Civil Engineering (BSE)
Program Code: U-CE-BSE
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Department: Pratt School of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
Website: cee.duke.edu/undergrad/degrees/ce-planning
Program Summary
The infrastructure that makes up what we refer to as civilization is, for the most part, the work of civil and environmental engineers. Improving, or even maintaining, the quality of life is ever more challenging as urban problems in the industrialized nations of the world intensify, while rapid urbanization in many developing countries creates other opportunities and obligations for the civil and environmental engineer. The planning, design, construction, and maintenance of necessary facilities, in an era of increasingly scarce monetary and other resources, demand civil and environmental engineers dedicated to work for the public good and prepared to seek more efficient and effective solutions based on current technology. The challenges faced by civil and environmental engineers vary widely in nature, size, and scope, and encompass both the public and private sectors. Examples include high-rise buildings and long-span bridges; concert halls and museums; hazardous waste disposal facilities; orbital structures; water supply and treatment facilities; tunnels; dams; seaports, airports, and offshore structures.
The mission of the undergraduate program in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University is to provide an education that prepares graduates to solve technical problems, to pursue lifelong learning in their field, to assume leadership roles in their chosen careers, and to recognize their professional and personal obligations to the broader society and culture. The program is designed to provide a holistic educational experience where engineering sciences and design are combined with humanities and social sciences to provide the foundation for the critical thinking and skills that allow graduates to enjoy the benefits of a liberal education.
The alumni of the civil engineering (CE) program are expected to exhibit the following behaviors:
conceive, communicate, and contribute to effective and sustainable solutions to professional, multi-disciplinary challenges (in, for example, engineering design, project management, consulting, finance, and academia) by utilizing fundamental principles of mathematics, science, and engineering, and employing engineering methods and judgment as needed;
seek and engage in professional development, including advanced degrees and professional licensure, to enhance their capabilities and personal fulfillment;
be leaders in their professional and personal communities while responding ethically and boldly when confronted with modern societal and environmental challenges.
The civil engineering program is built upon the expertise and experience of the faculty of the Civil and Environmental Engineering department and is supported by commensurate laboratory and instructional facilities. The civil and environmental engineering professors are committed to providing quality classroom instruction, advising, and laboratory experiences in settings that encourage student-faculty interactions as well as student-student interactions. The faculty conducts research of national and international consequence, and undergraduates have ample opportunities to be involved in such research, through undertaking independent study projects and/or by working as research assistants. The research facilities in the department, including laboratory equipment and instrumentation as well as computer resources, are comparable to those found in other major universities.
Graduates of the civil engineering program are able to select from a wide range of career paths. Recent graduates have pursued advanced study in engineering, business, law, and architecture, while others have accepted positions with major corporations and federal, state, and local government agencies as design engineers and project managers.
The civil engineering (CE) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.
Academic Requirements
At least 34 units total to earn a BSE degree.
Foundation Courses (7-7.5 units)
EGR 201L
CEE 251L (CEE 201L may also count)
EGR 244L
CEE 132L (CEE 205 and an additional CEE elective may also count)
CEE 301L
CEE 302L
CEE 351 (EGR 305 may also count)
Track (4 units; select 1 track)
Structural Engineering and Mechanics track
CEE 421L
CEE 422L
CEE 423L
CEE 429
Environmental Engineering track
CEE 461L
CEE 462L
CEE 463L
CEE 469
Natural Science Elective (1 unit)
A comprehensive list of elective courses is available to students in the degree audit system.
Engineering and Applied Science Elective (1 unit)
A comprehensive list of elective courses is available to students in the degree audit system.
Major Electives (3 units)
Any 3 CEE courses 300-level and above
Free Electives (2 units)
A comprehensive list of elective courses is available to students in the degree audit system.
A sample semester-by-semester sequencing of the requirements for the major is available online at cee.duke.edu/undergrad/degrees/ce-planning. Students planning to attend graduate school are strongly advised to use the unrestricted electives to take at least one additional civil and environmental engineering elective, with at least one of them at the 500-level, or higher.