Civil Engineering Major

Civil engineering immerses you in the built environment. Civil engineers oversee the smart and responsible design and creation of structures and systems that are familiar to all of us: roads, bridges, buildings, airports, sewer systems, and more. Increasingly they are concerned not only with the what of the world around us, but the how: the ways in which people live in and utilize the built environment, and how we can optimize that for the benefit of human beings and the planet.

Civil engineering is a field with many pathways, and a UIC education will open them for you. Students who pursue an undergraduate major in civil engineering may find themselves drawn to careers in structural engineering (including designing structures to manage an increasing incidence of natural disasters), urban planning, coastal preservation, transportation engineering, water-resources management, materials science, environmental engineering, and beyond.

Your vision of your future career will be shaped by your UIC coursework, the faculty mentors you encounter here, and the strong support of your fellow students.

UIC offers a wide range of scholarships and other forms of financial assistance. Some scholarships are designed for new students; others are open to continuing students. Learn more about these programs on our College scholarships page.

Ash Antuñez
Civil Engineering, May 2025 | Chicago, IL

Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else: UIC’s commitment to encouraging an inclusive environment is underscored by its comprehensive support services through diversity, equity, and engagement-based programs, which play a pivotal role in addressing the diverse needs of students, empowering them to navigate their academic and personal journeys successfully.

Favorite course: Active Transportation with Dr. Peiravian. His approach in civil engineering goes beyond infrastructure; he emphasized the importance of integrating active transportation and walkable cities into urban planning to enhance quality of life and create vibrant communities which allow individuals to create meaningful connections.

Favorite thing about the department: The influence of my classmates and the staff at Equity and Inclusion in Engineering Program has been instrumental in shaping my academic and extracurricular pursuits. Their encouragement has led me to become more actively involved.  Also, my involvement in ASCE and the Food Recovery Network has sparked a deeper interest in the role of social activism within engineering.

How is the College of Engineering preparing you for the working world? Engaging projects, student organizations, and leadership programs further hones critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills. This comprehensive approach ensures that students are well-prepared to tackle complex problems and adapt to the dynamic demands of the engineering field, setting them up for success in their future careers.

Luke Vucic
Civil Engineering  May 2025| Lincolnwood, IL

Why did you choose UIC College of Engineering? Being in the heart of Chicago, UIC is in a fantastic location that allows me to commute to school while having a great engineering program at heart. No where else in Chicago will you find a robust engineering program like the one UIC has. The College of Engineering at UIC was growing very rapidly at the time I was applying for schools and felt like I wanted to be apart of that growth.

Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else: I really like how classes are structured at UIC. The format of classes flow very nicely so it doesn’t feel like I am being overwhelmed even though I am taking multiple classes. Each class builds off of the next and it really fosters my interest in learning about engineering.

Which was the most valuable internship you’ve had and how did it help you? AECOM – Engineering Intern (Transportation) Summer 2023
I was able expand my knowledge and learn how to use MicroStation. I have became very proficient in my CAD skills and expanded my knowledge in transportation design.

Stephanie Padilla
Civil Engineering, BS ’21 | Chicago, IL

Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else: Being a research university allows for students to be actively involved in their respective fields through undergraduate research. Such experience allows for great insight.

Favorite course: CME 203 Strength of Materials.

Student organizations you’ve joined: I’m the secretary and a SHPE junior representative for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

What makes this student organization valuable to you? SHPE has provided me with many opportunities for growth as well as academic and professional guidance. Most importantly, I have met many hardworking and aspiring individuals whom I now call my SHPE familia.

Moshe Carron
Civil Engineering, BS ’21 | Chicago, IL

Favorite course: CME 301 Steel Design.

Favorite thing about the department you’re majoring in: Most of the faculty were working in industry before becoming instructors. They share about the hands-on, real-world issues and projects that they were a part of.

What is the most valuable student organization you’ve joined? The Student Steel Bridge Club. I’ve made some lifelong friends from it. Being involved in the project motivated me to do well in my structural classes.

Favorite restaurant in Chicago: Ken’s Diner. It’s a really neat kosher diner, plus they load up on the corned beef with their Dempster sandwich.

The civil engineering program at UIC is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

As part of the accreditation process, ABET asks our department to capture the overall goals of the undergraduate programs in civil engineering. These are called our program educational objectives.

Graduates of the civil engineering program at the University of Illinois Chicago will establish careers in engineering, research and development, and/or management professions and will be involved in professional societies. Within a few years of completing the program, graduates are expected:

• To apply technical expertise, effective design skills, and sustainability principles to address evolving engineering challenges affecting a diverse society.
• To be engaged in continuing education. Motivated graduates will have pursued or have well-formulated plans to pursue graduate education.
• To effectively and ethically contribute as a member, manager, or leader of multidisciplinary teams through efficient communication of technical and nontechnical issues.

Civil engineering is a regulated profession, meaning that a majority of professionals in the field will become licensed Professional Engineers within five years of graduation. To attain this license, a civil engineering student must take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to become certified as an Engineer-in-Training. A new civil engineer then must take the Principles of Engineering exam. When that exam is passed, and when the new civil engineer has successfully demonstrated sufficient evidence of work experience and other qualifications required by the state and jurisdiction, the Professional Engineer license will be awarded. The PE license is highly regarded in the industry and opens doors to many successful and rewarding careers.

Civil engineering graduates who choose to practice structural engineering also will need to become licensed Structural Engineers within 10 years of their graduation.

Another part of the ABET accreditation process requires our department to identify the specific knowledge and skills that students are intended to have when they complete their undergraduate education. These are called student outcomes.

Students graduating from the civil engineering program at UIC will have:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. an ability to 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.
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. an ability to 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.
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, 406 students are enrolled at UIC Engineering as civil engineering majors across all class years. The department graduated 82 civil engineering majors in the academic year ending August 2021. View historical enrollment and graduation data here.