs of new students. After choosing a major the student receives an experienced engineering faculty advisor.
• The program prepares graduates for life and for the engineering profession.
• A capstone, one-year project for all seniors provides the opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary teams to pursue an engineering idea from conception to design, fabrication, and testing. The senior projects provide a transition from university study to the real world of engineering work.
• Cooperative Education and Professional Experience Programs are available. Both provide students the opportunity to work in the engineering profession while obtaining their degree, and to earn money to pay for their education. The work experience makes the education more meaningful, and makes the students more attractive to employers when they graduate.

Educational Objectives:

The Civil Engineering curriculum provides a broad education in the fundamentals of Civil Engineering. Students may pursue a general program or may choose a specialization in areas such as construction engineering, structural engineering, transportation, water resources and environmental engineering.

The program’s educational objectives are to provide each graduate with:

• Engineering Competence – Graduates are competent and engaged professionals in their field
• Continuous Learning – Graduates continue developing professionally
• Professional Skills – Graduates demonstrate teamwork and leadership skills and are contributors in their profession
• Societal Awareness – Graduates recognize the societal, ethical, and global impacts of their work

The flexibility of the engineering program allows students interested in other engineering disciplines not offered at Purdue University Northwest, such as aerospace, chemical, etc., to complete one to two years of study for transfer to another university. The Interdisciplinary Engineering Option allows student to design their own programs to meet their career needs; it provides excellent preparation for a career in law or medicine.

Degrees Offered

Please refer to the curriculum as shown below.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering Option

• Electives for Civil Engineering
• Suggested Plan of Study (Excel)
• Civil Engineering Flow chart (PDF 36KB)
• Degree Map (PDF)

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering   (122 credits)

Civil Engineering Electives: Any three CE courses selected by the student with prior approval of advisor.

Civil Engineering Restricted Science Elective: One required, select from:

BIOL 10100 – Introduction to Biology

SCI 10300 – Survey of the Biological World

SCI 10400 – Introduction to Environmental Biology

BIOL 22100 – Introduction to Microbiology

BIOL 31600 – Basic Microbiology (Prereq: BIOL 101, BIOL 102, CHM 115, CHM 116)

ACCEPTABLE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ELECTIVE COURSES

Required (9 credits):

PHIL 32400 Engineering Ethics (3 credits) which meets the General Education requirement for Humanities

One course (3 credits) that meets the General Education requirement for Social Sciences

The balance (3 credits) is selected by the student and advisor to give the student an opportunity to explore areas within the humanities and social sciences.  Credit for ECON 21000 is not allowed.

Subject areas not acceptable are skills courses such as writing and speaking, accounting, industrial management, personal finance, ROTC, and personnel administration.  Credit is not allowed for a student’s native language.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering Option (129 credits: Non-ABET accredited)

The interdisciplinary engineering option provides an opportunity for students whose interests and talents, while oriented toward engineering and science, do not coincide with the plans of study of the traditional engineering disciplines and who do not need an ABET-accredited degree. It provides an excellent undergraduate foundation for graduate school in non-engineering fields such as management, medicine, and law, or to begin careers that may lead to administrative or management positions in technological, engineering, or manufacturing operations. The program also prepares students for careers in large non-technological organizations such as financial institutions, which may require skills generally associated with both engineering and business. The program provides opportunities to tailor the large number of technical electives to the students’ particular needs.