DEGREE Civil Engineering, BS

Major in civil engineering

As a civil engineer, you can design sustainable facilities that protect the health and welfare of communities and our environment, while also ensuring society’s financial health. Many of our civil engineering graduates serve society through leadership roles in projects to conceive, design and construct public works.

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At a glance

Civil and environmental engineering department

30^Plus

Professors of practice who mentor our students

civil engineering undergraduate ranking among public universities

environmental engineering undergraduate ranking among public universities

Facts & stats

Program and Degree Information

Determine what kind of student you will be and learn more about what information you need to apply.

Freshman A freshman includes anyone who is currently a student in high school or who has not taken college coursework since graduating from high school.

Transfer Student A transfer student is anyone who has attended another college or university after graduating from high school and wishes to enroll in an undergraduate degree program at UW–Madison.

Cross-campus Student Cross-campus transfer students are students who are currently enrolled in another school or college at UW-Madison who wish to transfer into the College of Engineering.

Reentry Student Students who previously attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison as an undergraduate and would like to complete their first undergraduate degree will need to apply for reentry admission. Reentry students are those who have not been enrolled in courses for a semester or more.

Tuition and segregated fee rates are always listed per semester (not for Fall and Spring combined).

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The College of Engineering is committed to recognizing the potential and accomplishments of incoming and enrolled students by supporting their education through a variety of scholarships at the college and departmental level.

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Educational Objectives
We recognize that our graduates will choose to use the knowledge and skills that they have acquired during their undergraduate years to pursue a wide variety of career and life goals, and we encourage this diversity of paths. Whatever path our graduates may choose, we expect them to be meeting the following objectives at least three to five years after graduation.

Design and construct both natural and built processes and systems to efficiently meet determined needs using technical knowledge; modern tools; design principles; ethical practice; and communication, leadership, and team skills.
Utilize measurement and analysis tools along with experimental data in investigating natural and built systems.
Understand and incorporate economic, environmental, political, social, safety and global considerations in design, investigation and construction of natural and built systems.
Engage in lifelong learning to keep pace with the continuous evolution of policies, procedures, technologies and tools for engineering analysis, design, and decision making.
Serve others through participation in professional and/or civic activities and responsibilities.

Learning 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
an ability to explain basic concepts in management, business, and public policy
an ability to explain the importance of professional licensure
an ability to understand common failure mechanisms of a component, process, or system and their causes and prevention

Degrees

Conferred, 2021-22
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering: 98
Enrolled, 2022 (Fall)
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering: 379

Our Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET

View the Undergraduate Guide for information on requirements, four-year plans and more.

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Civil and environmental engineering news

Our research is making a global impact, especially in mobility, water and building, and energy, infrastructure and environmental considerations thread through everything we do.

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College of Engineering graduate recognition celebration 2023

May 15, 2023

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