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| Undergraduate Programs
The George Washington University was founded in 1821 by charter of the United States Congress and President James Monroe, following the wishes of George Washington to establish a national university in the federal city. The School of Engineering, and within it the civil engineering program, was founded in 1884. Civil and Environmental Engineering at GW offers students a number of ways to craft their academic programs to meet special career interests. These opportunities arise from the broad range of excellent nonengineering programs at this full-discipline university. Because GW is comprised of seven academic units, Civil and Environmental Engineering students can combine their study of engineering with work in such fields as law, medicine, business, education, the liberal arts, and international affairs. For example, GW offers superior resources for those seeking to work in the international technical engineering and business environment. The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area is an excellent environmental engineering location. It is home to some of the most outstanding research and development facilities in the nation. Among conveniently accessible resources for GW's Civil and Environmental Engineering students are: Civil and Environmental Engineering Professions Civil and Environmental Engineering encompass the branches of engineering most closely related to the control and improvement of human environment and conditions of life. Civil and Environmental Engineering students usually enter careers related to construction of society's infrastructure, and to maintainance and cleanup of the natural environment. For students interested in infrastructure, study at GW prepares them for careers in the planning, design, and construction of buildings, bridges, roads, airports, and rapid transit systems. For students interested in environmental engineering, study at GW prepares them to specialize in pollution control, hazardous waste cleanup, and water and wastewater treatment systems. GW's undergraduate Civil and Environmental Engineering curricula equip students to pursue graduate study, or to register as professional civil or environmental engineers-as required by law-to begin careers in industry upon graduation. While the majority of our graduates distinguish themselves in engineering careers, GW Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates have entered excellent engineering careers in academia and in government. Some Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates go on to medical school and capitalize on their strong foundation in engineering to launch careers in medical technology. Others continue their studies in law school, specializing in intellectual property and product law. The GW career Center helps our graduates find positions to fulfill all their aspirations. Despite recent weak job markets in other fields, engineers remain in great demand. Starting salaries for graduates holding the B.S. have long exceeded those for other disciplines by a strong margin. Civil and Environmental Program The civil engineering program is fully accredited by the Engineering Accredition Comission of the Accredition Board for Engineering and Technology. The objective of GW's civil engineering program is to prepare the next generation of engineers to meet the engineering chalenges of the twenty-first century. Our faculty provide individual attention to our students and create opportunities for learning in small groups. While maintaining a high standard of excellence, we seek to enable every student to develop to his or her highest potential. The first two years of the civil engineering curriculum establish a foundation in computers, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and the humanities and social sciences. This core is equivalent to those in other School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) majors, so switching to another engineering discipline is easy during this period, as is transferring from another SEAS discipline. The third and fourth years narrow the focus to the professional education. In these years, studies include basic structural engineering, materials engineering, water resources, and environmental engineering. Students may specialize in one of the following technical areas: The civil and environmental engineering faculty are fully engaged in teaching and research at the forefront of technology and science. They bring immense richness and diversity to the classroom. As a student you will find yourself in a stimulating environment, surrounded by nationally- and internationally- recognized scholars whose research interests include computational mechanics, computer aided design, environmental engineering, material science, and probabilistic structural mechanics. Computing Facilities, Laboratories, and Libraries Well-equipped laboratories provide our students the means to supplement theoretical knowledge with experimental observations. The department's own computing facility networks personal computers, houses Hewlett-Packard and Sun workstations, and maintains Silicon Graphics workstations for research. Civil and Environmental Engineering students have access to the university Computer Center and its several labs and to larger specialized computer labs housed at the SEAS Computing Facility. Also, residence hall computer networks permit access to the SEAS computers from dormitory rooms. CEE Laboratories include: Students can conduct course research using the GW Gelman Library and the collections of six other Washington, D.C. area universities through the library's computerized catalogue. Accelerated Studies - Sufficiently advanced high school graduates may complete both bachelor's and master's degrees in four years. Engineering