What is civil engineering?
First of all, what is civil engineering? Civil engineering is the professional practice of designing and developing infrastructure projects. This can be on a huge scale, such as the development of nationwide transport systems or water supply networks, or on a smaller scale, such as the development of individual roads or buildings. All aspects of building a structure fall under the remit of a civil engineer. This can include planning, design, budgeting, surveying, construction management, and analysis, and often civil engineering careers encompass a combination of all these elements. The great thing about civil engineering in the real world is that it’s an industry that perpetually adapts to the demands and desires of society. In recent years civil engineering has adapted to consider many contemporary environmental concerns, helping to address issues of pollution and scarce water supplies, while considering the potential of sustainable energy within the industry.
Civil engineering courses
If you study civil engineering at the undergraduate level, you’ll learn to apply mathematics and scientific knowledge (particularly physics) to real-life situations and problems that arise from creating and maintaining structures, taking into account environmental, financial, legal, and ethical considerations.
At its core, civil engineering is a combination of many scientific specialisms, including mechanics, hydraulics, geotechnics (using knowledge of the earth’s crust to solve construction problems), materials science, and statistical analysis. As such, the study of these foundational elements will feature heavily in the early years of civil engineering degrees.
As well as the more scientific side, those who study civil engineering will get to develop their design skills, particularly computer-aided design. Project work is central to the subject, meaning that in the latter years of your degree you will be able to complete your own design projects individually or within a team.
Undergraduate civil engineering degrees will typically be three or four years in length and will feature a mixture of lectures and lab work. There will also be an emphasis on working within a team, as this is considered a key skill for anyone pursuing a civil engineering career.
Those who study civil engineering may also have opportunities to participate in field trips and complete industry placements, either as a ‘year in industry or for shorter periods.
Note of thermodynamics 1st year
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