Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Civil engineering (CE) is the oldest engineering program at KU. The first graduating class in 1873 included a civil engineer. Civil engineers design roads, water systems, bridges, dams, and other structures, providing nearly all the infrastructure needed by modern society. Civil engineers were the first engineers to address environmental issues and are the lead engineering discipline in treating water supplies to protect public health. In recognition of the significant issues concerning the environment, the department name was changed in 1992 to civil and environmental engineering.
The environmental and water resources engineering (EWRE) and environmental and water resources science (EWRS) graduate programs were created in 2019 by combining existing programs in environmental engineering and science and water resources engineering. These programs dated back to the founding of the Environmental Health Sciences program in 1961. Environmental and water resources engineers and scientists address the safety and supply of water, the interactions of water and the hydrological cycle with the environment, and the use of physical, chemical, and biological processes to solve environmental and water problems.
Architectural engineering (ARCE) combines studies in architecture with engineering science and design courses in structures, illumination, power, mechanical, energy, and construction to prepare students for building design projects of all kinds. KU's B.S. degree program in architectural engineering was established in 1912. The first female graduate of the School of Engineering was an architectural engineering major. Architectural engineering merged with civil and environmental engineering in 2001 to form the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering (CEAE).
Mission
CEAE’s mission is to provide students with an outstanding engineering education and be a leader in research and service. This mission is supported by the following three goals:
- Prepare students for productive engineering careers
- Maintain and grow strong research programs
- Serve the profession
Undergraduate Programs
Civil, environmental, and architectural engineering offers undergraduate degree programs in both civil engineering and architectural engineering. The B.S. in civil engineering is a 4-year, 128-hour degree. The B.S. in architectural engineering is a 4-year, 128-hour program.
Students in civil engineering can identify either civil or environmental engineering as their concentration. Students in architectural engineering can specialize in one of four areas of emphasis: mechanical/energy systems, lighting/electrical systems, building structures, or construction, or a hybrid such as pre-architecture, sustainable buildings, acoustics, or fire protection.
Both degree programs require a student to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, which is part of the process toward registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.), to graduate. To help students complete their degrees efficiently and to aid with professional development, all undergraduates in CEAE have individual faculty members as their Engineering Faculty Mentors.
Graduate Programs
The department offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees and certificates:
- Master of Science in Architectural Engineering
- Master of Science in Civil Engineering
- Master of Science in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering
- Master of Science in Environmental & Water Resources Science
- Master of Civil Engineering
- Master of Construction Management
- Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental & Water Resources Science
- Graduate Certificate in Construction Management
- Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis
- Graduate Certificate in Structural Design
- Graduate Certificate in Structural Forensics
- Graduate Certificate in Water Resources
An ABET-accredited baccalaureate degree in engineering, or the equivalent from abroad, is required for admission to the graduate degree programs in civil, environmental and architectural engineering. The graduate degree programs in environmental & water resources science and construction management are intended primarily for students with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than engineering.
Graduate students in the civil engineering degree programs can specialize in structural engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, construction, or engineering mechanics. Students may be co-enrolled in a degree and certificate seeking program, and courses taken as a certificate seeking student may be counted towards a graduate degree.
Students in the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in architectural engineering program can specialize in mechanical/energy systems, lighting/electrical systems, building structures, or construction, or a hybrid such as sustainable buildings, acoustics, or fire protection. M.S. ARCE students often have bachelor degrees from other engineering disciplines.
The M.S. degree programs in civil and architectural engineering include a Design Option, which can be completed in 2 semesters of full-time study. Students in the Design Option take 4 regular academic courses each semester and work together as a consulting group on the design of a major engineering project. The Design Option is open to students in all areas of interest. Students in the Design Option must start in the fall semester and complete 15 credit hours, including the design project, in the fall and spring semesters. The M.S. degree programs also offer a Coursework-only Option which requires the completion of 30 credit hours of coursework. This option does not require a thesis, special problem investigation, or a final oral examination.
The Master of Civil Engineering degree provides a coursework-only option for working professionals who do not need the research component of the M.S. degrees. The M.C.E. degree may be completed by taking courses offered during evening hours.
The interdisciplinary Master of Science degree in environmental & water resources science is intended primarily for students with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than engineering.
The Master of Construction Management is a professional non-thesis degree for part-time or full-time students. Graduate courses in construction management (CMGT) are taught in the evening.
The department’s doctoral degrees are the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in civil engineering, environmental & water resources engineering, and environmental & water resources science. Most doctoral students hold M.S. degrees, but direct admission to a doctoral program is possible for especially well-qualified engineering B.S. holders.