What courses should I take next semester? Am I on track to graduate? Who can help me figure out the best way to study? How do I get an internship? Is graduate school for me? These are only a few of the questions in students’ minds over the course of four years in college. Our commitment is that every student has the opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback on their progress and advice on their academic life. Every student is required to meet with their advisor at least once a semester, before registration period begins.
There are several general resources on advising and course registration, including the UConn Advising, the School of Engineering Advising and the Office of the Registrar page.
Althea Lozefski, CEE Professional Advisor; althea.lozefski@uconn.edu 860-486-8079, EII 300
Juniors and Seniors
Your Academic Advisor can be found in Student Admin. Additional departmental contacts are
Shinae Jang, Director of Undergraduate Studies, shinae.jang@uconn.edu
Maria Chrysochoou, Department Head, maria.chrysochoou@uconn.edu
Curriculum Sheets
Catalog Year | Curriculum | |
2023-24 | CE | ENVE |
2022-23 | CE | ENVE |
2021-22 | CE | ENVE |
2020-21 | CE | ENVE |
2019-20 | CE | ENVE |
2018-19 | CE | ENVE |
2017-18 | CE | ENVE |
2016-17 | CE | ENVE |
2015-16 | CE | ENVE |
ENVE Guide to Course Selection
CE-ENVE Double Major Catalog year 21 and later
This FAQ is a roadmap to guide you, the undergraduate student in Civil Engineering (CE), through the complex process of selecting and registering for courses to earn your degree as efficiently and quickly as you want. It is organized according to common questions and issues you will face during your time at UConn.
This document does not substitute for the course catalog. Complete information about CE degree requirements can be found at the following web addresses:
Additional FAQs may be found here
Course and Scheduling Questions
What Does That Abbreviation or Acronym Mean? Large organizations (including UConn) are notorious for using abbreviations and acronyms liberally in descriptions of offices and procedures. These abbreviations and acronyms are helpful for streamlining text, but only when everyone knows what they mean. Following is a list of abbreviations and acronyms that are used in this document and that you might see elsewhere as you navigate through UConn.
ASCE
American Society of Civil Engineers
CAST
Castleman Building (home of the CEE Department)
CE
Civil Engineering (the undergraduate or graduate program)
CE&M
Construction Engineering & Management (the minor)
CEE
Civil & Environmental Engineering (the Department)
EII
Engineering II Building (home of the SoE Undergraduate Dean)
EIT
Engineer in Training
ENVE
Environmental Engineering (the undergraduate or graduate program)
FE
Fundamentals of Engineering examination
Gen Ed
General Education courses (required of all UConn undergraduates)
GPA
Grade Point Average
P&P
Principles and Practice examination
PE
Professional Engineer
PEO
Program Educational Objectives
POS
Plan of Study
PR
Professional Requirements (senior level electives)
SoE
School of Engineering
What Is Civil Engineering? Civil and Environmental Engineers seek to sustainably plan, design, construct and maintain infrastructure systems that meet the evolving needs of humanity while maintaining and protecting the natural environment. We work in the natural and constructed environments and must account for the forces of nature in our designs, seeking to minimize any adverse effects of our designs on the environment and society. We design and construct the physical infrastructure needed by society to insure a high quality of life. This includes the buildings where we live and work, the highways where we travel, the water that we drink, as well as a multitude of other projects necessary for the well-being of life on planet earth. Civil & Environmental Engineers address some of the most important challenges that face our world today, including: The mission of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is to provide students with a broad, fundamental real-world educational program to prepare them to contribute actively to engineering practice while considering public health and safety, social equity, and environmental and economic factors. Our programs develop creative thinking and innovation skills that enable engineers to develop new solutions to local, national and global problems related to the built and natural environment. We are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive and collaborative environment for students, faculty and staff. We are committed to empowering our students, developing life-long learners, and instilling a sense of professional responsibility.
