Civil Engineering

Program Overview
Courses

Building: it’s what civil engineers do. Skyscrapers, bridges, roads, fresh water systems and wastewater treatment plants are all designed and constructed with the input of civil engineers. This process, though continually evolving, is one that has been revered since ancient times, and engineers remain a cornerstone of society.

Study everything civil engineering encompasses: structural, environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic and more. Hone the technical skills of design and construction in our brand new building, Fields Engineering Center. Our elite faculty and collaborative foundation will provide the landscape for you to thrive in our rigorous program.

Even more importantly, you will learn how to learn — all that we do is designed to prepare you for the life-long learning that will sustain you through a professional career filled with technological advancement. You’ll leave this place with valuable skills and join your peers studying in top-ranked graduate programs or working for some of the world’s best companies.

Our program is ABET-accredited.

Program Foundations

The Civil and Environmental Engineering curriculum was developed to provide a broad coverage of courses in the major sub-disciplines within civil engineering. A broad background provides the foundation for working in a wide variety of fields, including project management; we also include coursework in all of the topics covered by the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. The yearlong Senior Design Capstone sequence gives you a real-world experience and prepares you for success in the workforce. The vision is to produce graduates that are well rounded both technically and on a personal level.

Capstone Projects

Senior Design allows you to implement your classroom knowledge in a large-scale project. You’ll be working collaboratively with your peers over the course of your senior year in an interdisciplinary setting, bringing together mechanical, electrical and civil systems. Past projects have included design and construction of pedestrian bridges in Guatemala and Honduras as well as competition in the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Student Steel Bridge Competition and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Concrete Canoe Competition.

Internships, CO-OP and engineering missions are encouraged—wherever you want to go, we’ll help you get there. You’ll have multiple opportunities to connect with local and national companies. Students can also get valuable experience through vocational trips that allow students to partner with working professionals to solve problems in developing countries.

Courses

Specific courses required within civil engineering:

BI 3123 - Engineering Ethics: Redemption and Technology
EN 3143 - Technical Writing
ESS 1013 Environmental Biology

Courses for major (97 hours):

CM 1113 - General Chemistry I
CM 1123 - General Chemistry II
CM 1211 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
CM 1221 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
CEE 1123 - Fundamentals of Engineering Design
CEE 2113 - Statics
CEE 2123 - Dynamics
CEE 2133 - Surveying and Geomatics
CEE 3113 - Strength of Materials
CEE 3211 - Solid Mechanics and Materials Laboratory
CEE 3213 - Structural Analysis
CEE 3313 - Environmental Engineering
CEE 3413 - Construction
CEE 3443 - Civil Engineering Materials
CEE 3451 - CE Construction Materials Lab
CEE 3513 - Transportation Engineering I
CEE 3613 - Fluid Mechanics
CEE 3621 - Hydraulics Laboratory
CEE 3713 - Geotechnical Engineering
CEE 3721 - Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory
ENGR 0110 - Professional Development and Networking
ENGR 1113 - Introduction to Engineering
ENGR 3303 - Applied Mathematics
ENGR 3943 - Engineering Economy and Planning
ENGR 4943 - Interdisciplinary Design I
ENGR 4953 - Interdisciplinary Design II
MA 1314 - Calculus I
MA 2314 - Calculus II
MA 2324 - Calculus III
MA 3133 - Differential Equations
PH 2414 - General Physics I

Five Civil Engineering Specialty Electives (15 semester hours) chosen from:

CEE 4213 - Reinforced Concrete Structural Design
CEE 4223 - Structural Steel Design
CEE 4313 - Water and Wastewater
CEE 4413 - Construction Project Planning and Management
CEE 4513 - Transportation Engineering II
CEE 4613 - Urban Hydrology and Hydraulic Systems
CEE 4713 - Foundation Engineering

Note:

The minor in applied mathematics is automatically satisfied.

MA 1314 - Calculus I (4) F, SP, SU, must be taken during the fall semester of the freshman year in order to enroll in PH 2414 during the spring semester. Otherwise, completion of the program may require more than eight semesters. Students who are not eligible to begin in the calculus sequence should consider enrolling in MA 1123 in the summer session.

Contact Information

100%

Job placement rate

Internship

Become more competitive in the job market with an internship related to your interests. You’ll gain experience and boost your exposure. An internship will also help you learn whether you’ve chosen a career you’ll enjoy.

Job placement

With a top-tier university education on your resume, you’ll be in high demand, whether you choose to launch your career or begin graduate school. Most of our programs have a placement rate of at least 90 percent within six months of graduation.

Expert faculty, small class sizes

Learn from award-winning, experienced faculty who actually care about you. Our small class sizes allow us to get to know you personally. We lead an approachable community within our respective programs. Our faculty connections are the experts on their subject matter, too.

Our Faculty

David Davidson

Professor

Davidson teaches in our civil engineering program. Prior to coming to Lipscomb, he was the CEO at Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon in Nashville and brings 31 years of experience...
Meet David Davidson
Todd Lynn

Associate Professor and Chair, Civil Engineering

With over 20 years of experience with pavement materials testing, design, research and product development, Todd Lynn comes to Lipscomb University from Thunderhead Testing, LLC, a construction materials testing and...
Meet Todd Lynn
Jordan Wilson

Assistant Professor

Meet Jordan Wilson

Career Paths

Civil Engineers

Civil engineers conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct, and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

Health and Safety Engineers

Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to protect people from illness and injury and property from damage. They combine knowledge of engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other products will not cause harm to people or damage to property.