As a civil engineering major, you will study how to design, construct, and maintain facilities and systems that serve the basic needs of society. These include buildings, bridges, roadways, railways, airports, water and waste water systems.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BS

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What courses will you take?

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

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at UMass Lowell offers rigorous training in the four main areas of civil engineering: 

  • Environmental engineering
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Transportation engineering

The first year begins with fundamental courses in college writing, mathematics and science. You will also take an introduction to civil and environmental engineering course that covers computer-aided engineering and design. 

During the second year, you will learn the principles of engineering mechanics, including statics, dynamics and strength of materials. Other courses cover statistics, surveying, geomatics and differential equations. At this point, you can begin the Professional Co-op Program by taking a professional development seminar. 

Junior and senior year coursework provides a working knowledge of structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering. You can also take two professional electives, which will count toward a master’s degree if you are accepted into the combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program. In the senior year, you will participate in a comprehensive capstone design project, which is typically a service-learning project with a community partner.

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about the minor in Business Administration for Civil and Environmental Engineering.

  • Degree Pathways are a semester-by-semester sequence of courses recommended for successful completion of a degree, diploma, credential or certificate from the university. The most current degree pathway is:

    Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

  • The Program Goal of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department is to provide its students with a well-balanced, high quality education in four areas of Civil Engineering practice: environmental, geotechnical, structural and transportation engineering that will:
    • permit them to practice civil engineering at a professional level 
    • prepare them for graduate study 
    • promote life-long learning and continuing professional development 
    • provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop into active contributors to the economic and social vitality of the region 

    To accomplish this Program Goal, the CEE Department’s and ABET Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are as follows: 

    • Graduates, who wish to pursue professional employment, will obtain a position in Civil Engineering or related engineering field, and will be successful in that position. 
    • Graduates will pursue lifelong learning, professional development, and registration as appropriate for their employers. 
    • Graduates will engage in service activities related to their profession. 

    The student outcomes for the BSE degree in electrical or civil engineering at UMass Lowell are as follows: At graduation students should possess: 

    • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering 
    • An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data 
    • An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability 
    • An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams 
    • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems 
    • An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility 
    • An ability to communicate effectively 
    • The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context 
    • A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning 
    • A knowledge of contemporary issues 
    • An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Why study civil engineering at UMass Lowell?

Timothy Roberts, Natalie Melconian, Rebecca Gonsalves-Lamontagne, and Zachary Morris paddle UMass Lowell's concrete canoe during the 2014 regional competition.

Fun Outside the Classroom

Solving problems is fun, and at UML you can put your learning into practice. Check out some ways that students connect outside of the classroom.

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
A Female African American UMass Lowell student working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab.

Experiential Learning

Build career-ready skills through experiences outside the classroom, including:

  • Research in a faculty laboratory 
  • Co-ops and internships 
  • Paid work on campus 
  • Service learning 
  • Study abroad
A female UMass Lowell student working on a computer with a bridge model behind her.

Bachelor’s-to-Master's Program

Get on the fast track to an advanced degree with our combined Bachelor's-to-Master's program.

  • Available to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.0 or better
  • Offers a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses
  • Reduced credit-hour requirements can save you time and money

What can you do with a degree in civil engineering?

UMass Lowell's civil engineering program offers a wide variety of career paths, including design engineer, project manager, project superintendent, town or city engineer, construction site supervisor, city planner, transportation planner, highway engineer, high school teacher and professor.

Three UMass Lowell students taking part in the Steel Bridge Competition.

Alumni of our program have worked at:

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