College of Engineering

Civil Engineering BS

Apply engineering, technology, and design to solve complex challenges in infrastructure, transportation, water, and the environment.

Degree: Bachelor of Science; Accelerated degree option
Modality: On-campus

Duration: 4 years
Credits: 123
Accredited: ABET
Designated: STEM, STEM-OPT

Average starting salary for civil engineering graduates :: $90,800 Average starting salary for civil engineering graduates . View career outcomes.

Civil engineering students working in the lab

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Why study civil engineering at UMass Dartmouth?

The infrastructure we rely on every day is evolving to meet the demands of a growing population, changing climate, and rapidly advancing technology. UMass Dartmouth's Civil Engineering program prepares you to meet these challenges through a rigorous curriculum, hands-on learning, and real-world design experiences. You'll develop the technical expertise to design resilient infrastructure while exploring specialized interests in areas such as structural, transportation, geotechnical, water resources, and environmental engineering.

Launch your career

Average starting salary for civil engineering graduates

Source: UMass Dartmouth NACE AY 2024 Data Collection of Undergraduate Alumni

93%

Employed or in graduate school 6 months after graduation

Source: UMass Dartmouth NACE AY 2025 Data Collection of Undergraduate Alumni

40%

Job growth for environmental engineers by 2030

Source: World Economic Forum

21%

Demand has driven average base salary up 21% since 2022

Source: 2025 ASCE Civil Engineering Salary Report

What can I do with a Civil Engineering BS degree?

Civil engineering encompasses a wide variety of career paths, from city planning and transportation to large-scale construction and geotechnical systems. Civil engineering graduates are in-demand in a variety of industries and roles, including:

Civil engineer
Structural engineer
Transportation engineer

Geotechnical engineer
Environmental engineer
Surveyor

Construction project manager
Water resources engineer
Urban planner

Top employers

Curriculum

As a civil engineering major, you'll learn the skills to:

Analyze and design structures, transportation systems, and water resources using engineering principles.
Apply geotechnical, structural, environmental, and transportation engineering concepts to real-world projects.
Evaluate construction materials, soil, water, and environmental systems through laboratory testing and analysis.
Balance technical, environmental, economic, and societal considerations in engineering design.

You'll take courses in fluid mechanics, sustainable infrastructure, geotechnical engineering, and more.

The bachelor's degree program in civil engineering also offers a concentration in environmental resources engineering. Engineers in this field apply civil engineering principles and processes to solve problems relating to air pollution, water pollution, solid waste and hazardous waste management, renewable energy, and water resources engineering.

Real-world experience

Beginning in your first year on campus, you'll have opportunities to get practical experience through internships or assisting with faculty research. Our students have interned with top employers in various fields including the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Departments of Transportation, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, New Bedford Conservation Commission, CDM Smith, McMahon Transportation Engineers & Planners, and more.

All senior civil engineering majors participate in a capstone project where you will work as a team on a civil engineering project assigned by a practicing professional. The capstone course helps students gain a key understanding of all stages of the engineering design process and prepares them to become practicing engineers.

Academic catalog

Explore the official academic catalog for detailed curriculum requirements, course descriptions and program information.

Civil engineering student Marisa Gay with Professor Nefeli Bompoti

Student Spotlight

Marisa Gay '25, MS '26

Hometown: Taunton, MA
Major: Civil Engineering, Environmental Resources Engineering
Minor: Sustainability
Leadership: Women in Engineering Peer Mentor
Research: Dr. Nefeli Bompoti's Environmental Research and Sustainability Lab
Internship: Eversource Energy
Employment: Engineer, Weston & Sampson

Accelerated degree options

Explore accelerated pathways that may help you complete your bachelor’s degree sooner, begin graduate coursework early, or pursue a streamlined path to a master’s, teaching, or law degree. Available options vary by program and eligibility.

4+1 Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s option

Qualified students in this program may be eligible to pursue an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathway at UMass Dartmouth. This option allows you to begin graduate coursework while completing your undergraduate degree and transition directly into a master's program.

Learn more

Accolades

UMass Dartmouth is a nationally ranked R2 research university that combines the resources of a major university with a personalized educational experience. Ranked among the top 15 public research institutions with fewer than 10,000 students and in the top 17% nationally for return on investment, UMass Dartmouth is recognized for advancing research, social mobility, and career-ready education.

Nationally Ranked Engineering with ABET-Accredited Programs

The College of Engineering is home to ABET-accredited undergraduate programs and nationally-ranked graduate programs supported by significant research activity and industry partnerships. Students gain hands-on experience through advanced laboratories, faculty-led research, internships, and work addressing emerging challenges in engineering, computing, energy, healthcare, and technology.

Accreditations and distinctions

ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission

Frequently asked questions

Have questions about the Civil Engineering BS program? Here you will find answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.

Civil and environmental engineers are immersed in the essential facilities and systems that we encounter everyday.

They plan, design, and build structures, roads, dams, treatment plants, bridges, tunnels; harbors and airports; waterways, railways, and highways. They are involved in the structures and systems relating to water power, irrigation, drainage, and water supply, and in issues that relate to waste disposal and various environmental concerns. And they are key figures in land surveying, environmental impact reports, and hazardous material clean-up projects.

A civil engineering degree can prepare you for careers in structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, and water resources engineering, as well as construction and infrastructure planning. Graduates can work in engineering firms, construction companies, government agencies, and other organizations designing and improving the systems and structures communities depend on.

Yes. The Civil Engineering BS program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil Engineering.

During your senior year, you will complete the capstone project where you will apply what you have learned to a real life engineering challenge. Student teams are paired with mentors (typically Professional Engineers) at local firms or municipalities who will provide an assignment and oversee their progress.

Recent senior design projects have included the redesign of intersections on the Massachusetts Top 100 Crash List, design of a new municipal sewer system for a Cape Cod town, redesign of local bridges, design of new cells for a local landfill, and design of a hazardous waste remediation strategy for a major USEPA Superfund site.

Civil Engineering is also available as a minor. Contact your academic advisor for more information.

The Civil Engineering BS program is designated as a STEM degree and may qualify eligible F-1 international students for the 24-month STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) extension after completing standard post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility for STEM OPT is determined by U.S. immigration regulations and individual student circumstances. To learn about eligibility requirements and the application process, review the International Student & Scholar Center (ISSC) OPT page and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) STEM OPT guidance. F-1 students must work with the ISSC to apply for a STEM OPT extension.