Civil Engineering: Home

The civil engineering program at the University of Portland provides an undergraduate education that stresses a basic understanding of engineering principles and how they are applied to the planning, design, construction and operation of civil works. To accomplish this goal, the faculty educates students in basic aspects of science and engineering as well as emphasizing essential general education topics—the place of engineers in the world, the importance of good communication skills, the impact of actions on the environment, etc. In the realm of civil engineering at the University, faculty members focus on the areas of structures, transportation, hydraulics, water resources, geotechnical engineering, and environmental engineering.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is part of the School of Engineering, along with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. It is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Two tracks of study are available: civil engineering and environmental engineering. Courses in both tracks are the same for the first three semesters, but then diverge to allow students to focus more intently on specific interests.