School of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering

  • Why Civil Engineering?

    U.S. News and World Report Named Civil Engineering One of the "Best Jobs of 2012"

    • "Civil Engineers: Designers and builders of the quality of life."
      -- American Society of Civil Engineers

      Employment of civil engineers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2010. Spurred by general population growth and an expanding economy, more civil engineers will be needed to design and construct higher capacity transportation, water supply, pollution control systems, and large buildings and building complexes. They also will be needed to repair or replace existing roads, bridges, and other public structures. There may be additional opportunities within noncivil engineering firms, such as management consulting or computer services firms. In addition to job growth, openings will result from the need to replace civil engineers that transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

      Median civil engineering salaries start out at competitive five-figure levels, and after 20 years of experience, seasoned civil engineers earn six-figure engineering salaries and higher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11, surveys taken 2008-2009 indicated that the lowest 10 percent, earned $48,140, the highest 10 percent earned, $115,630, and those with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering started at $52,048 a year on average.

      If you break down Civil Engineering Salaries by Industry, you'll see that median civil engineering salaries generally range from around $50,000 to over $80,000 among various industries. Median annual earnings in some of the industries employing civil engineers in 2009 were:

      Federal Executive Branch $88,040
      Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $82,040
      Local Government $80,190
      Nonresidential Building Construction $79,410
      State Government $75,870

      According to PayScale's industry chart, civil engineer salaries are currently highest for those working in transportation with a large number of civil engineers also earning high salaries in the construction industry.Median annual earnings in industries with the highest levels of employment for civil engineers in 2009 were:

      Infrastructure $59,634 - $92,183
      Project Manager, Construction $53,755 - $91,434
      Project Engineer $55,130 - $84,523
      Road / Highway $56,234 - $82,111
      Structural Engineer $51,405 - $73,346
      Engineer in Training $45,469 - $57,528

      Spurred by general population growth and the related need to improve the Nation's infrastructure, more civil engineers will be needed to design and construct or expand transportation, water supply, and pollution control systems, and buildings and building complexes. They also will be needed to repair or replace existing roads, bridges, and other public structures. According to the BLS handbook, civil engineers are expected to have employment growth of 24 percent over the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations.

      We invite you to look into the exciting field of Civil Engineering as a career choice. But don't take our word for it, visit the department, talk with our students, talk with our graduates and then you decide.

    • Why Civil Engineering at Ole Miss?

      Small Class Size

      Engineering students at Ole Miss benefit from a close interaction between student and faculty. The current student-faculty ratio is about 22-1 with most upper level classes ranging from 5-45 students.

      A Great College Town

      Oxford, Miss., home of Ole Miss, has been recognized by USA Today as one of America's premier college towns. The downtown Square is home to numerous independently owned restaurants, art galleries and a bookstore The New Yorker said was as good as any in New York City. Live music can be heard throughout the week in numerous venues. Add in Southeastern Conference Sports and nearby recreation areas including Sardis Lake and you've got the ultimate college experience.

      Well-Rounded Engineers

      Engineering students at Ole Miss gain strengths in more than just engineering. The university's strong foundation in liberal arts touches all students, and those in engineering are no exception. The engineering curriculum includes courses in the humanities, social sciences, fine arts and ethics.

      Excellent Faculty

      The Ole Miss Civil Engineering faculty are leaders in research, but teaching is also a high priority. Department faculty have won numerous national and university teaching awards.

      Quality Students

      Bright, ambitious students make for a stimulating learning environment, and the civil engineering department at UM is home to many high-achievers. Students in the department regularly receive top academic awards and scholarships during their undergraduate studies at UM.

      Opportunities for Independent Study

      The Ole Miss Engineering faculty offer many opportunities for independent study. Students frequently are invited to participate in ongoing research projects that include field work and computational simulation. A number of our students continue on to graduate study. Recent examples include Georgia Tech, Stanford, University of Texas at Austin, Texam A&M, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.

      Computer-Aided Design

      State-of-the-art personal computers, mainframe computers and a supercomputer are readily available and routinely used as engineering tools throughout the curriculum. The program has quality teaching laboratories in structural mechanics, vibrations, multifunctional materials, transportation visualization, soil mechanics, fluid flow and environmental engineering.

      Accredited

      The School of Engineering's Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: 410-347-7700.

    • Civil Engineering Undergraduate Program

      • B.S. in Civil Engineering

        The B.S.C.E. degree emphasizes engineering sciences and civil engineering design with four proficiency areas: structural engineering, water resources and environmental engineering, transportation and construction management, and geotechnical engineering. The curriculum prepares the student for both professional practice and graduate study.

