Civil Engineering Schools

Civil Engineering Schools: Building A Strong Foundation

Top civil engineering schools can't produce enough graduates to fill up positions for civil engineers around America. And employers are competing to get the best from these universities or colleges to handle their requirements, especially in building infrastructure like roads, bridges, dams and public buildings.

As population continues to grow, there is more need to construct - whether it is higher capacity transportation systems, water supply systems and even pollution control systems. For all these, civil engineer graduates from civil engineering schools play a crucial role.

Civil Engineer Education Preparation

You can get your foot in the door with a civil engineering diploma, then begin working as a technician or assistant to a licensed civil engineer. But consider this: employers are offering not just high salaries but signing bonuses to lure graduates to work for them. So, it definitely pays to have proper civil engineering training. Aside from learning theories and concepts in civil engineering schools, practical training or internship weighs in when applying for positions.

Admissions to engineering degree programs require you to have completed high school or the equivalent GED. Civil engineers must combine mathematical and mechanical aptitude to be good at their jobs. Throw in community affairs and environmental concerns to the mix, and you have an idea what it means to be in this profession.

Further education - usually a masters degree - will also be a big plus, with a specialization in one of four areas of civil engineering: Environmental, Geotechnical, Structural or Transportation.

There are certain institutions that have established their reputation as the best civil engineering schools. Their names are usually on top of the list: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Stanford University or Michigan Technological University.

But civil engineering programs are now being designed so that once armed with a degree, students are highly competent and competitive enough to be considered for jobs. There are over a hundred schools that offer civil engineering degrees, and you can likely find one in your area. Just make sure their programs are approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.  

Civil Engineering Job Outlook

Civil engineering careers run the gamut from research, development, planning, design, construction and maintenance necessary for urban development. Civil engineers are the guys in charge of making sure the function and design of public infrastructures are safe especially if there are hazards like earthquakes, fires, landslides or floods. They work out wastewater treatment systems, water supply, energy generation, pipelines, and harbors that are generally used by the public.

In exchange for all the detail and analysis required on the job, you are compensated fairly well for your efforts. Last year, the starting annual salaries for civil engineers ranged from $45,000 to $63,300. Students who gave a semester to co-op work earned $14.39 per hour on the average.

After graduating from civil engineering schools, you can join either the public or private sector as design engineer, oversee construction projects, work for the local or city government planning or national government agencies. Many civil engineers end up in managerial positions, or get higher degrees to teach and be involved in research.

Whatever you pursue as a career, the training and education provided by civil engineering schools will serve as your basic foundation.

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