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Undergraduate program that emphasizes practice-based engineering, innovation and professional development
Civil Engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including transportation, buildings, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply, energy and sewage treatment.
The new Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is designed to emphasize the conception, development, design, construction, maintenance, and renewal of systems in a complex urban environment that involve issues in transportation, water resources, the environment, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction engineering, and land development.
Career Pathways for Civil Engineering students include:
- Civil Engineer
- Construction Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Transportation Engineer
- Water Resources Engineer
Job Outlook
The demand for Civil Engineers is very high at the national, state, and regional level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts stable growth in the number of jobs for civil engineers (7% per year) at the national level between 2021-2031. The mean wage for civil engineers in WA State is also very high at $98,810. WA is in the top 5 states nationwide in terms of number of civil engineering jobs, largely driven by employment in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area, and the state is second in the nation in terms of number of civil engineering employment per 1000 jobs (BLS, 2022).
Visit our Careers in Civil Engineering page to learn more about how the B.S. in Civil Engineering program prepares students for a rewarding career in a field that is vital to both our nation and local communities.
Application Process Overview
| Required to Apply | Application Opens | Application Deadline | Students Notified |
| Prerequisite courses in progress; see application for conditional admission requirements. | Late December | July 1 priority deadline Apps accepted after July 1 until program is full |
Rolling decisions after application opens or until program is full. |
Message from the Chair of Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering Faculty and Staff
Civil Engineering Faculty in the News
Questions?
Connect with a SET Academic Advisor to schedule an appointment.
How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the major is competitive. Please review the following prerequisites and application process carefully.
Prerequisites
Students may be conditionally admitted into the CE program with prerequisites in progress, but all prerequisites must be completed in order to enroll. To qualify for admission tot he CE program, you must first be admitted to UWT and be on track to complete the following by the end of summer quarter before starting the major:
- Calculus I (TMATH 124), Calculus II (TMATH 125), Calculus III (TMATH 126)
- Differential Equations (TMATH 207)
- Physics I (TPHYS 121), Physics II (TPHYS 122) Physics III (TPHYS 123)
- General Chemistry I (TCHEM 142)
- Statics (TME 221 or UWS: AA 210)
- Mechanics of Materials (TME 222 or UWS: CEE 220)
- Dynamics (TME 223 or UWS: ME 230)
- 5 credits of computer programming (Course in Python, Java, C, C++, or the equivalent of AMATH 301: Beginning Scientific Computing will meet this requirement. If you are not sure if the course you plan to take will count, please check with a SET Advisor).
*All pre-requisite courses must be completed in the last seven years
GPA Requirements
- Cumulative prerequisite GPA of at least 2.5, with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each individual prerequisite course
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all college coursework
Students with previous baccalaureate degrees or extensive work experience should meet with an advisor to discuss options.
Before starting the application, make sure you're ready to apply:
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You've been admitted to UW Tacoma and met the requirements to apply to the major.
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You have completed at least 45 college-level credits.
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You will complete the prerequisite courses listed in the Admission Requirements tab by the end of summer quarter.
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You've earned a minimum grade of 2.0 in each prerequisite course completed and maintain a minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 2.5.
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You're meeting the July 1 priority application deadline. The application may close at any time after the priority deadline once the program reaches capacity.
Notes for Transfer Students:
- Transfer students at Washington State community colleges are encouraged to pursue the Associate of Science – Mechanical/Civil/Aero Major Related Program (MRP) or Associate in Science - Transfer Track 2 to meet the admission requirements. Use the UW Course Equivalency Guide to determine the equivalent prerequisites at your school.
- UW Seattle and UW Bothell students seeking to transfer to UW Tacoma also need to have a transfer application on file to be considered for admission.
- If you are not admitted to UWT, you cannot be admitted to the major, but you may hold off on accepting your offer of admission to UWT until you have your program admissions decision.
Strong applicants typically have grades of 3.0 and higher in prerequisite math, science, engineering and programming courses, as well as a solid cumulative GPA.
Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Completion of all prerequisite courses
- Grades in prerequisite courses -- individually and cumulatively (competitive applicants will have earned at least a 2.5 in each prerequisite course)
- Overall previous academic performance
- Completion of at least 45 college-level credits
Admission Review
The admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis with decisions taking 2-3 weeks. Students will be notified of decisions by email.
Curriculum
Courses and Schedule Planning
A total of 180 quarter credits are required to complete the B.S. CE program. Follow the CE Schedule Planning Grid to make sure you complete all courses required to graduate:
- At least 45 of the final 60 credits must be taken in residence at UW Tacoma
- A minimum of 30 credits of required courses for the B.S. CE major must also be taken in residence at UW Tacoma
- At least 84 credits must be taken from the CE required courses below and CE Senior Electives list
Required Prerequisite Courses
- Calculus I (TMATH 124), Calculus II (TMATH 125), Calculus III (TMATH 126)
- Differential Equations (TMATH 207)
- Physics I (TPHYS 121), Physics II (TPHYS 122) Physics III (TPHYS 123)
- General Chemistry I (TCHEM 142)
- Statics (TME 221 or UWS: AA 210)
- Mechanics of Materials (TME 222 or UWS: CEE 220)
- Dynamics (TME 223 or UWS: ME 230)
- 5 credits of computer programming (Course in Python, Java, C, C++, or the equivalent of AMATH 301: Beginning Scientific Computing will meet this requirement. If you are not sure if the course you plan to take will count, please check with a SET Advisor).
