What is Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering is the oldest of the engineering disciplines and involves the planning, design, and construction of facilities essential to modern life.

Graduates can look forward to employment by construction companies; city and county engineering departments; state and federal transportation organizations (such as the Georgia Department of Transportation); and civil engineering consulting and design firms. Graduates have the qualifications to enter careers in areas such as, but not limited to, transportation engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resource engineering, and construction engineering. Typical job titles for graduates may include construction engineer, project engineer, planner, project supervisor, consulting engineer, and design engineer.

kennesaw state university sign on campus

Civil Engineering requires rigorous training in basic engineering principles along with the development of skills in the areas of planning and management of construction projects and the associated systems and resources. Graduates in the area of Civil Engineering will be required to master technical elements and to demonstrate particular competence in the areas of communication, fiscal management, and project control. The broad-based background is tailored to develop professionals who will be able to move between the technical and managerial aspects of civil engineering projects and to serve in key leadership positions within the engineering profession.

Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Admission Requirements

None.

This program does not have specific admission requirements. Only admission to Kennesaw State University is required to declare this major.

Engineering Standing Requirements

learn more about engineering standing

Recommended IMPACTS Courses

M: Students should take MATH 1190 or higher.

T: Students should take MATH 2202 or higher.

T: Students should take two four-hour laboratory sciences in the Natural Sciences. Students should choose PHYS 2211/2211L and PHYS 2212/2212L. Other options are available, please see an advisor for details; however, selection of other options in IMPACTS will lengthen time to graduation.

Double Owl Pathways

Not majoring in this? Check out these non-degree options!

Sample Classes

  • This course is the introductory course in identification and analysis of basic structural elements. Topics include the determination of beam deflections, methods for the computational analysis of statically indeterminate trusses, moment distribution, and the analysis of frames.
  • Introduction to fundamental knowledge of soil/foundation engineering for construction projects such as commercial building, highway, bridge, airport, and water/wastewater treatment plant. Course topics will include composition of soils, subsurface investigation, soil classification systems, groundwater flow, permeability, compaction, stress/strain analysis, shear strength, consolidation/settlement, shallow and deep foundations, earth retaining structures, slope stability, and ground modification methods.
  • This course addresses many challenges facing engineers when designing and constructing highways.  Areas of study include the design of horizontal and vertical alignments, roadside features, parking facilities, intersection design elements, traffic control devices, traffic signal operations and vehicle detection design, and the socioeconomic impacts of the roadway design.
  • This course focuses on fundamental concepts of air pollution, emission sources, atmospheric dispersion, ambient concentrations, adverse effects, governmental regulations, emission standards, air-quality standards, processes and equipment for controlling emissions, and noise pollution.