Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Major
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Major
Civil engineers shape the places where people live, work and move, designing the roads, bridges, buildings, water systems and other infrastructure that keep communities running. At St. Thomas, you'll learn civil engineering by doing it. You'll work with faculty, classmates, and industry partners to design solutions to real engineering challenges and gain experience using the tools and technologies you'll encounter in your career.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas College of Engineering #1 in Minnesota for engineering schools without a doctoral program.
All first-year students are offered a St. Thomas scholarship, which you can use to pay any of your costs of attendance at St. Thomas. Scholarships are available for eligible first-year and returning undergraduate engineering students.
All civil engineering students are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.
From learning to use surveying equipment and computer-aided design (CAD) to testing concrete samples and developing skills to analyze infrastructure, these courses and lab experiences help you build core civil engineering skills.
Students are introduced to the engineering disciplines and the design process through a semester-long design challenge. Student-led teams identify a need, interview clients, plan tasks and propose engineering solutions with consideration for the common good.
This hands-on lab introduces students to construction materials commonly used in civil engineering projects, including aggregates, asphalt, concrete, fiber-reinforced polymers, masonry, metals, and wood. Students will learn about each material's properties, specifications, laboratory procedures, and test equipment. Includes an introduction to asphalt and concrete mix design.
This hands-on lab introduces students to environmental engineering including assessment of the sources, measuring techniques, and treatment methods for pollution caused by humans. Topics include the design of water and wastewater systems, air pollution mitigation and prevention, and pollutant transportation.
During your senior year, you'll bring together what you've learned throughout your civil engineering courses in a two-semester capstone project we call the . Working as part of a team, you'll apply engineering principles, design methods and problem-solving skills to develop a solution to a civil engineering challenge.
Engineering Majors Tackle Real-World Challenges
Put your engineering knowledge to work through the Senior Design Clinic, a two-semester capstone experience where you'll collaborate with classmates and industry or community partners to solve real engineering challenges. Civil engineering projects may involve infrastructure, water systems, structural design or other needs identified by project partners.
The College of Engineering offers scholarships for incoming first-year students, transfer students and returning engineering students, in addition to scholarships and financial aid offered by the University.
The $12,500 Engineering Board of Governors Scholarship is awarded competitively to an incoming first-year student planning to major in engineering. The scholarship is renewable for three additional years, for a total of $50,000.
Admitted transfer students planning to major in engineering are automatically considered for Summit Engineering Scholarships, with awards of up to $10,000 per year.
Each year, the College of Engineering awards more than 50 scholarships ranging from $250 to $4,000 to eligible returning engineering students.
Explore the state-of-the-art facilities and labs, faculty connections, student organizations and study abroad opportunities that shape the civil engineering experience at St. Thomas.
With over 400,000 square feet dedicated to STEM education, St. Thomas engineering students have plenty of room to conceptualize, collaborate, create and innovate. Civil engineering facilities and labs at St. Thomas include the Iversen High Bay and Structures Lab, centered around a strong wall/strong floor for testing full size structural elements, and the concrete production area of the Construction Materials Lab.
St. Thomas engineering faculty are student-focused real-world experts who build strong personal and professional connections with students both inside and outside of the classroom. Students can engage in clubs, activities, field trips and research projects with faculty and their peers.
At the annual Meet the Engineers Reverse Career Fair, representatives from more than 75 companies, including firms such as Barr Engineering, 3M, Boston Scientific, Graco and The Toro Company, connect with St. Thomas engineering students about internships and career opportunities. Nearly 80% of St. Thomas engineering students graduate with internship experience.
Engineering is about solving problems that ultimately improve people's lives. At St. Thomas, a broad Liberal Arts education develops students' ability to deeply appreciate and understand the people, perceptions, policies and business environment that define technology's success.
The Tommie Civil Club offers students the opportunity to make real-world connections with the civil engineering industry through networking, professional development, hands-on activities and competitions.
St. Thomas civil engineering students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research involving infrastructure, construction materials, water resources and other engineering challenges. These projects allow students to apply classroom knowledge, develop research skills and explore solutions to real-world problems.
Through our Roman Structures, Engineering and Society study abroad course, students spend the month of January traveling throughout Italy to discover the origins and evolution of engineering and design, from Roman aqueducts to cutting-edge, contemporary Italian infrastructure. Civil engineering students also have the option to study abroad in Australia for a semester.
St. Thomas civil engineering faculty combine industry experience, research expertise and a commitment to hands-on learning. Students have opportunities to work with faculty on research involving structures, sustainable materials, water resources and transportation infrastructure.
Dr. Lederle and her students investigate making concrete using recycled materials, such as recycled concrete aggregate and iron mine waste. This can help make concrete greener without sacrificing quality. Dr. Lederle’s student researchers also work to improve design with novel concrete materials, like pervious concrete and ultra-high performance concrete so that these materials can be implemented in practical ways.
Dr. Jose Capa Salinas is passionate about advancing structural engineering through the integration of innovative materials, advanced analysis methods, and practical design solutions. His research spans bridge engineering, structural monitoring, natural hazards, and the application of AI in civil infrastructure. Dr. Capa Salinas works closely with students to develop technical expertise and real-world problem-solving skills, with projects ranging from bridge engineering to machine learning–driven structural analysis.
Dr. Ali Ling loves helping students build practical, problem-solving skills. In her water and wastewater treatment research, she and her students use systems-level thinking to understand technical, economic, and social impacts of environmental solutions. She brings a decade of engineering consulting and project leadership experience spanning municipal, mining, and manufacturing industries.
Dr. Mingu Kang's research focuses on improving the soil and foundations beneath roads and other transportation infrastructure. He uses innovative sensors and specialized materials to measure soil strength and studies how engineers can build more stable, resilient roads. His research has been applied at pavement testing sites supported by organizations including the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Dr. Travis Welt studies how to design buildings and other structures to make them stronger, safer and more durable. His work explores innovative building materials, including structural steel and engineered timber, and connection hardware that hold structures together. With experience designing everything from homes to floating offshore platforms, Dr. Welt brings real-world engineering knowledge into his teaching and research. He also works with undergraduate students and industry partners on projects that help shape the future of structural engineering.
To earn a B.S. in Civil Engineering, you'll complete the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas Core Curriculum, Civil Engineering major requirements and allied requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
You will start your studies at St. Thomas by being introduced to engineering design and engineering graphics, along with statistics, calculus, applied geology and physics. You will then progress to courses focusing on surveying, statics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, construction and engineering economic analysis, civil engineering electives, additional math and science courses, and St. Thomas core requirements.
You will wrap up your studies with the , a team-based two-semester capstone course your senior year that focuses on designing and developing a solution to a civil engineering problem in partnership with industry, non-profits or community partners.
If you are interested in transferring to St. Thomas with an Engineering major, read this information for .
Your faculty adviser will personalize a four-year plan with you based on your goals. This is one snapshot of how the plan of study for this major can look. Other plans are available for students interested in studying abroad, double majoring or participating in ROTC.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Civil Engineering (accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas bachelor's degree in civil engineering is accredited by the EAC Accreditation Commission of ABET, , under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
The Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Graduates of the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program are expected to achieve one or more of the following:
Adopted: September 16, 2016. Revised: May 24, 2022.
Graduates of the program have:
There is more to learn about St. Thomas, including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more.