Civil Engineering Required Courses
- TCE 304 Civil Engineering Systems (3)
- TCE 305 CAD for Civil Engineers (3)
- TCE 307 Construction Engineering (5)
- TCE 309 GIS for Civil Engineers (4)
- TCE 327 Transportation Engineering (5)
- TCE 337 Construction Materials with Lab (5)
- TCE 347 Fluid Mechanics (5)
- TCE 357 Environmental Engineering (5)
- TCE 367 Geotechnical Engineering with Lab (5)
- TCE 377 Introduction to Structural Analysis (5)
- TCE 401 Engineering Project Management (3)
- TCE 473 Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrology with Lab (5)
- TCE 488 Senior Project I (2)
- TCE 489 Senior Project II (5)
- TEE 225 Engineering Ethics (5)
- TME 310 Introduction to Computer Modeling I (2)
- TME 351 Engineering Probability & Statistics (3)
- TME 403 Engineering Economics (2)
- Approved lab science course (cannot be in physics or chemistry). Must be approved by the Civil Engineering Advising team.
The CE Schedule Planning Grid shows a sample pathway to complete the B.S. in Civil Engineering degree. Work with your advisor to make sure you are completing required courses for the program and electives for your area of interest.
The CE Schedule Planning Grid shows a sample pathway to complete the B.S. in Civil Engineering degree. Work with your advisor to make sure you are completing required courses for the program and electives for your area of interest.
Civil Engineering students must complete 16 credits of technical electives. Electives must be taken from at least two of the specializations below:
- Geotechnical
- TCE 436 Foundation Design (4)
- Structures
- TCE 429 Sustainability in Building Infrastructure (4)
- TCE 451 Design of Metal Structures (4)
- TCE 452 Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (4)
- Transportation
- TCE 411 Traffic Engineering (4)
- TCE 416 Urban Transportation Planning (4)
- TCE 417 Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (4)
- Environmental
- TCE 480 Air Pollution Control (4)
- TCE 482 Water Quality Engineering (4)
- TCE 484 Sustainable Environmental Systems
Up to 4 credits of the 16 credits may be satisfied by completing TCE 497 and/or TCE 499.
2023-2024 Civil Engineering Electives
Future ABET accreditation
The BSCE program will seek ABET accreditation in the 2024-2025 review cycle, after graduating the first class of Civil Engineering students.
The mission of the Civil Engineering program is to empower students to design safe, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure to solve engineering challenges and meet the demands and expectations of our global society with the goal of equitably improving the quality of life for all.
Program Educational Objectives, as defined by ABET, are the abilities, skills, and accomplishments expected of graduates within a few years of graduation. The Program Educational Objectives of our Civil Engineering program are as follows:
Within three to five years of graduation from the Civil Engineering program, it is expected that graduates will have:
- Applied their knowledge of engineering principles, science, mathematics, design and implementation to solve civil engineering challenges.
- Participated effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary project team, demonstrating leadership and project management skills when appropriate.
- Made positive contributions to their community and society through involvement in community and professional organizations.
- Made decisions related to their work that demonstrate an understanding of the importance of being an ethical engineering professional.
- Applied communication skills to effectively promote ideas and goals.
- Made progress toward certification as licensed Professional Engineers and/or pursued graduate studies.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
Students who complete the B.S. in Civil Engineering program will achieve the following ABET-based student outcomes by the time of graduation:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
| Year | Enrollment | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2023 | 7 | - |
| 2023 - 2024 | 19 | 7 |
| 2024 - 2025 | 38 | - |
The Civil Engineering program is supported by an active and engaged civil engineering community in the South Puget Sound region. Some of our external partners serve on our Civil Engineering Industrial Advisory Board with the following current membership:
| Name | Job Title and Company/Organization |
|---|---|
| Blake Doepker | Engineer at Turner Construction |
| Andrew Fiske | Geotechnical Engineer at WSDOT |
| David Nason | Principal at AHBL, Inc. |
| Bekah Osterhaus | Program Development Supervisor, Pierce County Planning & Public Works Office of the County Engineer |
| Sara Ott | Traffic Engineer at WSDOT |
| Brett Ozolin | Project Manager at the Port of Tacoma |
| Stanley Ryter | Project Manager at the Port of Tacoma |
| Jeffrey Schultz | Senior Transit and Rail Planner at David Evans and Associates, Inc. |
| Mike Slevin | Retired Director of Environmental Services at the City of Tacoma |
| Lyle Stone | Associate Geotechnical Engineer at GeoEngineers |
| Catrina Walter | Senior Lead Consultant at WSP |
| Cameron West | Chief Engineer at Concrete Technology Corporation |
