Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Department


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The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction offers rigorous academic programs leading to degrees in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. Civil Engineering involves the planning, analysis and design, construction, operation, and stewardship of the world’s structures and infrastructure. Civil Engineers design and construct buildings, bridges, highways, dams, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and other public and private works essential to civilized life in a modern society. Civil Engineers apply modern and sophisticated tools to plan and design large-scale systems for the public good, as well as select components and materials employed in these systems. Civil Engineers work primarily in teams, in a broad range of business models and as public servants. The Civil Engineering curriculum provides graduates with the skills needed to become successful, innovative and socially responsible Civil Engineers. The Construction Management curriculum offers courses in construction science and management that provide students with the necessary education to enter a wide range of professional positions in the construction industry or advanced degree programs. The program stresses a sound educational background in construction science to support the management decision-making capability required in the field.

Accredited by the:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, www.nwccu.org
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org 
American Council for Construction Education, http://www.acce-hq.org 

Undergraduate Majors

Bachelor of Science in Engineering-Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

Mission

It is the mission of the department to produce competent, ethical, and socially responsible graduates develop and advance relevant knowledge, and serve the community and the professions of Civil Engineering and Construction Management.

Goals

The goals of the department’s accredited baccalaureate programs are to:

  • Prepare graduates for the lifelong practice of civil engineering and construction management.
  • Meet educational requirements for professional licensure in civil engineering and professional certification in construction management.
  • Provide graduates with solid academic preparation for graduate study.

Civil Engineering Program—Educational Objectives

The objectives of the Civil Engineering undergraduate degree program are to prepare graduates who can perform at the entry level in civil engineering practice so that, some years after graduation, they can become licensed professionals having responsibility for the planning, design, implementation, operation, continuous improvement and stewardship of civil engineering structures and infrastructure. Graduates will have the skills and tools for life-long learning, continuing professional development, and pursuit of advanced degrees.

Measurable Program Outcomes

Civil engineering graduates will have attained the following outcomes: 

  1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of science, and engineering;
  2. an ability to design and conduct civil engineering experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret the resulting data;
  3. 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;
  4. an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
  5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
  6. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
  7. an ability to communicate effectively;
  8. the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
  9. a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
  10. a knowledge of contemporary issues;
  11. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice;
  12. an ability to apply knowledge of four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering; 
  13. an ability to design a system, component, or process in more than one civil engineering context;
  14. an ability to explain basic concepts in management, business, public policy, and leadership;
  15. an ability to explain the importance of professional licensure. 

Technical Areas:

The CEE Department has four required technical areas. The areas and the required course work in each respective area are:

  1. Environmental/Water Resources Engineering —  ,  ,  ,  .
  2. Geotechnical Engineering —   .                             
  3. Structural Engineering —  ,   ,   ,    .                                                             
  4. Transportation Engineering —    .        

Additionally, four technical elective courses are required in at least two technical areas, with a minimum of two courses in one area. The technical electives available in each technical area are:

  1. Environmental/Water Resources Engineering —        .
  2. Geotechnical Engineering —  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
  3. Structural Engineering —  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
  4. Transportation Engineering —   ,   ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  .
  5. Construction Engineering —   and one of  ,  ,  .

In addition to the courses identified above, students may take other elective courses such as computer applications, project management, construction engineering, and others.

  may be counted as an elective in Transportation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Geotechnical Engineering if a project is undertaken in that area.   Independent Study courses and   Special Topics courses will be categorized based on their content.

Construction Management Program—Educational Objectives

The Construction Management Program emphasizes course work in construction management, engineering, business and management, and mathematics and science.

Measurable Program Outcomes

Construction management graduates will have attained the following outcomes:

  1. an ability to apply contemporary knowledge in project estimating, planning, scheduling and control;
  2. an ability to apply contemporary knowledge fo construction science; 
  3. an ability to state-of-the-art skills in construction computer applications;
  4. an ability to define and solve problems;
  5. an ability to communicate effectively;
  6. an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
  7. an ability to employ sound interpersonal and leadership skills
  8. an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
  9. an ability to apply contemporary knowledge of risk management, safety, litigation and documentation;
  10. understanding of professional customer service and quality a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
  11. a knowledge of contemporary issues.

Technical Areas:

The program prepares the student for professional practice as a construction manager or other professional construction-related positions. Prepares the student for graduate course work in construction management.

Admission to the Major

General admission follows college requirements. Students transferring from other universities or from other colleges within UNLV who have GPAs of between 2.00 and 2.50 will be admitted on probation and considered to be pre-major students. Admission and transfer policies are described in the College of Engineering section. 

Department Policies

  1. Regardless of catalog of graduation, students must satisfy prerequisite and corequisite course requirements as specified in the most recent Undergraduate Catalog.
  2. All required and elective courses in engineering, mathematics, science, business, computer science, and English must be completed with a grade of C or better. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better before taking the next course. Students must complete all pre-major courses before promotion to advanced standing. Promotion to advanced standing requires a minimum GPA of 2.00 and a grade of C or better in all courses specified in No. 2 above.
  3. All Civil Engineering majors must take the Discipline-Specific Fundamentals of Engineering Examination in Civil Engineering within one year prior to anticipated date of graduation. Students must register for  , one-credit, during the semester in which they plan to take the examination.
  4. Civil Engineering students should register for  , Civil Engineering Capstone Design, in their last semester prior to anticipated date of graduation. To verify eligibility and permit registration for Civil Engineering Capstone Design, students must submit a completed graduation application prior to the start of instruction in their penultimate semester.
  5. All Construction Management majors must take the American Institute of Constructors Qualification Examination (COE) Level I-Construction Fundamentals as part of   within one year prior to anticipated date of graduation. A good-faith effort on the exam is required.

 

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