Civil engineering

Once enrolled, you’ll explore a variety of specialty areas that allow you to discover your interests and align your studies with specific career goals. This supports a deeper understanding of the field and opens pathways to diverse roles within civil engineering.

For example, selecting the ocean and coastal engineering specialty can help you become a coastal engineer who uses natural vegetation and structures like oyster reefs or salt marshes to stabilize shorelines and protect against erosion. 

In the geomatics specialty, you’ll learn how geomatics engineers aid in emergency responses by providing geospatial information for disaster mapping, evacuation planning and resource allocation.

And in the structural engineering speciality, you’ll learn how to design, analyze and assess buildings, bridges and other infrastructure to ensure safety, strength and performance — all while considering sustainability and long-term durability.

Specialties

• Structural engineering
• Ocean and coastal engineering
• Geomatics
• Transportation engineering
• Water supply and water pollution control
• Geotechnical engineering
• Hydrology
• Hydraulics and water resources
• Construction
• Engineering planning
• Economics

At the end of this program, you’ll complete a capstone project that applies civil engineering principles to solving real-world infrastructure challenges. This experience will strengthen your skills in engineering design, data analysis, project planning and professional communication — while collaborating with industry partners to gain practical insight and build valuable career connections.

Some degree requirements may be transferred from other institutions. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 credits in this degree program must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET — a nonprofit, nongovernmental agency that offers accreditation through a voluntary peer review process. ABET only offers accreditation to degree programs like this one that meet the highest quality standards in preparing graduates for their professions.

Oregon State’s civil engineering bachelor’s program will prepare you to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, which is generally the first part in the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE). 

You can be directly admitted into the civil engineering degree program if you are considered ready to take calculus at OSU. This determination is based on the completed coursework shown on your transcripts and courses that are in progress or planned for later in the school year.

If you are not calculus-ready based on your application materials but are admitted to OSU, you will be invited to enroll initially as an undeclared student in the University Exploratory Studies Program or another non-engineering major of your choice. Rest assured, you will still have available pathways to enroll in the civil engineering degree program. You can find full calculus-ready details on the Office of Admissions website.

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online with Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.