What is Accreditation and Why Is It Important? Accreditation is a process to assure you that the Civil Engineering degree you earn at UConn (or any other accredited engineering school) can be trusted to prepare you for your career objectives, including gaining employment as an engineer after graduating and eventually becoming licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) (see section “What is Professional Licensure?”). Engineering and technology programs in the US, including your CE degree from UConn, are accredited by an organization called ABET. One aspect of accreditation is announcing to our constituents – prospective students and potential employers – what our program prepares graduates for. This is known as our Program Educational Objectives, or PEO’s, and they describe what we prepare our students to be doing 5-10 years after they graduate. The Civil Engineering undergraduate program educational objectives are to prepare our alumni/ae with the knowledge and skills needed to: In addition to publishing these PEO’s, we also assess whether or not we achieve them. One of the ways we do this is to periodically ask our graduates questions about their career progress. After you earn your degree at UConn, we may contact you at some time to do this. It is very important to maintain accreditation of your degree to help us out by answering these questions. These questions are also helpful to support our goal of continuously looking for ways to improve our program. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
What Else Does Accreditation Involve? STUDENT OUTCOMES are what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation: In addition there are special CE PROGRAM CRITERIA defined by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the professional society for civil engineers in the US. These criteria say that any accredited civil engineering program must prepare graduates to “apply knowledge of mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and at least one additional area of basic science; apply probability and statistics to address uncertainty; analyze and solve problems in at least four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering; conduct experiments in at least two technical areas of civil engineering and analyze and interpret the resulting data; design a system, component, or process in at least two civil engineering contexts; include principles of sustainability in design; explain basic concepts in project management, business, public policy, and leadership; analyze issues in professional ethics; and explain the importance of professional licensure.” The undergraduate course program you take in CE is designed so that by graduation you will have taken courses to learn how to do all of the above.
What is Professional Licensure? Engineers are required to be licensed when their work directly affects public health, safety and welfare. Licensure ensures that engineers have met minimum qualifications, including competence, ability, experience and character. The licensing process involves an initial exam, called the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FE Exam), professional experience, and a second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering (P&P Exam). Once an individual has passed the FE Exam, s/he is certified as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT). After some professional experience and passing the P&P Exam, the individual becomes a Professional Engineer (PE), and is said to be “licensed”. The exams are developed and administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). The first exam, the FE Exam, can be taken just before graduation from a four-year accredited engineering program, like UConn’s. The exam stresses subject material in a typical undergraduate program, including chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, electrical engineering, thermodynamics and engineering economics. The CE Faculty strongly encourages all CE students to take this exam in the last semester of their undergraduate program when the subject matter is still fresh in your mind. Waiting to take this exam after graduation often requires significant additional preparation. Connecticut has chosen the automatic model for approval, which is that examinees will be allowed to register directly with NCEES without prior approval by the Board. FE who would like to be certified in Connecticut may register with NCEES at www.ncees.org. Candidates will pay NCEES the examination fee and will schedule their examination in their NCEES account. Candidates will then take their examination at a Pearson VUE testing location. Candidates will be required to read the NCEES Examinee Guide at http://ncees.org/exams/cbt/examinee-guide/. Reference materials and practice exams are also available on the NCEES website.
So... Who are these People?
Title
Name, Office, Phone, Email
Associate Dean, SoE, Undergraduate Programs
Daniel Burkey, EII 304, (860)486-5466
Director of Advising, SoE
Whitney Losapio, EII 304, (860)486-5466
Director of Undergraduate Studies, CEE
Prof. Shinae Jang, CAST 320, (860) 486-0540
Director of Environmental Engineering Program
Prof. Tim Vadas, CAST 308, (860) 486-5552
Professional Advisor, CEE
Althea Lozefski, EII 300, (860)486-8079
Your faculty advisor
You can find out who your advisor is by looking at your Student Center in Student Administration.
How Do I Register for Classes?
