Civil and environmental engineers are primarily responsible for planning,
designing, and constructing facilities to serve society, all providing for the
health and safety of its citizens. These facilities include highways and
railroads, bridges and tunnels, airports and harbors, hydroelectric dams and
power plants, irrigation and flood control projects, and the foundations and
frames of buildings. Environmental engineers plan and design water purification
plants, pollution control facilities, and other environmental protection
projects. An engineer may specialize in one of these areas and may further
specialize in a particular function such as design or management.
The objectives of the Civil and Environmental Engineering program are:
- Prepare individuals to become professional practitioners of civil
engineering;
- Develop fundamental science, mathematics, computer, and engineering
knowledge necessary for civil engineering;
- Provide broad education to understand the context of civil engineering;
- Prepare students to communicate facts and ideas;
- Prepare and encourage students to continue learning beyond the
undergraduate years; and
- Promote and advance the profession of civil engineering.
More information about the department and the program can be found on our web
site
www.umeciv.maine.edu/ce .
Program Description
The multifaceted nature of this society-serving profession dictates that civil
engineers have proficiency in four areas: structural, geotechnical,
environmental, and transportation engineering. To achieve that objective,
students need to be proficient in mathematics through differential equations;
probability and statistics; calculus-based physics; and general chemistry. The
ability to conduct laboratory experiments and to critically analyze and
interpret data in more than one of the four above-mentioned major areas is
emphasized throughout the program. Design is integrated throughout the
professional component of the curriculum by means of design experiences and by
functioning on multidisciplinary teams.
Since civil and environmental engineering is a “societal” profession, our
engineers may also be faced with economic, ethical, political, social, and
legal issues. Moreover, civil engineers must be able to communicate
effectively both orally and in writing. Therefore, societal issues and
communication skills are emphasized in our civil and environmental engineering
courses. Moreover, the curriculum provides for “Human Values and Social
Context” courses, including ethics, writing and public speaking. A senior
“capstone” course, taken in the spring semester of the senior year, provides
students an opportunity to “put it all together” around an active civil
engineering project, while gaining understanding of professional practice
issues.
Degrees are awarded upon satisfactory completion of 127 credits at an
accumulative grade point average of not less than 2.0 in Civil and
Environmental Engineering courses. The program in Civil and Environmental
Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Cooperative “Work Experience” Program Option
Students who are engaged in engineering related summer jobs under the
direction of the department’s co-op coordinator can earn three credits of
technical elective through the cooperative education program of the
department.
Employment Opportunities
Civil and environmental engineers work in consulting firms, construction,
manufacturing industries such as paper and chemical, in the engineering
offices of cities and towns, for government agencies and in private practice.
Scholarships
The department offers PaCEsetter Scholarships for outstanding first-year students
majoring in civil and environmental engineering. In addition, students can
apply for college and departmental scholarships through the College of
Engineering and departmental scholarships through the department.
The University of Maine The University of Maine
Return to: