Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil engineers harness the power of science, thoughtful design and teamwork to protect the public and the environment. Civil engineers work behind the scenes to create safe roadways, bridges and buildings, prevent flooding and ensure access to clean drinking water. But that isn't all there is to civil engineering—many civil engineers specialize in areas such as transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering or structural engineering. Because civil engineers work on such wide-ranging and impactful projects, their expertise is critical for the development of sustainable construction practices and the move towards carbon neutrality.

Lean more about careers in civil engineering.

Drawing on their expertise in the natural sciences, environmental scientists play a vital role in protecting and preserving both the environment and human health. Their primary focus is on understanding how environmental systems function and using that knowledge to evaluate the impact of potential environmental change. Environmental scientists identify and monitor hazards, create and evaluate comprehensive restoration plans, and oversee the implementation of these strategies. They often build careers as climate scientists, industrial ecologists, restoration planners, environmental chemists or geographic information system (GIS) scientists. They can serve as advisors to lawmakers and public policy leaders, offering insights on effectively addressing environmental hazards or adapting to climate change. 

At Seattle University, we offer small classes with caring faculty members who are excited to work with you, even when you don’t understand an idea or concept the first (or second) time.  It’s our goal to ensure every student is successful, not just in their classes, but also in meaningful careers that make a real difference for our society and the environment.   With an average class size of just 18 students, and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, you'll receive in-depth mentorship from your professors and benefit from their connections and experience as you prepare for your career. 

Learning takes on many forms. To better prepare our graduates to enter the workforce, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering emphasizes hands-on learning and practical application both inside and outside the classroom. In fact, over 70 percent of CEE students gain hands-on experience by completing an internship or doing undergraduate research during their undergraduate program.

In the classroom, team senior design projects are another experiential learning opportunity in our CEE programs. To date, 21 CEE design team projects have earned the prestigious NCEES Engineering Education Award, which recognizes engineering programs that encourage collaboration between students and professional engineers. Since the inception of these awards in 2009, CEE has garnered 27% of all NCEES awards.