What are Preliminary and Final Plans of Study? A preliminary POS is filed after a student has reached junior credit standing (54 credits or more) and outlines the student’s plan for the remainder of their coursework until graduation. Submitting an approved preliminary plan of study is required in the School of Engineering. The preliminary Plan of Study (POS) allows students to map out the entirety of their degree coursework to assist them in conversations with their advisor about meeting all degree requirements prior to graduation. A final POS is filed after you have registered for your final semester of coursework. The final POS must demonstrate that the student meets all requirements to graduate. The final POS is a UConn graduation requirement. Who fills out the POS? How do I submit a preliminary POS? Then you can select “Plan by Requirements” to review your remaining unsatisfied requirements for your degree. You may also add courses to your planner using the “Browse Course Catalog” component. Once you understand which courses you still need to take, review what semester those courses are offered and enter them into your Academic Planner accordingly. When you have completed this, you can select “Submit Plan of Study” and the document will be sent electronically to your faculty advisor for their review. Ultimately, if the preliminary POS is denied, you must fix whatever errors are indicated and submit a new, correct POS that satisfies all degree requirements. If the POS is approved, you now have a complete and accurate plan to reach graduation. If you decide to deviate from this plan, it is your responsibility to discuss the changes with your academic advisor and ensure that you are still completing all degree requirements. If you need further assistance, please access this video tutorial or contact your Academic Advisor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXChknVu1yM How do I submit a final POS? First, you must apply for graduation via Student Administration. SA Self Service > Student Center > My Academics > Apply for Graduation Next, submit your final plan of study. You can do this by navigating the following path: SA Self Service > Student Center > Academic Requirements (under the drop down menu at the left) > "Submit Final Plan of Study" button All of your requirements must show as satisfied in student admin to have your final plan of study approved. The final POS must be submitted as soon as possible after registering for your final semester of coursework. The latest a final POS can be submitted is by the end of the fourth week of the semester in which a student plans to graduate. What are some common mistakes on the preliminary POS in CEE? Following are the most common mistakes that students make when filling out the POS. Doing any of these will guarantee that your POS will NOT be approved and your graduation may end up being delayed.
It is the student’s responsibility to fill out and file both the preliminary and final POS. However, students should do so with the guidance of their Academic Advisor. It is ideal to start this process at least one semester ahead of time, that is, in the spring of your sophomore year.
First, you must access you academic planner in Student Administration.
SA Self Service > Student Center > Academic Planner
When should I submit my preliminary and final POS?
Students should submit the preliminary POS after earning 54 credits, which is when a student has reached junior credit standing. Once a student reaches 54 credits, they must submit an approved preliminary POS prior to registering for courses for the following semester, or the student will be prevented from registering.
How Do I Satisfy the General Education Requirements? The University requires all baccalaureate degree students to satisfy a common core of course work known as the General Education Requirements. Course work in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is also an integral part of the engineering program. Courses must be taken and distributed to cover the Four Content Areas and the Five Competencies listed below. Please see the University of Connecticut General Catalog for more detailed information. For a full list of General Education classes, go to http://www.geoc.uconn.edu/approved-gen-ed-courses/ or search by Content Area in the Student Admin Search function. The Four Content Areas The courses taken to satisfy the General Education Content Areas One, Two, and Three must be selected from six different departments. Two courses from two different departments in this content area are required. These courses emphasize artistic, cultural, and historical topics. (PHIL 1104), required of all engineering students, meets a Content Area One course requirement.) Two courses from two different departments in this content area are required. These courses emphasize the ways in which people and institutions interact. Two courses from two different departments in this content area are required. These courses provide background in the sciences, including laboratory work. (CHEM 1127Q and PHYS 1501Q, required of all engineering students, meet the Content Area Three requirement.) Two courses in this content area are required. These courses provide background on the global community and other cultures with which engineers will interact over the course of their careers. At least one of these courses must be classified as international. One course (only) may be used to meet both this requirement and a course requirement in Content Areas One or Two. The Five Competencies The minimum requirement is met by three years of a single foreign language in high school or equivalent, or completion of a two-semester course sequence in any foreign language at the University. All students must take either ENGL 1010 Seminar in Academic Writing or ENGL 1011 Seminar in Writing through Literature or the honors equivalent, if applicable. In addition, students must take two “W” courses, with at least one within their major. This requirement is fulfilled for Civil Engineers by the two-part senior design sequence (CE 4900W & CE 4920W). All students must take two Quantitative (Q) courses. The math and science courses for the CE major meet this requirement. All students must take one Environmental (E) course. The ENVE 2310 requirement for CE majors meet this requirement. In addition to the basic competency achieved in ENGL 1010/1011 or equivalent, all Engineering students will receive instructions in ENGR 1000 or equivalent on how to conduct effective information searches, both in the library and on the web.
