Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering)

at Stanford University

Civil engineers plan, design, construct and sustain the urban environment including buildings and bridges, energy and water systems, and coasts and waterways. Civil engineers work to protect society from natural catastrophes and risks, such as earthquakes and hurricanes and sea level rise, as well as help manage and protect our natural resources.

As their work is crucial to the day-to-day lives of most people, civil engineers bear an important responsibility to the public. The civil engineering field is both technical and people-oriented, requiring excellent communication skills and an ability to manage both people and multi-faceted projects. Students in the major learn to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and the primary areas of civil engineering to conduct experiments, design systems to solve engineering problems, and communicate their ideas effectively to the scientific community.

Objectives and Outcomes for Civil Engineering

Objectives:

Graduates of the civil engineering program are expected within a few years of graduation to have the ability to:

• Establish themselves as practicing professionals in civil engineering or a related field
• Pursue graduate study in civil engineering or other fields
• Work effectively as responsible professionals independently or in teams handling increasingly complex professional and societal expectations

Outcomes:

• an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• 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
• an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• 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
• 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
• an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze, and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.