Civil Engineering, B.S.

Civil Engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation of our modern society - our roads and bridges, drinking water, and energy systems, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment.  They are responsible for our built environment.  Civil engineers work in many sectors - including structural, environmental, transportation, geotechnical, construction management, and water resources.  Throughout our day we are continually touched by the works of civil engineers whether by enabling power to reach us, providing clean water, handling waste and recycling, or providing the infrastructure that allows us to move and travel. The Civil Engineering major places a strong emphasis on hands-on experience and the art of engineering design along with concepts of sustainability and the design of Green Infrastructure and systems. The curriculum provides for breadth of knowledge in the civil engineering disciplines as well as offering an ability to focus on a specific area through the choice of electives.

Graduates will be well prepared to work as civil engineers in the public or private sectors as practicing engineers and to pursue further education in graduate school.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the civil engineering program will be able to have and demonstrate:

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

The civil engineering program at York College is designed to prepare its graduates for productive careers and/or graduate study.  Within a few years following graduation, our:

1. Graduates will  be performing essential engineering functions in the design, management, or construction industry.
2. Graduates will be ethically using their civil engineering knowledge, skills and abilities to conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector or meeting society’s needs in other areas to better their communities from local to global level.
3. Graduates will be demonstrating their value to their employers, society, and their professions through their capability to communicate engineering ideas and concepts effectively, contributions as team members and leaders, and exhibited potential for technical leadership and management.

Engineering Cooperative Work Experience (Co-op)

Students are required to complete three semesters of co-op (six credits) prior to graduation.  One co-op (two credits) will be waived for students who successfully complete a semester-long study abroad experience and with prior permission of the department chair.  Through this program, students gain practical hands-on experience in industry and other engineering-related enterprises. After their first two years of study, students alternate academic semesters with semesters of full-time paid professional engineering experience in industry. One or more co-ops may be waived for students with a history of qualified engineering work.

To be eligible for a civil engineering co-op, a student must have:

• Completed EGR 290