Which PR Courses Should I Take for a Particular Area of CE? You may choose your professional requirements to suit your interests. Following are suggestions for courses to choose if you wish to focus on one of these areas of CE. These are merely suggestions to suit a particular area of interest, but these concentrations have no formal standing, with the exception of Construction, for which there is a formal Minor in Construction Engineering & Management. CE 3220 (F) CE 4210 (S) CE 4220 (S) CE 4510 (S) or 3630 or 3640 CE 4720 (S odd) or 4750 (F even) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) ENVE 4310 (S) ENVE 4810 (F) ENVE 3230 (S) CE 3630 (S) or 3640 (F) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) CE 4510 (S odd) CE 4541 (S even) or 3530 (F even) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) CE 4570 (F odd) CE 4720 (S odd) CE 4750 (F even) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) CE 4510 (S odd) or 4541 (S even) CE 4710 (F) CE 4720 (S odd) CE 3630 (S) or 3640 (F) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) CE 4510 (S odd) or 4541 (S even) CE 4610 (F) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) CE 4510 (S odd) or 3630 or 3640 CE 4710 (F) or 4720 (S odd) CE 4730 (F odd) or 4740 (F even) CE 4210 (S) CE 4410 (S) ENVE 3220 (S) or ENVE 4310 (S) ENVE 4810 (F) ENVE 4820 (S)Construction Engineering
Environmental Engineering*
Geotechnical Engineering
Pavement Engineering
Site Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Water Resources Engineering
*to focus in environmental engineering, be sure to choose ENVE 3220 and ENVE 3200 for the lab and analysis requirements.
How Do I Choose Free Electives? No credit for a course prerequisite to a second course in the same department may be counted for credit toward graduation after the student has passed the second course (see “FAQ’s about Course Registration Issues”, page 29)
How many free elective credits do I need?
The number of free elective credits varies for each student, depending on many factors. To find out how many free elective credits you need, fill out your Preliminary POS to meet all of the Gen Ed and CE requirements, and then see if there are any remaining credits needed for your credit total. Any remaining credits needed to obtain the 128 you need to graduate can be free elective credits.
What can I take for free electives?
You may take any course, either at UConn or transferred from another college or university, subject to the following restrictions:
University Course Restrictions (listed in the Undergraduate Catalog):
Additional SoE Restrictions (these may not be used on the POS):
What about Transfer Courses and Course Substitutions? The following website gives information about how to transfer in credit for courses taken at other colleges and universities: https://admissions.uconn.edu/apply/transfer/transfer-credit You can also search for courses offered at colleges and universities in Connecticut that transfer as UConn courses at the following webpage: https://admissions.uconn.edu/apply/transfer/transfer-credit/equivalencies . Other substitutions may be granted under special circumstances. You may petition the Director of Undergraduate Studies of CEE and the Director of Advising for SoE for any other course substitutions before taking the substituted course. *the credits for MATH 1125Q, CHEM 1124Q and 3 credits of the PHYS may not be counted toward graduation.
How do I get credit for courses I took somewhere else?
Courses from other institutions with a grade of C or better can be transferred and can count as credit towards graduation, subject to the credit restrictions noted in the Academic Catalog. Note also that not every course will help you meet course requirements in CE. If you are planning to take a course elsewhere to meet a graduation requirement, check with your advisor or the Assistant Department Head to make sure the course will satisfy a graduation requirement before you sign up for and take the course. You should also fill out the Prior Course Approval form via Student Administration.
Can I substitute another course for one that is required?
Following is a list of automatic course substitutions that do not require special approval.
