Civil Engineering Degrees: Bachelor, Associate & Online Course Info

About this article
Associate's and bachelor's degrees in civil engineering can lead to careers as drafters, civil engineers, and project engineers. Get the truth about the requirements, courses, and career options, and find out what you can do with your degree.
  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's

Studying Civil Engineering: Degrees at a Glance

View available schools

Civil engineering is the planning and design of major structures, including highways, bridges, buildings, and canals. Civil engineers might work for private companies or as government workers planning municipal projects. In a civil engineering degree program, you'll learn the physical sciences as they pertain to the construction of these structures.

If you're seeking an education in civil engineering, it's worth noting that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expected an average job growth for those with a bachelor's degree (the job outlook for civil engineers was expected to be 19% from 2010-2020), and a slower-than-average job growth for those with an associate's degree (the job outlook for drafters was expected to be 6% and for civil engineering technicians to be 12%, both for the same 2010-2020 period).

Associate's Bachelor's
Who is this degree for? Those interested in aiding in planning, design, and constructing projects such as bridges, dams, and buildings Those interested in overseeing the planning, design, and construction of such projects
Common Career Paths (with approximate median annual salary) -Drafter ($47,000)*
-Civil Engineering Technician ($47,000)*
-Cost Estimator ($49,000)**
-Civil Engineer ($78,000)*
-Civil Engineering Supervisor ($72,000)**
-Project Engineer ($60,000)**
Time to Completion Two years (full time) 4-6 years (full time)
Common Graduation Requirements -General education courses
-Mathematics and physical sciences courses
-Engineering courses on an array of topics, such as environment, foundations, and material use
-A technical project
Most or all of the associate's degree requirements, plus:
-Additional general education courses
-Additional engineering courses
-Capstone project
Prerequisites High school diploma or GED High school diploma or GED
Online Availability None found at this time Yes (hybrid)

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2011), **Salary.com (May 2012).

1
/3
  • At a Glance
  • Associate's
  • Bachelor's