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Civil Engineering

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2023-24 Civil Engineering UG Degree Programs (CE-BS, BAS, BASH, BSH, Secondary, MINOR)

— ABET ACCREDITATION CRITERIA APPLY —

Civil engineers plan, design, construct and sustain the built 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, hurricanes, and sea-level rise, as well as help to manage 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:

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

Outcomes:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. 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
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze, and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Planning Sheets

CE Program Sheets

CE Flowchart

CE 4-Year Plans

CE 4-Year Plans for Going Abroad

The Curriculum

The undergraduate civil engineering curriculum includes a core to be taken by all declared majors that provides a broad introduction to the major areas of civil engineering. Subsequent coursework is grouped into 7 focus areas, allowing students to tailor their studies to align with their interests. Undergraduates potentially interested in the Civil Engineering major should also consider the Environmental Systems Engineering major as a possible alternative; a comparison of these two alternative majors is presented in the Environmental Systems Engineering page.

For more information on civil engineering, students are encouraged to visit the CEE website, talk to a CEE faculty member, or contact the CEE Student Services Specialist, Jill Filice, in room 316 of the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment & Energy (Y2E2) Building.

Research Experience for Undergraduates

The department of Civil and Environmental Engineering welcomes student participation in the VPUE Undergraduate Research Programs. Interested students should check the VPUE website and the CEE website for announcements regarding the application procedures. Annual program announcements appear in January with application due dates in February.

Exploring Civil Engineering as a Major

Are you wondering whether a Civil Engineering major is for you? If so, here are some courses accessible early in your undergraduate career that will help you explore your interest in our major. If you end up joining our program, this early start on fulfilling requirements will pay off by giving you more flexibility in class scheduling for your junior and senior years.

1-The following electives are accessible to frosh/sophomores, and can count towards the major:

CEE 41Q: Clean Water Now! Urban Water Conflicts  (3, W; Soph Introsem)
CEE 63: Weather and Storms (3 units, A)

CEE 64: Air Pollution and Global Warming: History, Science & Solutions (3 units, W)

CEE 80N: Engineering the Built Environment: Intro to Structural Engr (3, A; Freshman Introsem)
CEE 83: Seismic Design Workshop (A)

CEE 107A: Understanding Energy (3 units, A, S)  (or CEE107S, 3 units, Sum)
CEE 120A: Building Modeling for Design and Construction (3 units, A, Sum)
CEE 131C: How Buildings Are Made: Materiality and Construction Methods (4 units, S)
CEE 162F: Coastal Processes (prereq: PHYSICS 41) (3 units, W)

2-For an introduction to Civil Engineering, classes required for all of our declared majors that are readily accessible to you are

ClassDescriptionQuarter
ENGR 14Introduction to Solid Mechanics, 3 units (prereq: PHYSICS 41)A,W,S
ENGR 90 (same as CEE 70)Environmental Science & Technology, 3 unitsW
CEE 100Managing Sustainable Building Projects (WIM), 4 unitsA

Requirements: Civil Engineering Major

Mathematics and Science (45 Units Minimum)

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
MATH 19/20/21Calculus (or 10 units AP BC Calculus)10A,W/A,W,S,Sum/A,W,S,Sum

CME 100 or

MATH 51

Vector Calculus for Engineers or

Linear Algebra & Differential Calculus of Several Variables

5

5

A,W,S

A,W,S,Sum

CME 102 or

MATH 53

Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers or

Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra

5

5

A,W,S

A,W,S, Sum

STATS 110Statistical Methods (or STATS 101 or CEE 203 or CME 106)4-5 
PHYSICS 41Mechanics (or AP Physics C)4A,W
CHEM 31A or 31MChemical Principles 5A
PHYSICS 43 or PHYSICS 45Electricity & Magnetism, or Light & Heat

4

4

W, S

A

At least one of:   
EARTHSYS 11Intro to Geology (req’d for depth focus in Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering, Urban Systems, Energy/Climate, or Sensing/Analytics)5S

CEE 177*,‡

or CEE 170*)‡v

Aquatic Chemistry & Biology  (req’d for depth focus in Env. Fluid Mechanics/Hydrology, or Environ. Quality Engineering.)

Aquatic & Organic Chemistry for Environmental Engineering, offered SUMM, 3 units)

4

3

A

Sum

 Plus additional Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics to reach 45 units of Math/Science  

*Approved as science classes only for the CE major.

