There have been fatalities as a result of bridge and overpass collapses. Due to this situation, there aren’t enough civil engineers available to plan and oversee repairs to our public infrastructure. If you’re interested in a career in civil engineering in West Virginia, this article will provide the information you need.
The civil engineering discipline will offer the basis of in-depth knowledge in these fields and lay the foundation for a rewarding career so that it can contribute to resolving these global and national challenges.
Work of civil engineers
Infrastructure projects like local infrastructure are designed and built under the supervision of civil and environmental engineers who take the effects on the environment into account. Our engineers’ work has an impact on the well-being and economic vitality of individuals and communities.
Civil engineers work on a variety of projects throughout the day, including:
Analyzing data such as traffic patterns and flows or water system pressures while designing projects on paper and computers and testing materials and soils to ensure stability.
America has recently become aware that a large number of our public infrastructures, including roads, bridges, airports, tunnels, etc., have aged past their prime and require urgent maintenance or replacement.
Types of Graduate Programs in Civil Engineering
Of course, each graduate program in civil engineering has its own requirements and objectives. To find out which might be right for you, it might be best to get in touch with your top-choice civil engineering schools directly.
Graduate programs in civil engineering frequently expose students to fundamental ideas in the field while also allowing for specialized study in an area of interest. Numerous tracks are offered by some programs, including those in structural engineering and transportation engineering.
Through electives and research, other graduate programs in civil engineering enable students to focus on different areas.
- Examples include bridge scour countermeasures,
- instrumentation and sensor technology,
- sustainable building design, and construction management.
Different levels of study may be available at civil engineering graduate schools as well.
Civil Engineering courses
Students pursuing a degree in civil engineering must take the standard prerequisite courses for all degrees, including English, science, and history.
Students majoring in civil engineering focus on math and physics in addition to those courses.
Additional courses needed for a civil engineering degree include:
- Basic principles of soils
- Transportation engineering,
- Structural engineering,
- And environmental engineering
For the most part, managerial positions with engineering firms require a graduate degree.
Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement in West Virginia to become licensed in civil engineering. Excellent civil engineering programs are available at Marshall University and West Virginia University.
Masters’s Degree Programs in Civil Engineering
In master’s programs in civil engineering, you can obtain an MS in Civil Engineering or an M.Eng. These courses may concentrate on research or real-world applications and frequently call for a bachelor’s degree. There may be both thesis and non-thesis options. Options with a thesis may help you get ready for graduate school and place more of an emphasis on research. On the other hand, a non-thesis option might approach the subject matter with a focus on applied research and might work for people who are more interested in pursuing roles in the field.
Ph.D. programs in civil engineering
Or you could pursue a Ph.D. in civil engineering to advance your education. Ph.D. programs emphasize research and can be tailored to a student’s interests. Program plans are created to support the completion of a dissertation and are frequently significantly influenced by a chosen research area.
Best Civil Engineering Schools in West Virginia
| Institution | Category | Location | website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources | University department | 1306 Evansdale Dr | http://statler.wvu.edu/ |
| WVU Tech | Public university | 507 S Kanawha St | http://www.wvutech.edu/ |
| West Virginia University | University | +1 304-293-0111 | https://www.wvu.edu/ |
| Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | University department | https://cee.statler.wvu.edu/ | |
| WVU Potomac State College | College | 101 Fort Ave | http://www.potomacstatecollege.edu/ |
| West Virginia State University | University | http://www.wvstateu.edu/ | |
| Shepherd University | University | 301 N King St | http://www.shepherd.edu/ |
| Fairmont State University | University | 1201 Locust Ave | http://www.fairmontstate.edu/ |
| Mining Engineering Department | University | 401 Evansdale Dr | https://mine.statler.wvu.edu/ |
| Bluefield State University | University | 219 Rock St | http://bluefieldstate.edu/ |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | Community college | 2001 Union Carbide Drive | https://www.bridgevalley.edu/ |
| West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling Campus | Community college | 1704 Market St | http://www.wvncc.edu/ |
| Marshall University | Public university | 1 John Marshall Dr | http://www.marshall.edu/ |
| Virginia Tech College of Engineering | College | Torgersen Hall, 3046, 0217), 620 Drillfield Dr | https://eng.vt.edu/ |
| New River Engineering Inc | Engineering consultant | School Dr | http://nrei-wv.com/ |
| Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. | Engineer | 142 N Queen St | http://www.cecinc.com/ |
| West Virginia Academy | School | 763 Chestnut Ridge Rd | http://www.westvirginiaacademy.org/ |
| West Virginia University Office of Admissions | University department | One Waterfront Pl | https://admissions.wvu.edu/ |
| Myers-Lawson School of Construction | University | https://www.mlsoc.vt.edu/ | |
| The Charles Edward Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | University department | 200 Patton Hall | http://www.cee.vt.edu/ |
A career in Civil engineering
Your civil engineering career could advance thanks to graduate programs in the field. Buildings, dams, and bridges are examples of public works that civil engineers design, construct, and maintain.
Graduates of civil engineering are also in charge of building highways and airports. To succeed in their line of work, they might need to possess a broad range of scientific expertise and a thorough understanding of building materials.
Graduate programs in civil engineering may equip you to assume these responsibilities and more through a combination of coursework, design work, and research.
Job requirements for civil engineering
Before you can sit for the civil engineering professional licensing exam after earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, you must have four years of experience.
You must submit an application for the professional engineer examination to the West Virginia Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
You must submit your completed application along with your college transcript, work experience report, educational plan of study agreement, references from other professional engineers, and all necessary fees.
Future of civil engineering
Future engineers must be equipped to handle pressing national and international problems like the energy-water-food nexus, climate change, and infrastructure issues.
The future of employment for civil engineers is brighter than ever. Not only are there many job openings for civil engineers right now, but this field is also predicted to grow at a much faster rate than most others, up to 24% annually.
This rise is brought on by both population growth and the urgent need to build new infrastructure and repair existing ones. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the starting median annual salary for civil engineers in 2010 was just over $77,000.
