Civil engineering, earliest of the engineering professions, has evolved into a broad spectrum of specialties: structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, environmental, transportation, urban planning, construction, irrigation and drainage, waterways and harbors and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Depending upon personal interests and abilities, the modern civil engineer also may become involved in research, design and development related to projects concerned with hazardous waste management, alternative disposal strategies for municipal and solid waste and biomedical engineering applications. The civil engineer also studies and develops new materials, new structural systems and new systems procedures for optimizing design. Basic research, especially in the areas of applied and experimental mechanics, often arises either as a preliminary or adjunct requisite to these studies.

The civil engineer who wishes to practice creatively in any of these fields must be thoroughly grounded in the basic sciences, mathematics, applied mechanics, structures and structural mechanics, engineering sciences and computer applications.

The members of the civil engineering faculty are actively engaged in research in their specialties, which include modern advances in structural engineering and materials, geotechnical engineering, water pollution control technologies and water resources engineering.

Undergraduate Program Opportunity is available to graduates for careers in civil engineering design as related to structures, geotechnical applications, construction management, environmental engineering and water resources engineering. Accordingly, the curriculum places strong emphasis on laboratory experience acquired through innovative experimental projects that are conceived and conducted by the students under close faculty supervision. To meet this need, the department maintains a separate laboratory in each of four major civil engineering specialties: materials and structures, water resources, environmental and geotechnical.

The bachelor's degree curriculum is shown below. The complete Cooper Union catalog with course descriptions, academic standards, etc, is available online and maintained by the Registrar's office.

Opportunity is available to graduates for careers in civil engineering design as related to structures, geotechnical applications, construction management, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering. Accordingly, the curriculum places strong emphasis on laboratory experience acquired through innovative experimental projects that are conceived and conducted by the students under close faculty supervision. To meet this need, the department maintains a separate laboratory in each of four major civil engineering specialties: environmental, materials and structures, geotechnical, and water resources.

Civil Engineering Program

Freshman Year Credits

Sophomore Year Credits

Junior Year Credits

Senior Year Credits