Civil Engineering (B.S.)

ABOUT

In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers graded the U.S. infrastructure system and gave it a D+. Business as usual is not an option anymore, so civil engineers are faced with building and rebuilding the future. As the broadest of the engineering professions, civil engineering provides a foundation for careers in structural engineering, construction materials engineering, construction management, geotechnical engineering, transportation, water resource engineering and fluid mechanics. With a major in civil engineering from Clemson, you’ll learn to create, plan, design, construct, maintain and operate the structures, facilities and systems that are vital to the economy and to sustaining our civilization. The focus of the program is sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

FAST FACTS

  • Clemson’s civil engineering department has been ranked among the top civil engineering programs in the United States.
  • Our bachelor's/master's program allows qualified seniors to get a head start on their master's degree.
  • Glenn Department of Civil Engineering professors have authored books and served as ASCE Fellows.
  • The national and international award winning Clemson Engineers for Developing Countries is a collaborative student initiative that aims to help develop Third World countries through technical support.

WHAT YOU'LL STUDY

Freshmen who major in engineering at Clemson are initially admitted into our general engineering program, where you’ll have a year to explore many different engineering disciplines, meet faculty from each of our engineering departments and discover which major fits your personal interests and talents. On the admissions application, you will apply as a general engineering major.

As a civil engineering major you'll work closely with talented faculty who share a passion for civil engineering and for educating the next generation.

Construction Engineering and Management Emphasis: Dive into engineering and building systems and the management concepts used to execute construction projects.

Construction Materials Emphasis: Discover how to analyze and design materials including concrete, asphalt, aggregate and soil.

Environmental Engineering Emphasis: Strengthen your depth of understanding of how civil engineering interfaces with the environment.

Geotechnical/Geo-environmental Engineering Emphasis: Learn in situ, mechanical and physical properties of geo-materials and the related environmental issues.

Structural Engineering Emphasis: Understand the behavior of various structural materials and learn to analyze and design complex structural systems.

Transportation Systems Emphasis: Learn how to effectively move people and goods through interconnected air, land and marine transportation systems.

Water Resources Engineering: Gain specialized education in the movement and behavior of surface and subsurface water and their interaction with each and other and with natural and manmade conditions.

Popular Minors

  • Architecture
  • Business Administration

EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

We in the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering recognize that learning is not limited to a classroom setting. Our students are encouraged to get involved by participating in student organizations, research opportunities with professors, Creative Inquiry research projects, cooperative education and study abroad experiences.

Student chapters and professional societies hold regular meetings throughout the fall and spring semesters, providing students the opportunity to engage with one another, faculty and practicing professionals.
Students are encouraged to seek out research opportunities through participation in Creative Inquiry projects. About 25 percent of our students are involved in some form of research.
Cooperative education is a valuable tool that allows students to use classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. From special advising to various summer course offerings, every effort is made to make the co-op process as seamless as possible.
Civil engineering students can participate in an internship program with Tongji University in China.
The Clemson Concrete Canoe team competes regionally and nationally, gaining real-world experience as they use technical skills, teamwork and creativity to design, construct and race a concrete canoe.
Students shine annually in regional and national competition by participating in the ASCE Steel Bridge competition. The team designs and fabricates bridge components that are as light as possible but can also sustain a 2,500-pound load.

AFTER GRADUATION

Your college decision isn't really about the next four years. We get it. It's about what doors are opened by your degree and whether those opportunities are what you had envisioned for yourself. Here's a snapshot of what life after graduation looks like for some of our most recent students.

RECENT EMPLOYERS

  • Civil Engineer in Training

    Kimley-Horn and Associates

  • Estimator

    Brasfield & Gorrie

  • Engineer I

    S.C. Department of Transportation

  • Engineer 1

    Duke Energy

  • Assistant Scheduler

    Balfour Beatty Construction

  • Assistant Project Manager

    Harper Corporation

RECENT POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

  • Ph.D. Civil Engineering

    Clemson University

  • M.S. Civil Engineering

    Georgia Tech

  • M.S. Civil Engineering

    Stanford University

  • Ph.D. Civil Engineering

    Purdue University

COMMON CAREER AREAS

    • Construction
    • Geotechnical
    • Materials
    • Risk Engineering and System Analytics
    • Structural
    • Transportation Engineering
    • Water Resources

FIND OUT MORE

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact. If you’d also like to receive general University information from Clemson’s admissions office, please follow the link to the right and sign up to join our mailing list.

Christopher Porter

CECAS Undergraduate Recruitment Director
864-656-7870
cporter@clemson.edu

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