专业描述

The role of civil and environmental engineers, in the broadest sense, is to apply technology to meet society's needs. Civil engineers plan, design, and manage facilities used daily by the public and industry, such as buildings, airports, water supply, and waste management systems. They work at the intersection of the built, natural, and information environments. Today's civil and environmental engineers are also called upon by government and industry to provide leadership on complex technical and societal issues such as demands for infrastructure improvement in our cities, remediation of hazardous waste sites, provision of safe drinking water, and incorporation of environmental safeguards in new designs. Civil and Environmental Engineering requires broad technical training and strong communication skills because of the complexity of large projects and the interactions with engineers in other fields, lawyers, politicians, and the public. Carnegie Mellon's curriculum is intended to provide this versatility for professional practice in civil and environmental engineering or as a foundation for other professional pursuits. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a wide spectrum of opportunities for direct entry into the engineering profession, for graduate education in engineering, or entry into various other professions. While maintaining its emphasis on the fundamental understanding of the behavior of constructed facilities through the application of the physical sciences and mathematics, the curriculum has continually evolved in directions that exploit advances in technology. The methods of engineering design are introduced in the first year and are emphasized throughout the curriculum in both traditional and open-ended project-oriented courses. The basic undergraduate degree program leads to a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Students with a specific interest in Environmental Engineering are advised to undertake the Minor in Environmental Engineering and Sustainability. Central to the evolution of technology and its impact on engineering practice is the increased emphasis on computer-aided engineering. Several courses on computer methods are required in the curriculum, and virtually every course offered by the department requires the use of computers in applications of either analysis or design. Our curriculum emphasizes the development of scientific inquiry with the perspective of social, economic, and institutional developments. For graduates who wish to enter directly the engineering profession in such specialties as structural engineering, construction, or environmental engineering, this approach to teaching allows application of the most advanced technological developments. Others who wish to pursue graduate study are prepared to engage in research on the highest level, either in traditional specialties or in emerging fields such as smarter infrastructure. For many years, some graduates also have found their undergraduate preparation highly suited for entry into graduate schools of business, law, and medicine. A student may choose to concentrate in a specialty area in Civil Engineering, to pursue a minor in one of the College of Engineering designated minor programs, or to design a double major or double degree program. Sample specialty areas are described in this section. The College of Engineering designated minor programs can be found under the College of Engineering section. The double-major requirements with Biomedical Engineering and with Engineering and Public Policy are described in the curriculum specified by those departments. Other double-major programs selected by recent graduates include computer science, economics, mathematics, business, architecture, history, and foreign languages. Each student should have well-defined objectives in selecting courses leading to a specialty, a minor, or a double major. Faculty mentors and the Director of Undergraduate Programs are available to discuss students' educational goals.