Civil Engineering
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:
- Establish themselves as practicing professionals in civil engineering or a related field
- Pursue graduate study in civil engineering or other fields
- Work effectively as responsible professionals independently or in teams handling increasingly complex professional and societal expectations
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.
Planning Sheets
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 (3-5 units, A, S) (or CEE107S, 3-4 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, A)
2-For an introduction to Civil Engineering, classes required for all of our declared majors that are readily accessible to you are
| Class | Description | Quarter |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 14 | Introduction to Solid Mechanics, 3 units (prereq: PHYSICS 41) | A,W,S |
| ENGR 90 (same as CEE 70) | Environmental Science & Technology, 3 units | W |
| CEE 100 | Managing Sustainable Building Projects (WIM), 4 units | A |
Requirements: Civil Engineering Major
Mathematics and Science (45 Units Minimum)
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 19/20/21 | Calculus (or 10 units AP BC Calculus) | 10 | A,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 110 | Statistical Methods (or STATS 101 or CEE 203 or CME 106) | 4-5 | |
| PHYSICS 41 | Mechanics (or AP Physics C) | 4 | A,W |
| CHEM 31A or 31M | Chemical Principles | 5 | A |
| PHYSICS 43 or PHYSICS 45 | Electricity & Magnetism, or Light & Heat | 4 4 | W, S A |
| At least one of: | |||
| EARTHSYS 11 | Intro to Geology (req’d for depth focus in Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering, Urban Systems, Energy/Climate, or Sensing/Analytics) | 5 | S |
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)
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS 106A/B | Programming Methodology/Abstractions (or CEE101D, 3 units, Aut, if not counted as a Focus Elect.) | 5 | A,W,S,Sum |
| CEE100 | Managing Sustainable Building Projects (fulfills WIM requirement) | 4 | A |
| CEE 146S | Engineering Economics and Sustainability (offered on-line only) Same as ENGR 60 | 3 | A,S,Sum |
| CEE 183 | Senior Capstone Design | 4 | S |
| ME 30 | Thermodynamics (or CHEMENG 110A) | 3 | A,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
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 101A | Mechanics of Materials (or ME 80, A/W/S/Sum; prereq: ENGR 14) | 4 | W |
| CEE 101C *# | Geotechnical Engineering | 3-4 | A |
| CEE 101D | Computations in CEE | 3 | A |
| CEE 180*# | Structural Analysis (prereq: CEE 101A) | 4 | S |
| CEE 182* # | Structural Design (prereq: CEE 180) | 4 | W |
| CEE 192 | Lab Characterization of Rocks and Geomaterials | 3-4 | S |
| ME 151 | Introduction to Computational Mechanics | 4 |
Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology Focus
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
| CEE 101B *# | Mechanics of Fluids | 4 | A |
| CEE 161I | Atmospheric Circulation | 3 | A |
| CEE 162D | Intro to Physical Oceanography | 4 | W |
| CEE 162E | Rivers, Streams and Canals | 3 | S |
| CEE 162F | Coastal Processes | 3 | A |
| CEE 162I | Atmosphere, Ocean, & Climate Dynamics... | 3 | W |
| CEE 166A *# | Watershed Hydrologic Processes & Models | 3 | A |
| CEE 166B | Water Resources and Hazards | 3 | W |
| CEE 175A | California Coast: Science, Policy, & Law (offered alternate uears) | 3-4 | S |
Construction Engineering Focus
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 101C*#(1) | Geotechnical Engineering | 4 | A |
| CEE 120A | Building Modeling for Design & Construction | 3 | A,Sum |
| CEE 122A+B | Computer Integrated Arch/ENGR/Construction + Computer Integrated A/E/C | 2+2 | W+S |
| CEE 131C | How Buildings are Made -- Materiality and Construction Methods | 4 | S |
| CEE 141A # | Infrastructure Projects Development | 3 | A |
| CEE 141B | Infrastructure Projects Delivery | 3 | W |
| CEE 241 | Managing Fabrication & Construction (prereq: CEE 100) | 4 | A |
Energy and Climate Focus
| Course | Description | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 63 | Weather and Storms | 3 | A |
| CEE 64 # | Air Pollution and Global Warming | 3 | W |
| CEE 107A # or CEE 107S | Understanding Energy or Energy Essentials | 3-5 or 3-4 | A,S or Sum |
| CEE 107R | Extreme Energy Efficiency | 3 | W |
| CEE 156 # | Building Systems Design & Analysis | 3-4 | W |
| CEE 172 * | Air Quality Management | 3 | W |
| CEE 176A | Energy Efficient Buildings | 3 | W |
| CEE 176B | 100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything | 3-4 | S |
Environmental Quality Engineering Focus
| Course | Title | Units | Qtr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 172 * | Air Quality Management | 3 | S |
| CEE 173 | Urban Water | 3 | S |
| CEE 178 | Intro to Human Exposure Analysis | 3 | - |
| CEE 179D | Providing Safe Water for the Developing & Developed World (formerly 174A) | 3 | - |
| CEE 179E * | Wastewater Treatment: From Disposal to Resource Recovery (formerly 174B) | 3 | W |
Sensing, Analytics, and Control Focus
| Course | Title | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 101D | Computations in CEE | 3 | A |
| CEE 154 | Data Analytics for Physical Systems (prereqs: CS106A, CME100) | 3 | A |
| CEE 155 # | Introduction to Sensing Networks for CEE | 3-4 | S |
| CEE 156 # | Building Systems Design & Analysis | 4 | W |
| ME 161 | Dynamic Systems, Vibrations & Control (prereq.: ENGR 15*, which may count under Other Elective Courses category) | 3 | A |
| ME 210 | Introduction to Mechatronics (prereq: ENGR 40M, which may count under Other Elective Courses category) | 4 | W |
Urban Systems Focus
| Course | Title | Units | Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEE 120A # | Building Modeling for Design & Construction | 3 | A, Sum |
| CEE 133A | Architectural -- Space, Light, Movement | 5 | A,S |
| CEE 156 # | Building Systems Design & Analysis | 4 | W |
| CEE 176A | Energy Efficient Buildings | 3 | W |
| CEE 177L | Smart Cities and Communities | 3 | Sum |
| CEE 243 | Introduction 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
| Dept | Application Deadlines | Contact | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | 3rd Friday of Winter quarter | Jill Filice | cee.stanford.edu |
Instructions for Declaring a Major in Civil Engineering
- Enter your major declaration as Civil Engineering in Axess.
- Download and complete the Excel major Program Sheet
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.