and Law - An integrated B.S./J.D. program assures entering engineering freshmen admission into GW's National Law Center upon graduation, when they meet stated conditions. The B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering is especially good preparation for a degree in technology contract, patent, product liability, or environmental law. Engineering and Medicine - A program in integrated engineering and medicine for highly qualified high school of Medicine and Health Sciences towards the M.D. degree once they have earned the B.S. degree in engineering. Honors Research - Undergraduate honors students work one-on-one with Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty to gain individualized research experience and an enhanced exposure to the engineering profession. ROTC - GW has a Naval ROTC program for those seeking careers as naval officers. GW students may take Army or Air Force ROTC courses at neighboring universities. Participants in these programs receive excellent scholarships. Secondary Fields of Study - While pursuing an engineering degree, a student may concurrently study in a secondary field in other schools at the university field in other schools at the university. Previous Civil and Environmental Engineering students have pursued secondary fields in international affairs in the Elliott School, in business administration in the School of Business and Public Management, and in a wide range of subject areas in the Columbian School of Arts and Sciences. A secondary field of study generally requires some additional credit hours. Solar Car Competitions - The School sponsors a solar car racing team made up of students from all engineering disciplines. The team has designed and built two solar cars and entered them in several national and international races, including Sunrayce93 and Sunrayce95 in the U.S., and the World Solar Car Rallyes in Australia and in Japan. GW consistently finishes in the top five of American university entries. The team won the University Division of the 1996 World Solar-Car Rallye. Study Abroad - Students entering SEAS as freshmen or as transfer sophomores may apply to the University Honors Program. Honors students attend special University symposia, courses and course section with enrollment restricted to honors students, and special events for honors students. The School of Engineering and Applied Science maintains a co-op program that is available to freshmen at the end of their first year of studies and to transfer students immediately. GW offers a conventional alternating plan in which the co-op work sessions alternate with academic semesters. Moreover, because of GW's prime urban environment, we also offer a parallel plan under which the student works part-time during the semester while taking a reduced academic load, and full-time during summers and vacations. Co-op provides valuable experience related to the student's major field of study, and offers possible early entry into a carrer position. Salary provides substantial financial support. In addition, some employers pay all or part of student's tuition expenses. A variety of financial aid packages for incoming freshmen and transfer students allows a majority of undergraduate students some form of aid. Aid includes awards for academic achievement without reference to financial circumstance, such as honor scholarships, and scholarships, grants, loans, and employment based on both academic achievement and demonstrated financial need. Loans and resident assistantships are also available. The average amount of financial aid for SEAS students covers approximately two thirds of tuition costs. Students in good academic standing with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.7/4.0 at other colleges or universities are encourages to apply as transfer students. Transfer credit is normally assigned for courses with grades of C or better that are comparable to courses required in the SEAS curriculum. SEAS has articulation agreements with many regional and community colleges, for which course equivalency sheets are avialable. Students planing to transfer may select the equivalent courses indicated on this page and be assured that they will be credited for transfer. An important objective of the graduate program is to encourage research. Join the faculty in exploring research topics such as geotechnics, environmental and structural engineering, solid mechanics and materials engineering, water resources, and computer-aided design. In addition, employment possibilities at government laboratories, in local and federal government agencies, and with contractors in the Washington area offer you exciting opportunities to interact with experts in engineering and science. Research Institutes and Centers University Policy on Equal Opportunity The George Washington University does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age handicap, veteran status, or sexual orientation. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of the University, including admissions to education programs and employment. The University is subject to the District of Columbia Human Rights Law. Inquiries concerning the application of this policy and federal laws and regulations regarding discrimination in education or employment programs and activities may be addressed to Susan B. Kaplan, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, (202) 994-6503, or to the Assistant Secretary for civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education. Disabled individuals who require special information may direct inquiries to Disabled Student Services, (202) 994-8250 (TDD/voice). For more information, please contact the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
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Civil and Environmental Engineering Professions |
