As a civil engineering major, you will work toward a career as a professional engineer. Civil engineers plan, design, operate and construct the infrastructure in our communities. This includes transportation, water and wastewater systems, energy systems, buildings, bridges, and dams.

You will learn:

Design for infrastructure and geotechnical systems
Design practices that keep the public safe from seismic and other natural disasters
Methods for protecting our environment
Design processes to clean drinking water and wastewater

We Offer:

Foundational civil engineering courses in the main areas of the field. You will learn structural, geotechnical, environmental and water resources and transportation practices.
Community service projects that support and improve the municipalities in the Portland metro.
Access to internships in the Portland metro. Get real-world experience in paid positions to help you get a job after graduation.
Expert faculty who bring the best research and real-life perspectives into the classroom.
A degree tailored to your interests. In your senior year you will select from a variety of elective courses.
An involved alumni network made up of leaders in the Oregon engineering community.
Student groups that engage in networking, career support, leadership and team building.

CIVIL ENGINEERING BACHELOR'S DEGREE: WHY PSU?

Students in this program experience civil engineering innovation as they’re studying it. PSU is in the heart of Portland, Oregon, one of the most innovative and industrious cities in the nation. The infrastructure in the Portland metro shows the real-world impact of civil engineering. PSU is itself a civil engineering and urban planning marvel. Unique and sustainable buildings line the Park Blocks. Public transportation routes weave through the middle of campus.

With the city as a testing ground, faculty are able to thrive. They engage in their research and are attentive to their students' needs. Thus, civil engineering students are able to experience research before they graduate. They also enjoy small class sizes and build connections with faculty.

Civil engineering students get to design and put in place a real project. For example, one civil engineering student’s capstone design project created a temporary traffic control plan. The plan allowed for more pedestrian and bicycle activity along a busy Portland road. The student obtained the permits and installed the temporary traffic control barriers. The project was a test to help pave the way for conversations around permanent solutions. The student now works for a private engineering firm in Portland, Oregon.

The Portland metro region is home to some of the world’s top engineering employers. Our department has connections with leaders in private industry and government agencies. These organizations hire our students for internships and full-time positions.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING?

Graduates of Portland State University’s civil engineering program are analytical and critical thinkers. They learn skills to solve problems with creative, sustainable, and innovative solutions. Civil engineers design infrastructure and systems to keep people safe and healthy.

PSU civil engineering graduates:

Design structures using concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and composites
Predict the amount of water available for human use, improve the water quality in bodies of water
Use rock and soil mechanics to design foundations, earth structures, and pavement sub-grades
Develop methods to improve air quality contaminated by industrial and transportation sources
Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to apply technical skills to practical problems