专业描述

Civil engineering, the oldest branch of nonmilitary engineering, is one of the most diverse engineering disciplines. Civil and environmental engineers are responsible for the planning, design, construction, and operation of the physical structures and facilities that are essential to the environment and infrastructure of modern society. Traditionally these structures have included buildings, highways, water and waste treatment plants, tunnels, airports, harbors, railroads, channels, bridges, and dams. The present day civil and environmental engineer is also involved in research and development in a wide variety of physical and natural systems that contribute to the convenience of society, protection of the environment, and the safety and health of the public. These activities include the development of new construction materials, the rebuilding of the nation's infrastructure, the management of water resource systems, and forecasting the impact of human activity on environmental quality with the use of mathematical models. The practice of civil and environmental engineering is divided into a number of functional areas. The department offers professional degree programs with specialty options in four of those areas: environmental engineering, geosystems engineering, structural engineering, and water resources engineering.