Program Overview

Introduction to the B.S. Civil Engineering Program

The University of Akron offers a comprehensive B.S. Civil Engineering program, designed to equip students with the fundamental principles of engineering and prepare them for a successful career in the field. Civil engineers play a crucial role in planning, designing, building, and operating the infrastructure of modern society, including environmental systems.

Program Highlights

• The program features a co-op program, providing paid, flexible, industry experience, allowing students to earn money while gaining practical experience.
• Nationally recognized design teams, such as Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge, offer students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge, make friends, travel, and build their resume.
• Numerous scholarships are available to significantly reduce the cost of tuition, including major-specific scholarships and automatic consideration for certain scholarships upon application.
• The College provides tutoring and academic support at no additional cost to undergraduate students majoring in any field of engineering and engineering technology.

Admission Requirements

All students who meet the minimum requirements for admittance into The University of Akron and intend to major in engineering are accepted into the College. For high school students, their high school records determine which first-semester classes are suitable for them. The university also offers a B.S./M.S. combined option, allowing students to earn both degrees in five years at a significant savings, excluding co-op.

Career Opportunities

Civil engineers have a wide range of career opportunities with government departments, utilities, architectural firms, builders, engineering firms, and consulting, or they may pursue post-baccalaureate study in engineering or law. The field of civil engineering is diverse, with engineers often working outdoors at construction sites, in offices, or in research labs. Recent graduates have gone on to work at companies including AECOM, Arcadis, Chemstress, City of Akron, GPD Group, Kenmore, ODOT, or pursued graduate studies.

Areas of Study

Structural Engineering

Analyze the forces that a structure must resist, including its own weight, wind, earthquake, and loads placed upon the structure. This area involves planning and design of all types of buildings, bridges, power plants, equipment supports, offshore structures, transmission towers, and even space stations.

Geotechnical Engineering

Design and build earth and rock dams, tunnels, retaining walls, deep excavations, and embankments. This type of engineering also involves studying the effects of earthquakes and other earth forces on man-made structures, with increasing importance in the cleanup of hazardous wastes.

Environmental Engineering

Concerned with protecting humans and the environment, environmental engineers design and supervise systems to provide safe drinking water and to collect and treat wastewater. They work to prevent and control water and air pollution, manage solid wastes, and mitigate the effects of existing pollution.

Transportation Engineering

Focus on planning, designing, and maintaining transportation facilities, including highways, streets, mass transit systems of all types, railroads, airports, and ports. Transportation engineers work closely with urban planners in the planning and management aspects of transportation engineering.

Curriculum and Accreditation

• The BS in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
• The program has specific educational objectives and student outcomes that prepare graduates to enter the professional practice of engineering.
• Curriculum guides and courses are available for students to plan their academic path effectively.