Civil Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree

Civil Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree

BUILD YOUR FUTURE AT MINES

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program at Colorado School of Mines prepares undergraduate students to design, construct and maintain the built environment. This includes buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels, reservoirs and water treatment facilities, and other structures that are essential for a functional and thriving society.

After completing core courses in math, basic sciences, engineering sciences and engineering design principles and practices, students are exposed to the full breadth of civil engineering subfields. From there, they will pursue specialization via electives in construction engineering, water resources and hydrologic engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering and engineering geology, structural engineering and other disciplines. Students are encouraged to incorporate an area of special interest or a minor into their program to qualify for an even wider variety of careers.

Learn more about our program here: Civil and Environmental Engineering website

Construction Engineering Degree Coming Soon

Experiential Major Menus

Uniquely tailored to your undergraduate major of choice, these menus offer a wide array of extra-curricular activities that complement and enrich the traditional classroom experience.

Explore the extra-curricular activities that complement your degree.

CIVIL ENGINEERING AT A GLANCE

Hands-on learning labs, such as our PFAS lab	Extensive undergraduate research opportunities
Smaller cohorts with low faculty-to-student ratio	Combined degree program — earn your BS/MS in just five years

Desired Student Outcomes

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams; (e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
An ability to communicate effectively; (h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
A knowledge of contemporary issues
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Civil and Environmental Engineering Curriculum

Area of Special Interest

Civil Engineering

Minor Available

Structural Engineering

Possible career areas

Environmental remediation
Hazardous waste management
Pollution control
Soil engineer
Wastewater treatment

Typical work for environmental engineers

Prepare, review, and update environmental investigation reports
Design projects that lead to environmental protection, such as water reclamation facilities or air pollution control systems
Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures
Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and for legal actions
Analyze scientific data and do quality-control checks
Monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs
Inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations
Advise corporations and government agencies about procedures for cleaning up contaminated sites

WHY STUDY CIVIL ENGINEERING AT MINES?

Colorado School of Mines is recognized as one of the nation’s top civil engineering schools. With hands-on lab training, ample undergraduate research opportunities, and an esteemed faculty dedicated to your success, it’s no wonder so many students choose Mines to pursue their goals of becoming a civil engineer. Earning your civil engineering degree with Mines will set you apart from the competition in more ways than one.

Why study Civil Engineering at Mines? Just take a look:

Extensive opportunities for undergraduate research
Access to cutting-edge research labs and resources
Low faculty-to-student ratio for more one-on-one learning
Hands-on learning in our soil lab, PFAS lab and more
Study at one of the nation’s top engineering schools
Live in scenic Golden, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains

CAREER OUTCOMES

Many of our incoming students commonly ask: what does a civil engineer do? The field of civil engineering ins incredibly broad and diverse. In fact, there are more licensed civil engineers in the United States than any other field of engineering. Simply enough, as long as we continue to rely on the structures that build our societies, civil engineers will continue to be in high demand.

Within the field of civil engineering, there are many specialized types of engineers. Some of the most common include:

Structural engineer
Geotechnical engineer
Construction engineer
Engineering surveyor
Water resource engineer

At Mines, we provide our undergraduate students with a comprehensive education in civil engineering so that they can determine which specific path is right for them.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Tzahi Cath

DR. TZAHI CATH

Dr. Tzahi Cath serves as the Ben L. Fryrear Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Having earned his PhD from the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Cath teaches a variety of civil and environmental engineering courses at Mines with a focus on water and wastewater treatment.

Working closely with his students, Dr. Cath explores a variety of topics related to wastewater management, including desalination, the use of byproducts for bio-energy production and the use of commercial and novel membrane processes.

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Aidan Lewis

“I have found that Mines lives up to my expectations and there are many things I love about the school I never expected. I greatly appreciate the collaborative nature of the coursework, the positivity of being surrounded by people who are serious about learning and the relatively relaxed and outdoorsy Colorado attitude. Of course, what you care most about from your college experience may be different from what I cared about. Still, I think so long as you have an interest in engineering or a related STEM field of study, there is a good chance Mines is a good choice for you.”

Civil Engineering Student

Making Mines
More Affordable.

Mines’ financial assistance program awards more than $60 million per year, and over 82 percent of the student body receives some form of financial aid.

Financial Aid

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