Required for depth focus in Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Construction Engineering, Urban Systems, Energy and Climate, or Sensing, Analytics, and Control

‡vRequired for depth focus in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology or Environmental Quality Engineering

Technology in Society (this course required):

CEE 102A Legal/Ethical Principles in Design, Construction, and Project Delivery, 3 units, W

Engineering Fundamentals (2 Courses minimum)

  • ENGR 14 Introduction to Solid Mechanics 3 units, A, W, S
  • ENGR 90 Environmental Science and Technology (same as CEE 70) 3 units, W

Engineering Depth

At least 68 units of Fundamental + Depth courses are required by ABET and by the Department.

Required Core Courses (17-19 units)

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
CS 106A/B Programming Methodology/Abstractions (or CEE101D, 3 units, Aut, if not counted as a Focus Elect.)A,W,S,Sum 
CEE100Managing Sustainable Building Projects (fulfills WIM requirement)4A
CEE 146S

Engineering Economics and Sustainability (offered on-line only)

Same as ENGR 60

3A,S,Sum
CEE 183Senior Capstone Design4S
ME 30Thermodynamics (or CHEMENG 110A)3A,W,S

Focus Area Electives (at least 30 units)

(1) To satisfy ABET criteria, students MUST choose at least TWO of the following 4 classes: CEE 101A, 101B, 101C, and 101D. CEE 101A, 101B, and/or 101C will count as Focus Area Electives. CEE 101D may count either as a Focus Area Elective, or as a Required Core Course (replacing CS 106A).

(2) Students must take at least 12 units in one focus area as their depth area.  Students must also take at least 6 units each in 3 other  focus areas for breadth. Courses cannot double-count. 

Classes important for professional licensing are marked with *; classes needed as preparation for coterm studies in CEE are marked with a # – see bottom of next page for more details.

Structural Engineering & Mechanics Focus

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
CEE 101AMechanics of Materials (or ME 80, A/W/S/Sum; prereq: ENGR 14)4W
CEE 101C *#Geotechnical Engineering3-4A
CEE 101DComputations in CEE3 A
CEE 180*#Structural Analysis (prereq: CEE 101A)4S
CEE 182* #Structural Design (prereq: CEE 180)4W
CEE 192Lab Characterization of Rocks and Geomaterials3-4S
ME 151Introduction to Computational Mechanics4 

Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology Focus

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
CEE 101B *#Mechanics of Fluids4A
CEE 161IAtmospheric Circulation3A
CEE 162DIntro to Physical Oceanography4W
CEE 162ERivers, Streams and Canals3S
CEE 162FCoastal Processes3A
CEE 162IAtmosphere, Ocean, & Climate Dynamics...3W
CEE 166A *#Watershed Hydrologic Processes & Models3A
CEE 166BWater Resources and Hazards3W
CEE 175ACalifornia Coast: Science, Policy, & Law (offered alternate uears)3-4S

Construction Engineering Focus

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
CEE 101C*#(1)Geotechnical Engineering4A
CEE 120ABuilding Modeling for Design & Construction3A,Sum
CEE 122A+BComputer Integrated Arch/ENGR/Construction + Computer Integrated A/E/C2+2W+S
CEE 131CHow Buildings are Made -- Materiality and Construction Methods4S
CEE 141A #Infrastructure Projects Development3A
CEE 141BInfrastructure Projects Delivery3W
CEE 241Managing Fabrication & Construction  (prereq: CEE 100)4A

Energy and Climate Focus

CourseDescriptionUnitsQuarter
CEE 63Weather and Storms3A
CEE 64 #Air Pollution and Global Warming3W
CEE 107A # or  CEE 107SUnderstanding Energy                    or Energy Essentials3-5 or 3-4A,S or Sum
CEE 107RExtreme Energy Efficiency3W
CEE 156 #Building Systems Design & Analysis3-4W
CEE 172 *Air Quality Management3W
CEE 176AEnergy Efficient Buildings3W
CEE 176B100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything3-4S

Environmental Quality Engineering Focus

CourseTitleUnitsQtr
CEE 172 *Air Quality Management3S
CEE 173Urban Water3S
CEE 178Intro to Human Exposure Analysis3-
CEE 179DProviding Safe Water for the Developing & Developed World (formerly 174A)3-
CEE 179E *Wastewater Treatment: From Disposal to Resource Recovery (formerly 174B)3W

Sensing, Analytics, and Control Focus

CourseTitleUnitsQuarter
CEE 101DComputations in CEE3A
CEE 154Data Analytics for Physical Systems (prereqs: CS106A, CME100)3A
CEE 155 #Introduction to Sensing Networks for CEE3-4S
CEE 156 #Building Systems Design & Analysis4W
ME 161Dynamic Systems, Vibrations & Control (prereq.: ENGR 15*, which may count under Other Elective Courses category)3A
ME 210Introduction to Mechatronics (prereq: ENGR 40M, which may count under Other Elective Courses category)4W

