Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
Chairperson: Daniel H. Zitomer, PhD, PE, BCEE, FWEF
Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering website
The department of civil, construction and environmental engineering offers curricula that lead to a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering or a bachelor of science degree in construction engineering. Students that pursue a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering may select from civil engineering or environmental engineering majors. Students who pursue a bachelor of science degree in construction engineering select the construction engineering major.
Civil, construction and environmental engineering is the art and science used in the creation of the infrastructure critical to our everyday life: airports, buildings, bridges, dams, harbors, highways, irrigation systems, transportation systems, wastewater treatment systems, and water supply systems. Civil, construction and environmental engineers are also stewards of the land, its resources and environment. Modern society depends on this contribution from these engineers, whose education is systematically developed from a strong background in mathematics and the physical and engineering sciences. The civil, construction and environmental engineer must relate to society and be aware of how the engineering principles can be applied for the benefit of others through sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Mission
The mission of the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering is to educate students in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition. These students will be competent in their technical fields, appreciate the moral and ethical impact of their professional work and continue their professional development throughout their careers. The students and faculty of the department will advance the state of technical and scientific knowledge through research and provide service to civic and professional communities.
Areas of Study
Civil, construction and environmental engineering is a very broad profession. The breadth of courses offered in the department is well-suited to allow specialization in one of the major divisions of this branch of engineering: Construction Engineering (CNEN); Environmental and Water Resources Engineering (ENWR); Structural Engineering and Structural Mechanics (SESM); and Transportation Engineering and Materials (TEMA). However, it is not necessary to make a commitment to only one area of concentration while in the undergraduate college. The curriculum at Marquette permits students to prepare themselves in civil engineering and construction engineering by completing the courses which provide the necessary fundamentals and the opportunity to select elective courses to acquire additional depth in one or more of the areas of specialization. All of the electives which the department offers are open to students with the required prerequisites. Selection of the courses for a general program requires careful planning between the student and an academic adviser. Students in the civil engineering and construction engineering degree programs are able to complete elective courses in a chosen area or areas of specialization.
Non-Civil or Non-Construction Engineering Majors or Minors
Students in the civil engineering curriculum who are interested in obtaining a major or minor in any other area outside the civil or construction engineering degree programs should consult with the Engineering Academic Advising Center to discuss the requirements of these minors. Careful planning with an academic adviser can minimize the number of additional hours beyond the normal graduation requirements.
Five-Year B.S./M.S. Program
The department offers a five-year combined B.S./M.S. program known as the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP). This program enables students to earn both a bachelor of science degree in either civil engineering or construction engineering and a master of science degree in civil engineering in just five years (or six with completion of a co-op). Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering at Marquette University (with a GPA of 3.500 or above) may apply for admission to the ADP during their junior year. Students must submit an application to the Marquette University Graduate School, indicate their interest in the ADP, and meet all other admission criteria as stated in the Application Requirements section of the Graduate Bulletin.
In addition to completing their undergraduate degree requirements, students take master’s level courses during their senior year. The remaining master’s level course work is taken during the student’s fifth year. A maximum of 6 credits of course work may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements but these double-counted credits must be courses that carry graduate credit (i.e., courses numbered 5000 or above). Students are strongly encouraged to pursue Plan A (thesis option), in which work on the thesis research should begin during the summer between the junior and senior years. Students continue to gain research experience during the summer between senior and fifth years, continuing throughout the fifth year and culminating in preparation of a written thesis and defense. Accelerated degree programs following Plan B (course work option) may also be designed. See the Graduate Bulletin for further details.