About Civil Engineering
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering is traditionally defined as the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of society. More precisely, Civil Engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of the basic facilities on which civilized life depends. As Civil Engineers are responsible for shaping the man-made environment, they should also be responsible for its effects in the natural environment.
The traditional core of disciplines of Civil Engineering is structures, hydraulics and soil mechanics, all based on a sound mathematical knowledge. Modern Civil Engineering, however, is more widely embracing and degree subjects are grouped into structural, geotechnical, hydraulics, environmental and transportation engineering. A degree in Civil Engineering also implies a good level of competence in other fields such as computer technology, economics, geology administration and planning.
Who is a Civil Engineer?
A Civil Engineer is someone who:
- Performs remediation of contaminated soil and ground water caused by a leaking tank;
- Plans a new-four lane highway to alleviate congestion and designs the road surface;
- Designs and supervises the construction of structures of all types, such as dams; bridges, offshore drilling platforms, aerospace structures or ships;
- Develops and maintains waste water treatment centers in cities and towns across the United States;
- Analyses the slope stability of a railway embankment and designs a railway bridge on it;
- Develops and tests innovative materials and uses them for different applications;
- Plans and develop control strategies for construction projects of all sizes;
The above is just a small sample of Civil Engineering activities. Civil Engineering is one of the most diverse fields of engineering and graduates are involved in everything from city planning and traffic engineering to water supply and waste disposal systems to industrial control systems. The diversity of the Civil Engineering profession allows you to specialize in any area you choose. All you have to do is decide which one that will be.
How do I become a Civil Engineer?
High school students should have a strong interest in sciences, particularly math. Ideally, high school math and science work should include: two years of algebra one year of geometry one semester of trigonometry one year of chemistry one year of physics As a Civil Engineering student at 海角社区, you will have an opportunity to work in a wide variety of well-paid summer jobs through established cooperative work programs with engineering firms and government agencies.
Job opportunities for Civil Engineers.
The demand for Civil Engineers has increased year after year while engineering enrollment has decreased nationwide. The shortage of Civil Engineers in the United States will extend beyond the year 2004. Although this shortage may not be good for the country as a whole, it is a golden opportunity for Civil Engineering graduates who are paid higher salaries every year. The national average starting salary for Civil Engineers is approximately $40,000 to $55,000 per year. The range of jobs available to Civil Engineers is extensive. There are more than 200,000 nation wide, almost 40% are with federal, state, and local agencies. Over 33% are in firms that provide engineering consulting services, where teams develop designs for new construction projects. Hundreds of U.S.-trained Civil Engineers work in foreign countries providing design services through both private and governmental agencies.