Engineering – Civil

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Program Overview

A civil engineering degree from King's will set you up for a lucrative and rewarding career designing all kinds of structures that help people, including bridges, dams, airports, harbors, and skyscrapers.

The first building block for that career is a strong educational foundation. With a civil engineering bachelor's degree from King's, our graduates enter the workforce with real-world engineering experience and a strong desire to use their skills in the service of others.

students and professor out in the field learning about bridge repairs and structure

What can you do with a Civil Engineering Degree?

Civil engineers plan, design, and oversee the construction and maintenance of the built environment, including buildings, bridges, dams, airports, and harbors. Much of the infrastructure we rely on in everyday life, such as the roads we drive on and the systems that provide clean water to our homes, are civil engineering infrastructure projects.

What Are the Different Types of Civil Engineering?

A civil engineering bachelor's degree gives you the foundation you need to specialize in a variety of disciplines.

Example disciplines

Construction engineering - overseeing construction projects
Structural engineering - designing buildings and other structures
Environmental engineering - building solutions to a wide-range of environmental issues
Geotechnical engineering - focusing on building projects involving rocks and soil
Transportation engineering - working on roads, railways, and other public transportation projects.
Water resources engineering - designing structures to maintain and deliver public drinking water
Materials engineering - focusing on construction materials such as wood, stone, and steel
Municipal engineering - engineering the infrastructure that makes up cities and other urban centers

If you are interested in a career that has a lasting impact, consider that civil engineers designed the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam, Eiffel Tower, and many other inspiring structures.

Civil Engineering Career Opportunities

Civil engineers are vital to the development and maintenance of bridges, roads, levees, dams, water supply systems, wastewater treatment plants, airports, public buildings, and other critical infrastructure projects. As the U.S. infrastructure ages, the demand for professionals who can plan, design, and supervise these projects will continue to grow.

Also, as renewable energy projects expand around the world, more civil engineers will be needed to supervise the construction of wind farms and solar arrays. The possible employers for civil engineers include federal, state, and local governments, as well as construction and consultant firms.

Because they work in a wide range of environments from office settings to project sites, civil engineers can customize a career path that aligns with their personal interests. In addition, they have numerous career growth opportunities through professional licensure, graduate degrees, and specialized technical training and certification programs.

Civil engineering employment opportunities are projected to grow by 7% between 2021 and 2031, and offer a current median salary of $88,050 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021).

Competitive salaries and diverse job opportunities help civil engineering graduates achieve high job-satisfaction rates. From our Wilkes-Barre classrooms to the farthest reaches of the world, King's engineering program graduates are ready to design and build our future.

What makes the King's Civil Engineering Program different?

Authentic engineering experiences

Our students use the same survey and testing tools that civil engineers use in the industry. They learn and practice project management, structural modeling, hydraulic modeling, and industry-standard software such as CAD and GIS. They also use the AISC Steel Construction Manual, ASTM technical standards, and USGS guidelines to solve complex, open-ended problems.

Small class sizes

Students earning a civil engineering degree at King's benefit from small class sizes that allow professors to dedicate more individualized attention to each student's unique needs in classroom and laboratory settings.

Service-learning projects

Civil engineers are deeply involved with designing and overseeing the construction of the environments where people live, work, and play. Our students are assigned service-learning projects in which they use teamwork and creative-problem solving skills while working with clients from the local community.

Industry connections and networking opportunities

Our civil engineering program allows students to benefit from real-world perspectives through construction site visits, engineering office tours, guest lecturers, and local professional association meetings.

Integration of professional and technical skills

Effective civil engineers need to be able to understand client needs and perform the necessary research, design, and analysis to meet those needs. Communication, teamwork, and incorporating stakeholder feedback are essential components of a successful project. As such, our students do not just learn technical skills; they practice them in a professional context.

An accredited program

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

students inspecting material in a container

Civil Engineering Program Description

The King's civil engineering program provides the education and skills necessary to start a career or pursue graduate studies in relevant fields. Students completing the civil engineering program at King's College are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Program graduates can qualify and practice as a professional civil engineer (PE) after fulfilling the experience and exam requirements of the licensure.

Our well-rounded curriculum emphasizes the fundamentals that integrate both established and cutting-edge civil engineering principles, methods, tools, and materials. The engineering courses are designed around real-life examples in connection with the practices in the industry so that students can easily relate the theories with practice.

The liberal arts tradition at King's College helps our students supplement their engineering education and training with communication skills, ethics, values, and social and environmental awareness. Our small class sizes also foster a student-centric and individualized learning environment.

Civil Engineering Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years of graduation, King's College civil engineering program alumni are expected to:

Complete engineering projects by following codes and standards, using technical knowledge, applying civil engineering design principles, and demonstrating problem-solving skills.
Grow professionally and engage in life-long learning by completing graduate degrees or pursuing other training, obtaining licensure or professional certifications, remaining current with contemporary issues, and receiving guidance from mentors.
Function effectively in a professional environment by following office standards, collaborating with other professionals, multitasking, and demonstrating initiative and leadership skills.
Act as citizen-engineers and members of the engineering profession by living and working ethically with concern for society and the environment.

Civil Engineering Student Outcomes

King's College civil engineering graduates should be able to:

Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
Function effectively on a team by providing leadership, creating a collaborative and inclusive environment, establishing goals, planning tasks, and meeting objectives.
Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Enrollment and graduation data is available here.

Visit Us

We welcome all potential students and their families to visit our beautiful campus and get a taste of the King’s College experience. Feel free to schedule a personal visit or register for one of our upcoming admission events.