Civil engineers design the infrastructure that allows society to function: roads, bay-spanning bridges, earthquake-safe buildings, drinking water treatment systems, reservoir systems. Increasingly, civil engineers are called upon to safeguard the health of our environment by managing and improving air, land and water quality with air, water and waste treatment systems. To meet challenges associated with climate change, civil engineers practice principles of sustainable development, including considering the social consequences of their designs. As a civil engineering major, you will begin your study with an extensive series of foundation courses in science and mathematics. At the upper division level, you will take advanced courses in specific topics in civil engineering. These courses will include subjects such as structural analysis and design, water resources management and transportation systems design.
Water Resources Engineering includes hydrology, hydraulics, fluid mechanics, and water resources systems planning and design. Hydrology deals with quantifying and understanding all aspects of the hydrologic cycle, including the relationships between precipitation, runoff, groundwater, and surface water. Water quality and contaminant transport issues are linked to hydrologic conditions. Hydraulics and fluid mechanics deal with flows in pipes, open-channel water-distribution systems, and natural systems, such as lakes and estuaries. Water resources systems planning and design deals with the comprehensive development of water resources to meet the multiple needs of industry, agriculture, municipalities, recreation, and other activities.