At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BSE

Learn how to design, construct and maintain facilities and systems that serve the basic needs of society with UMass Lowell's civil engineering major.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Civil Engineering

A female UMass Lowell student wearing goggles and working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab or class.

The civil engineering major at UMass Lowell prepares you to shape the world around you by designing, building and improving the infrastructure communities rely on every day, from bridges and highways to water systems and sustainable spaces.

As a student, you’ll build expertise in key areas such as structural, geotechnical, transportation and environmental engineering while developing the problem-solving skills employers value.

You’ll also gain hands-on experience through co-ops, internships, research and service-learning opportunities. In your senior capstone, you’ll put your knowledge into action by working on a real project that addresses a community need.

Career Outlook for Civil Engineering Majors

  • $116.5K

    Median annual salary for bachelor's degree holders in New England
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

  • +11.1%

    Projected job growth in New England (2023–2035)
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

What Can You Do with a Degree in Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering career paths include:

  • Design engineer
  • Project manager
  • Town engineer
  • Construction site supervisor
  • City planner
  • Transportation planner
  • Highway engineer
  • Teacher
Students in UMass Lowell's civil engineering program look at a construction site

Where Our Graduates Work

  • Columbia Construction Construction
  • Commodore Builders
  • GEI Consultants
  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Methuen Construction
  • Nobis Engineering
  • Underwood Engineers
  • Weston and Sampson

Meet Our Students and Alumni

UMass Lowell Image
Chris & Paula White '91
Engineering

The founders of what has become a multimillion dollar premium, all-natural cookie dough and ice cream sandwich company hold degrees in engineering.

College prepared us for our entrepreneurial venture more than we would have thought by providing real life experiences and lessons that went well beyond our scholastic learning.
Sadrac-Noel-UMass-Lowell-Undergraduate-Civil-Engineering
Sadrac Noel ’12
Civil Engineering

When Sadrac Noel graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, he could look back on many twists and turns in his path – and one professor who was always there for him.

They expect a lot from you here. This is a good school.
Christopher Ingemi works on a model of a bridge
Christopher Ingemi '18, '19
Civil & Environmental Engineering

A former carpenter sidelined by the recession, Christopher Ingemi went back to school at Middlesex Community College and then transferred to UML. Now, thanks to his job in a lab, he’s completed his master’s in civil engineering and found a great job as a bridge designer.

Because I had worked in construction, civil engineering seemed like a natural fit.
Ariel Shramko headshot
Ariel Shramko '24
Environmental Engineering

Ariel Shramko is growing food for Earth and beyond.

I never thought that I would be able to get this far this soon, but I now truly believe that dreams can come true.

Civil Engineering Courses You'll Take

Sample course topics include: 

  • Surveying
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Structural Analysis
  • Soil Mechanics
  • Reinforced Concrete Design
  • Water Resource Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • View all Civil Engineering courses

Year-by-Year Course Plan

Check out our degree pathways, which offer sample plans for completing your degree in four years.

For students who entered fall 2025 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
CIVE.1070Introduction to Engineering for Civil and Environmental2
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)3
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Lab (SCL)1
MATH.1310Calculus I (MATH)4
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
CHEM.1220Chemistry II (SCL)3
CHEM.1240LChemistry II Lab (SCL)1
MATH.1320Calculus II4
PHYS.1410Physics I3
PHYS.1410LPhysics I Lab1
Total15

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total17
ENGN.2050Statics3
CIVE.2250Surveying I3
CIVE.2860Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
MATH.2310Calculus III4
ENGN.2100Professional Development Seminar21
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
ENGN.2060Strength of Materials3
ENGN.2070Dynamics3
CIVE.2260Geomatics3
MATH.2360Engineering Differential Equations3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13
Total15

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
CIVE.3010Fluid Mechanics3
CIVE.3100Engineering Materials3
CIVE.3110Engineering Materials Laboratory1
CIVE.3400Transportation Engineering3
CIVE.3500Structural Analysis3
xxxx.xxxxScience Course33-4
Total16-17

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
CIVE.3300Soil Mechanics3
CIVE.3320Environmental Engineering Laboratory1
CIVE.3330Geotechnical Lab1
CIVE.3520Reinforced Concrete Design3
CIVE.3620Environmental Engineering3
CIVE.3720Civil Engineering Systems3
ECON.2010Principles of Microeconomics (SS)3
Total17

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
CIVE.4310Foundation and Soil Engineering3
CIVE.4520Steel Design3
CIVE.4600Water Resource Engineering3
CIVE.5xxxProfessional Elective43
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)13
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
CIVE.4750Construction Management3
CIVE.4850Capstone Design3
EECE.2110Fundamentals of Electricity3
CIVE.5xxxProfessional Elective43
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)13
Total15

Total Minimum Credits = 126-127.

1Core Curriculum Requirements include three (3) Arts and Humanities courses and three (3) Social Science courses. One of the Social Science courses must be ECON.2010 Economics I. Students must select at least one course designated Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) and at least one course designated Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE). No more than 2 courses may be taken from the same discipline. Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence.

2Students can take ENGN.2100 Professional Development Seminar in either fall or spring semester of their sophomore year.

3Science Course can be either GEOL.3250 Geology for Engineers (3) or BIOL.2100 Biology for Engineers (3) and BIOL.2120L Biology for Engineers Lab (1)

4Professional Electives must be CIVE.5xxx graduate-level courses.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.


Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

  • SS - Social Sciences Perspective - 9 credits
  • AH - Arts and Humanities Perspective - 9 credits
  • SCL - Sciences with Lab Perspective - 6-8 credits
  • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 3 credits
  • CW - College Writing I and II - 6 credits
  • MATH - Math Perspective - 3 credits

Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

  • AIL - Applied and Integrative Learning
  • CTPS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • DCA - Diversity and Cultural Awareness
  • IL - Information Literacy
  • QL - Quantitative Literacy
  • SRE - Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • WOC - Written and Oral Communication

Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.

Why study civil engineering at UMass Lowell?

UMass Lowell Professor Pradeep Kurup working with a male student in a lab coat.

Research Opportunities

The civil engineering department conducts innovative research in structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering, including:

  • Monitoring and assessment of wind turbine foundation degradation
  • Electromagnetic detection and identification of concrete cracking in highway bridges
  • National Science Foundation: Ethical Algorithms in Autonomous Vehicles
Timothy Roberts, Natalie Melconian, Rebecca Gonsalves-Lamontagne, and Zachary Morris paddle UMass Lowell's concrete canoe during the 2014 regional competition.

Student Organizations

Solving problems is fun, and at UMass Lowell, you can put your learning into practice.

A female UMass Lowell student working on a computer with a bridge model behind her.

Career Connected Experience: The UMass Lowell Guarantee

Every first-time, first-year UMass Lowell student will have the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internships, co-ops, clinical placements, service learning, study abroad and more) during their undergraduate career — earning pay, credits or both before they graduate.

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