Civil Engineering
Major in the Cockrell School of Engineering
What would it feel like to have the expertise to build a school that could withstand an earthquake, a road system that puts an end to chronic traffic jams, or a sports stadium that offers everyone a great view?
As a civil engineer, you might design roller coasters, highways, skyscrapers, railways, bridges, water reservoirs, or tunnels. Civil engineering is engineering for people. Read more about the civil engineering program.
Declaration Requirements
ShowProspective University of Texas at Austin students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.
How to Declare
ShowUndergraduates currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin who wish to change to an engineering major need to apply for an internal transfer. Internal transfer applicants are students currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin who are seeking to transfer within or into a major in the Cockrell School of Engineering. Find out more about the internal transfer process.
Required Courses
ShowFor more information on required courses, read the Civil Engineering undergraduate curriculum overview.
Specializations
ShowCivil Engineering (CE) offers seven areas of practice:
- Construction Engineering and Project Management
- Infrastructure Materials Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
Personality
ShowEngineers are creative problem solvers who are essential to our health, happiness and safety. Engineering students celebrate discovery, design, creativity, imagination, innovation and contribution to the world we live in. No profession unleashes the spirit of innovation like engineering. From research to real-world applications, engineers constantly discover how to improve our lives by creating bold new solutions that connect science to life in unexpected, forward-thinking ways. Few professions turn so many ideas into so many realities. Few have such a direct and positive effect on people's everyday lives. We are counting on engineers and their imaginations to help us meet the needs of the 21st century.
Learn about engineering-related student organizations on campus.
Skills
ShowEngineering students will acquire creative problem solving skills and the ability to design and lead in a variety of situations and environments. Based on "The Engineer of 2020" by the National Academy of Engineering, the Cockrell School of Engineering strives to graduate students who:
- Possess strong analytical skills
- Exhibit practical ingenuity - skill in planning, combing and adapting
- Exhibit creativity - invention, innovation, thinking outside of the box
- Exhibit good communication skills
- Master the principles of business and management
- Understand and practice the principles of leadership
- Possess a framework upon which high ethical standards and a strong sense of professionalism can be developed
- Exhibit dynamism, agility, resilience, and flexibility
- Embrace being a lifelong learner