SJSU Catalog

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Introduction

The mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is to serve society, the public sector and private industry by

• providing undergraduate and graduate civil engineering education that prepares students to apply engineering knowledge to the diverse issues of resources, infrastructure and the built environment;
• contributing to the development and codification of knowledge through faculty scholarship, and;
• meeting the needs of working professionals for continuing education.

In support of the mission, the Department has developed the following educational objectives:

• Carry out entry-level civil engineering practice
• Continue graduate studies in civil engineering
• Apply their acquired engineering knowledge to solve practical problems
• Develop solutions that account for economic, environmental, ethical and societal considerations
• Incorporate ethical and professional standards in making their decisions
• Communicate effectively
• Continue life-long learning

The undergraduate curriculum covers fundamental theory and practice in pertinent technical areas and develops students' skills necessary for professional employment or graduate school studies in their chosen fields. The course work stresses all aspects of civil engineering including construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation and water resources engineering. This technical expertise is combined with the ethical, legal, business and personnel problems in engineering and construction management. The undergraduate curriculum is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Active student clubs include the American Society of Civil Engineers, Associated General Contractors, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Water Environmental Federation, Association of Facilities Engineers and Chi Epsilon (honor society). These and other professional groups introduce students to career opportunities, jobs and trends in civil engineering. Through the clubs, students participate in a variety of regional and national competitions including design and construction of concrete canoes and steel bridges and wood bridges. Several student teams have won regional and national awards for their work.

Faculty, many of whom are licensed professional engineers; bring practical experience and real world examples into the classroom. We offer small classes, encouraging student-faculty interaction. Our professors have won college, university and national awards for the quality of their teaching and research. Classroom activities are supplemented by hands-on laboratories, field trips and guest speakers from local public agencies and private sector companies.

The Master of Science programs in Civil Engineering are intended to develop the high degree of professional competency and specialization required for the treatment of current engineering problems. Programs are offered in the specializations of construction management, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation and water resources engineering. Courses are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working graduate students.

Advisement

Each declared major in Civil Engineering is assigned to a specific academic advisor and is expected to maintain contact with that advisor and to obtain the advisor's approval of and signature on all required registration forms. Failure to secure an advisor's approval of a proposed class program may result in delays in graduation.

See the Engineering Preparation and Common Area Requirements section for details common to all engineering curricula.