CEE Undergraduate Programs of Study
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:
- U.S. Patent Office
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- David Taylor Naval Model Basin
- Library of Congress
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Center
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History (including numerous
Transportation exhibits)
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:
- Environmental Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Infrastructure Engineering
- Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
Faculty and Research 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:
- Environmental Engineering Lab
- Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Lab
- Material Science Lab
- Soil Mechanics Lab
- Structural Testing Lab
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.
Special Programs
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.
Cooperative Education
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.
Financial Aid
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.
Transfer Students
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.
Research Opportunities
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).
Inquiries
For more information, please contact the
Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering.
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