UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2009-2010

Civil Engineering

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• Courses: Civil Engineering and Mechanics

Civil engineering is a profession that deals with the infrastructure of society. Civil engineers design bridges, buildings, and other structures; develop and design water resources, waste treatment and environmental management facilities; plan and design highway and transportation systems; and design foundations, earth and rock structures, and tunnels. Students completing a civil engineering program have an opportunity for professional employment with industry; utilities; consulting firms; contractors; local, state, and federal government agencies; research laboratories, and academia.

The mission of the UWM undergraduate Civil Engineering Program is to educate students to become civil engineering professionals who plan, design, build, and manage the infrastructure needed for a modern urban society and the environment.

The educational objectives of the undergraduate Civil Engineering Program are:

Structural Engineering Minor

The minor in structural engineering is designed specially for students in the following majors: Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Materials, Geology, and Physics. This minor is not available to civil
engineering majors. The 18-credit minor requires Civ Eng 335, 360, and 372, and one of the following two courses: Civ Eng 571 or 572. Choose any two additional courses from the following list: Civ Eng 401, 431, 456, 463, 502, 560, 566, 571, 572, 573, 574, 578, 579; and Arch 301, 510, and 516. More information on the minor may be
obtained from the Civil Engineering department, 229-5422.

The Civil Engineering and Mechanics Department offers many elective courses which normally allow each student to concentrate in one of four areas: geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation and municipal engineering, or water resources and environmental engineering.

Geotechnical engineering deals with soil and rock as engineering materials. Geotechnical engineers may be involved in the analysis, design, and construction of foundations, retaining structures, earth and rock dams, excavations, tunnels, landfills, toxic waste remediation projects, and other areas related to construction.

Structural engineering deals with the analysis, design, fabrication, and construction of all types of structures, including buildings, bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, foundations, dams, and aerospace and pressure vessels. With recent advances in the area, the structural engineer must have considerable competence in the use of computers and understanding of structural materials.

Transportation and municipal engineering includes activities to carry out the public works programs of local government units, including the planning, design, construction, and management functions related to street, sewerage, and water supply systems. Transportation engineering deals with the planning, design, and operation of transportation systems, such as highways, public transit, airports, and railways.

Water resources and environmental engineering deals with problems of water resources and environment. It includes water resources development such as water supply systems for human, irrigation, energy, and industrial use; and environmental mitigation practices such as sewerage systems, contamination remediation, drainage, flood and erosion control as well as pollution control. It also includes natural resources management such as river, lake and groundwater restoration and management.

CIVIL ENGINEERING CURRICULUM

The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in civil engineering is 127. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits.

Mathematics Requirement: 14-16 credits¹

One of the following Calculus sequences must be
completed:
Math 231-232-233
Math 221-222 (Honors)
and
ElecEng 234 (Analytical Methods in Engineering)

Physics 209 - 210

Technical Electives - Civil Engineering Major: 21 Credits Required. The Civil Engineering and Mechanics Department offers numerous elective courses which allow students to work in one of four areas of concentration. Normally a minimum of 12 credits will be taken in an area of concentration. Students who do not follow one of the four areas of concentration will require approval by the Department chairperson for their programs.

Students interested in geotechnical engineering should take Civ Eng 456 and select at least three courses from Civ Eng 360, 412, 463, 492, and 598. Students also are strongly recommended to take GeoSci 470.

Students interested in municipal and transportation engineering should select at least three courses from Civ Eng 492, 590, 592, 594, 596, 598, and 610.

Students interested in structural engineering should take Civ Eng 360, 463, 571, and 572, and select at least two courses from Civ Eng 456, 560, 573, 574, 578, and 579.

Students interested in water resources and environmental engineering should take at least three courses from Civ Eng 412, 511, 521, and 610.

Any Chemistry course 200-level or above, Chem 104*

Any Physics course 300-level or above, Physics 214, Physics 215

Any Biology course 150-level or above

Any Atmospheric Science course 200-level or above

*Students who take Chemistry 102 (or 117) may use Chemistry 104 (118) to satisfy three credits of the Group C technical elective requirement.