Urban Systems Focus

CourseTitleUnitsQuarter
CEE 120A #Building Modeling for Design & Construction3A, Sum
CEE 133AArchitectural -- Space, Light, Movement5A,S
CEE 156 #Building Systems Design & Analysis4W
CEE 176AEnergy Efficient Buildings3W
CEE 177LSmart Cities and Communities3Sum
CEE 243Introduction to Urban Systems Engineering (open to Seniors)3-

* The first step towards professional licensing is the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam. To prepare for a career as a practicing civil or environmental engineer, your elective choices should prepare you for at least one of these choices of FE exam:

Civil FE: CEE 101A, 101C, 180, 182
Environmental FE: CEE 101B, 166B, 172, 174B, 177 (or 170).
General FE: Physics 43, CEE 101A, 101B; ENGR 15 (which may count under Other Electives)

# If you are aiming to apply to a CEE coterm program, your elective choices should include, at minimum:
Atmosphere/Energy: CEE 64, 107A
Environmental Engineering: CEE 101B, 177 (or 170)
Structural Engineering & Mechanics: CEE 101A, 101C, 180, 182
SDC (Sustainable Design & Construction) – Energy: CEE 120A, 156, 176A
SDC – Management or SDC – Structures: CEE 101A, 101C, 180
SDC – Urban Systems:  CEE 120A, 141A, 155

OTHER ENGINEERING ELECTIVE COURSES (up to 15 UNITS)

Students must take at least 68 units of engineering science and design courses (Engineering Fundamentals + Core + Electives) in order to satisfy ABET and departmental requirements to graduate.  For the remaining engineering elective units:
(1) Additional electives may be selected from the 7 focus areas listed above. 
(2) The following additional Engineering Fundamental courses may count: ENGR 10, 15, 21, 25E, 40M (or 40A), and 50 (or 50E or 50M).
(3) Students may also count up to 4 units of CEE199/199L in this category, and the following introductory CEE classes: CEE 41Q, CEE 80N, and CEE 83. 
(4) Students seeking to count an engineering elective course not covered in (1), (2) or (3) must petition the CEE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, requesting confirmation that the course will satisfy ABET requirements, (by emailing jill.filice@stanford.edu).  Some CEE courses do not satisfy ABET requirements, for example:  CEE 31, 102W and 151.

Coterm Deadlines and Contact

DeptApplication DeadlinesContactWebsite
Civil Engineering3rd Friday of Winter quarter

Jill Filice

Jill.filice@stanford.edu

cee.stanford.edu

Instructions for Declaring a Major in Civil Engineering

  1. Enter your major declaration as Civil Engineering in Axess.
  2. Download and complete the Excel major Program Sheet  
  3. To open a new program sheet, start by choosing the academic year for the major you wish to use (Example: 2020-21 or 2021-22; must be from a year you are matriculated at SU)
  4. Be sure and list all courses already taken and those you plan to take -- you will have the opportunity to revise this later, so please fill in as many courses as you can and print out.
  5. Email your Stanford transcript (unofficial is fine) and completed program sheet to Jill Filice, CEE Student Services, jill.filice@stanford.edu, and request to have a CEE major faculty advisor assigned to you. You may request a specific advisor if you wish. Office hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
  6. Schedule a Zoom meeting with your CEE major faculty adviser and email them your program sheet and unofficial transcript so that you may both review your course study plan, and so that they may approve/sign off on your program sheet.
  7. Email your signed program sheet to Jill Filice (jill.filice@stanford.edu), who upon receiving your signed sheet will approve your major declaration in Axess.
  8. You are encouraged to meet with your CEE undergraduate adviser at least once a quarter to review your academic progress. Changes to your program sheet can be made by printing out a revised sheet, obtaining your undergraduate adviser’s signature, and returning the approved sheet to the CEE Student Services Office. NOTE: Be sure to revise your program sheet, print, and have signed by your advisor during your senior year and at least one quarter prior to graduation.
  9. Other Information:
  • Procedures for requesting transfer credits and program deviations are described in detail in Petitions. The online forms may be filled out electronically. If you are requesting transfer credits or program deviations, you should bring your completed petition form with your transcript to the CEE Student Services office. Attach your program sheet on file in CEE.
  • Check with the CEE Student Services Office to make sure that you are on the CEE undergraduate student email list for important announcements about department events and activities.