BS in Civil Engineering

Units required for Major: 94 including GE courses
Total units required for BS: 124

Program Description

Civil Engineering involves the application of scientific principles and knowledge of mathematics and computers to the planning, analysis, design, and construction of all types of private and public works. Reduction of air and water pollution, disposal of hazardous wastes, renewal of our old cities, planning and building of new communities, providing water, power, and high-speed ground transportation systems are the responsibilities of the civil engineer. It is a continual challenge to the civil engineer to provide these services efficiently by the construction of dams, buildings, bridges, tunnels, highways, airports, waterways, and waste handling facilities in harmony with the natural environment.

Because of the broad range of demands on the civil engineer's services, the undergraduate program is devoted to fundamental principles in mathematics; basic and engineering sciences; the spectrum of Civil Engineering practice in both analysis and design; and required courses in the humanities and the social sciences, so that engineers may better relate to the world and society they serve. The upper division program permits students to select 12 units (4 courses) of electives. Students may increase the breadth or depth of their knowledge in Civil Engineering by selecting these electives in several areas: environmental and water quality engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation, and water resources engineering.

Courses may be interchanged between semesters to accommodate the student's schedule, as long as prerequisites are observed. Civil engineering is a demanding major, but with devoted study it can be completed in four years. Students who are working half-time or more often find it difficult to successfully pass a full load of classes each semester. Such students should plan to take fewer units per semester and a longer time to finish their degree.

Note: Students must satisfy the requirements of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET). Consult the Civil Engineering Department Chair for specific General Education requirements.

Note: Students graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering will not be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. Students who change major may be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. 

Program Requirements

Required Lower Division Courses (65 Units)
First Semester Freshman Year
CE 1Civil Engineering Seminar1
CE 4Engineering Graphics and CAD 12
CHEM 1EGeneral Chemistry for Engineering 14
MATH 30Calculus I 14
Select two General Education courses6
Second Semester Freshman Year
CE 9Plane and Topographic Surveying2
CE 9LPlane and Topographic Surveying Laboratory1
MATH 31Calculus II 14
PHYS 11AGeneral Physics: Mechanics 14
Select two General Education courses6
First Semester Sophomore Year
ENGR 45Engineering Materials3
MATH 45Differential Equations for Science and Engineering3
PHYS 11CGeneral Physics: Electricity and Magnetism 14
Select two General Education courses6
Second Semester Sophomore Year
ENGL 20College Composition II3
ENGR 30Analytic Mechanics: Statics3
MATH 35Introduction to Linear Algebra3
or MATH 100 Applied Linear Algebra
Select two General Education courses6
Required Upper Division Courses (59 Units) 2
First Semester Junior Year
CE 101Computer Applications in Civil Engineering3
ENGR 110Analytic Mechanics - Dynamics3
ENGR 112Mechanics Of Materials3
ENGR 115Statistics For Engineers3
ENGR 132Fluid Mechanics3
Second Semester Junior Year
CE 100Engineering Geology2
CE 130Water Resources Engineering3
CE 130LHydraulics Laboratory1
CE 150Principles of Environmental Engineering2
CE 150LEnvironmental Engineering Laboratory1
CE 160Introduction to Structural Analysis 13
Select General Education course3
First Semester Senior Year
CE 140Transportation Engineering3
CE 140LTransportation Engineering Laboratory1
CE 151Environmental Engineering Practice2
CE 170Soil Mechanics3
CE 170LSoil Mechanics Laboratory1
Select Civil Engineering elective 33
CE 190Civil Engineering Project Skills3
Second Semester Senior Year
CE 160LStructural Laboratory 11
CE 191Senior Project3
Select three Civil Engineering electives 39
Civil Engineering Electives
Select from the following: 4
Hydrology
Groundwater Engineering
Design of Urban Water and Sewer Systems 5
Open Channel Hydraulics 5
Traffic Analysis and Design 5
Transportation Systems
Design of Water Quality Control Processes 5
Geoenvironmental Engineering
Structural Steel Design 5
Reinforced Concrete Design 5
Masonry Design 5
Seismic Behavior of Structures
Prestressed Concrete Design 5
Timber Design 5
Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 5
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering 5
Introduction to GIS in Civil Engineering
Thermodynamics
Total Units124

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (6 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking0
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (3 Units)
B1 - Physical Science 20
B2 - Life Forms3
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) 20
B4 - Math Concepts 20
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities3
C1/C2 - Area Course C3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area D: The Individual and Society (6 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area E: Understanding Personal Development
Area E Course 20
Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units)
Area F Course3
Total Units30

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (9 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI)3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (3 Units)
English Composition II 20
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 30