      • Goals/Mission Statement

        Goals

        Our graduates will be leaders of the profession and the society.

        Mission

        • To prepare students with a broad-based education for entering the civil and other related engineering professions, for advanced studies, and for careers in research;
        • To provide a top quality research program and graduate education in selected areas of science and engineering with its impact extending to regional, national, and global communities; and
        • To provide service to citizens, industry, and government via technological and educational innovations. Goal Our graduates will be leaders of the profession and the society.

        Program Educational Objectives

        The civil engineering program seeks to prepare graduates who, after the first few years of their professional career, will attain, to a high degree, the following objectives:



        • Graduates should be engaged in analyzing, designing, and overseeing construction of civil infrastucture systems.
        • Graduates will be employed in civil engineering and related professions or will be pursuing advanced studies.
        • Graduates will be effective in teamwork, interdisciplinary context, and communicating with technical and broader communities through written, oral, and visual formats.
        • Graduates will demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and ethical and societal responsibilities; and will be engaged in lifelong learning.
        • Graduates will be productive and creative, and will rate their education as effective.

        Program Outcomes

        • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
        • An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
        • An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
        • An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
        • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
        • An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
        • An ability to communicate effectively
        • The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
        • A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
        • A knowledge of contemporary issues
        • An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
        • Apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of science, consistent with the PEOs
        • Apply knowledge of four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering
        • Conduct civil engineering experiments and analyze and interpret the resulting data
        • Design a system, component, or process in more than one civil engineering context
        • Explain basic concepts in management, business, public policy, and leadership
        • Explain the importance of professional licensure

      • Program Accreditation

        • The School of Engineering's B.S. in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: 410-347-7700.

      • Admissions

        • Criteria and procedures for admitting students within the Department of Civil Engineering follow the general requirements for admission to the University of Mississippi. A portion of these requirements are shown below. The entire list of requirements is published in the Undergraduate Catalog. It is recommend that all prospective students consult with the current catalog or contact the Department should you have any further questions.

          Admission requirements to the School of Engineering, which encompass and exceed the general university requirements, are given below:

          • Admission of Freshmen

            • An applicant to the freshman class in the School of Engineering must submit the following:

              The applicant's academic record from an approved secondary school which includes at least the following units:

              Subject Minimum Units
              English 4
              Mathematics 4
              Natural science 3
              Social science 3
              Advanced electives,
              including Foreign language (one language)              		 2
              Computer applications 0.5
              Total (secondary school units) 16.5

          • Admission of Transfer Students

            • An overall "C" average in course work taken at other approved colleges is required for transfer into the School of Engineering. In unusual cases, the rule may be waived with the approval of the appropriate department chair and the dean.

          • Admission of International Students

            • International undergraduate applicants must have received a high school diploma with a "B" average or better and have completed a minimum of 12 years of primary and secondary education. Those prospective students whose native language is not English must submit evidence of competence in English by a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer-based). International students transferring from other colleges and universities must have an overall "B" average or better on all courses taken.

      • Civil Engineering Undergraduate Degree Requirements

        • General Education Requirements

          In addition to the courses specified by the School of Engineering general education requirements, the following is required: Math 263-264 and Math 353; laboratory science to be fulfilled by Chem 105, 115 and Phys 211, 212, 221, 222. Students must also complete at least 18 semester hours of general education requirements. Three hours of the course work must be in Econ 310, 3 hours must be in speech or oral communication (Spch 105), 3 hours in humanities, 3 hours in social science, and 3 hours in fine arts. The remaining 3 hours can be in any of the social sciences/humanities/fine arts categories. Course categories acceptable for these 18 hours of credit are specified under the general education requirements for the School of Engineering.

        • Course Requirements

          Specific requirements for the B.S.C.E. include CSci 251, Engr 207, 309, 312, 321, 310, 323, 362, 400, 402, 453; C E 101, 102, 207, 307, 315, 407, 411, 412, 417, 431, 433, 455, 456, 471, 472, and 481; M E 325; and 9 hours of technical electives (selected in consultation with the student's department chair and adviser).

        • Other Academic Requirements

          Students in the Department of Civil Engineering are encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination prior to awarding of the baccalaureate degree.

        • Curriculum

        • Let Us Prepare You For A Meaningful Career

          • The University of Mississippi, School of Engineering,
          • Engineering Admissions Office
          • (662) 915-7007 or (800) 563-5780
          • Department of Civil Engineering
          • (662) 915-7191 Phone
          • (662) 915-5523 Fax