Majoring
in Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Curriculum
Extra-Curricular Activities
Career Opportunities
Facilities and Faculty
High School Preparation
The Freshman Year
The UNLV Campus
Undergraduate Class Map
Majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and environmental
engineering involve the planning, analysis, design, construction, and
operation of
the many components of our nation's infrastructure. The classic field
of civil engineering is concerned
with the engineered construction of buildings, foundations, bridges, highways,
power plants, water and
waste-water treatment facilities, and other public works essential to
the quality of life of an industrial
society. Today's civil engineers also are involved with hazardous and
solid waste management, the
application of artificial intelligence and Geographical Information Systems,
and the development of new
and improved materials in the design and construction of a variety of
facilities. Civil engineers are
working at the cutting edge of research and development in such diverse
fields as designing "maglev"
super trains, building earthquake-resistant structures, developing a deep-ocean
environment, and the
everyday concerns of rebuilding and maintaining our infrastructure, cleaning
up and protecting our air and
water, and striving to improve the quality of life of our planers citizens.
The Civil Engineering
curriculum at UNLV is modeled on the recommendations of the American Society
of Civil Engineers and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Board
for Engineering and Technology.
The program of 137 credits leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science
in Engineering with a major in
Civil engineering. The curriculum includes the equivalent of four full
years of study in several areas: one
year of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics; one year of English, humanities,
social science, computer science, and other courses; one year of engineering
science and theory; and one year of engineering analysis and design. All
students are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination
during the final year of study, a major step toward registration as a
Professional Engineer. All states require such registration, because engineers
are responsible for competent planning and design as well as for the safety
of the public that depends on their works. The Master of Science, and
the Ph.D. degrees in civil and environmental engineering are available
on the graduate level.
Student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and the Nevada Society of Professional Engineers sponsor social events, student contests, field trips, and speakers on topics of interest to students. Local chapters of national organizations encourage student participation at their meetings. Such activities provide the first non-academic contact by students with practicing professionals and offer insight into the so-called "real world" of civil engineering.
Civil engineering
graduates from UNLV have gone on to rewarding careers with industry, utility
companies, water management offices, consulting engineers, and local,
state, and federal agencies. Many students decide to continue their education
in graduate school at UNLV or at other fine universities. The long-term
outlook for employment of civil engineers appears to be excellent, both
regionally and throughout the country. Salaries and advancement prospects
compare favorably with many other professions. Current starting salaries
are the high $30s.
The Department of
Civil and Environmental Engineering is housed in the Thomas T. Beam Engineering
Complex, a modern facility of some 101,000 square feet which includes
classrooms, laboratories, and offices used by all academic departments
within the College of Engineering. The National Supercomputing Center
for Energy and the Environment is operated by the college and is housed
in the building. Students and faculty at UNLV have access to a family
of computers ranging from PCs to the Cray supercomputer Civil Engineering
equipment and instrumentation are located in about eight departmental
labs and include direct access to PCs and graphics work stations.
A career in civil engineering depends on a successful learning experience beginning with solid high school preparation. High school students thinking about engineering should be in a college preparatory program which includes the following high school courses: four years of English with emphasis on composition, rhetoric, and literature; 4 years of Mathematics including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and analysis; 3 years of Science including Chemistry, Physics, and Biology; 3 years of Social Science and History; and I year of Computer Science. Speech, typing, and two years of foreign language also would be helpful. ACT or SAT scores and a high school grade point average of 2.3 are required for freshman admission to UNLV. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Mathematics, English, and Chemistry prior to selecting a major.
The Freshman year
of study for all engineering programs at UNLV is essentially the same.
The selection
of a major is an important derision which a student should make only after
studying the alternatives and
taking advantage of the counseling opportunities available through the
university. A student should
contact an advisor and work together in designing a class schedule. A
freshman year program for a fully
prepared student includes:
First Semester
Intro. Engineering
Design 3 cr.
Calculus I 4 cr.
General Chemistry I 4 cr.
English Composition I 3 cr.
Constitution requirement 4 cr.
Second Semester
Elementary Surveying
3 cr.
Calculus II 4 cr.
Physics I 4 cr.
English Composition II 3 cr.
Geology Concepts 4 cr.
For a complete map of the classes click here
The University of
Nevada, Las Vegas is committed to academic excellence in each of its more
than 150
undergradaute and graduate programs. Following a decade of unprecedented
growth in enrollment and
facilities, the campus is now focusing its resources on those qualities
which makes a university great: its
academic offerings, its faculty and staf, and its students.
The university's commitment
to learning is reflected in the core curriculum required of every student.
The
core provides a solid background in the humanities, fine arts, mathematics,
science, English, and social
sciences. Its purpose is to broaden the knowledge of all students, regardless
of major.
Approximately 21,000
students attend classes at UNLV's 335-acre campus. located in the nation's
fastest growing city. While most students are Nevada residents, a lively
mixture of international and
out-of-state students adds to the cosmopolitan quality of the campus.
Residence halls on
the UNLV campus are the home of more than 1,000 students. Each double-room
arrangement shares a full bathroom. The complex is complete with meeting
rooms, recreational facilities,
mail services, fitness rooms, and computer labs.
All academic programs
at UNLV are full accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and
Colleges, and many programs have recieved further accreditation from independent
national accrediting
bodies.
More Information
Additional information
is available in the UNLV Undergraduate Catalog(pdf) or the UNLV
Undegraduate Catalog (html) or from:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Parkway Box 454015
Las Vegas, NV 89154-4015
Phone: (702)-895-3701
E-mail: ce-info@ce.unlv.edu