Instead of taking …
… you may substitute
ENGL 1010 or 1011
ENGL 91002 and ENGL 91003 (transferred courses) with approved waiver documentation from English Department
ENGR 1166
The equivalent credits in any 2000-level engineering courses
MATH 1131Q
(MATH 1125Q and 1126Q*) or MATH 1151Q
MATH 1132Q
MATH 1152Q
MATH 2110Q
MATH 2130Q
MATH 2410Q
MATH 2420Q
MATH 1131Q, 1132Q, 2110Q & 2410Q
MATH 2141Q and 2142Q and 2143Q and 2144Q
CHEM 1127Q
CHEM 1124Q and 1125Q*
CHEM 1127Q and CHEM 1128Q
CHEM 1124Q and 1125Q and 1126*
CHEM 1127Q and CHEM 1128Q
(CHEM 1137Q and 1138Q) or (CHEM 1147Q and 1148Q)
PHYS 1501Q and PHYS 1502Q
PHYS 1201Q and 1202Q and (1230 or 1530)*
PHYS 1501Q and PHYS 1502Q
(PHYS 1401Q and 1402Q) or (PHYS 1601Q and 1602Q)
ME 2233
CHEG 2111
Can I Get a Minor in Another Subject? Yes! Review http://catalog.uconn.edu for a full list of Minors offered at UConn. Contact the department or office listed in the Catalog for the minor program in which you are interested to find the courses required. Share this information with your Advisor, and together you can select courses to meet the requirements for both your major and the minor. Major and minor requirements can overlap to use one course to fulfill requirements for both. Minor in Environmental Engineering Some other popular minors for CE students are:
Minor in Construction Engineering & Management
Here is how to fulfill the requirements for the CE&M Minor within the CE degree requirements using only one free elective and no extra courses:
Course
On CE POS
On CE&M Minor POS
CE 3220 Principles of Construction I
Required course
Required course
CE 4220 Principles of Construction II
Choose as Construction Proficiency course
Elective course
MEM 2221 or OPIM 3801 or BADM 3730 or BADM 3761 or AH 3275
Choose as Professional Requirement course
Elective course
CE 4210 Operations Research for CEE
Choose as Professional Requirement course
Elective course
MEM 2221 or OPIM 3801 or BADM 3730 or BADM 3761 or AH 3275
Choose as Professional Requirement course
Elective course
Here is how to fulfill the requirements for the ENVE Minor within the CE degree requirements without having to use any free electives or extra courses:
Course
On CE POS
On ENVE Minor POS
CE 3220 Principles of Construction I
Required course
Elective course
ENVE 2310 Environmental Engineering Fundamentals
Required course
Required course
ENVE 3220 Water Quality Engineering
Choose as Environmental Proficiency Course
Required course
CE 3510 Soil Mechanics
Required course
Elective course
ENVE 4310 Environmental Modeling
Choose as Professional Requirement course
Required course
ENVE 3230 Introduction to Air Pollution
Choose as Professional Requirement course
Required course
· Minor in Engineering Management (School of Business)
· Minor in Mathematics (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
· Electronics & Systems Minor (School of Engineering)
· Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Minor (School of Engineering)
· Nanomaterials Minor (School of Engineering)
What if I Want to Do an Internship/COOP or Study Abroad? UConn’s Center for Career Development (CCD), located in the Wilbur Cross building, is a great place to get started. They provide help with resumes, interview skills, and internship & job-searching. There is a Career Consultant that works exclusively with Engineering students. You can schedule an appointment online at https://nexus.uconn.edu. You can find the Engineering Career Consultant under ENGR (Undergraduate Programs Office). Please find additional contact information below.* *updated March 15, 2021 UConn participates in a number of study abroad programs. The EuroTech Program is one that is administered by the School of Engineering and the German Language and Culture Program. You can learn more about EuroTech at this link: https://internationalengineering.uconn.edu/german You can learn more about the Study Abroad programs available to UConn students at this link: Note that when taking a semester away from UConn, if you want to still graduate in four years it is critical to discuss your plans with your advisor as soon as possible to make sure you can meet all course requirements. Studying abroad takes research and careful planning, but it is a truly unique and enriching experience!
Internships and COOPS
Most of our students are able to find employment during the summer break at local engineering firms or government offices. The ASCE student chapter and the School of Engineering schedule Career Fairs once each semester at which dozens of companies come to campus looking for students to fill both permanent and temporary positions. Watch your engineering email address for announcements about these career fairs. Many employers contact faculty directly about job opportunities as well. These opportunities will also be posted on bulletin boards on the third floor of the Castleman Building and to the student engineering email list. You can learn more about coop and internship opportunities at this link: http://career.uconn.edu/internships-and-coops/
Title
Name, Phone, Email
Career Consultant, School of Engineering
Wiley Dawson, 860-486-3013
Study Abroad
FAQs about the POS and Major Course of Study How do I change my major? How do I add a second major or degree? A second major (within SOE) only requires you to meet all of the requirements for both degrees. You can declare a double major by filling out a form in the Undergraduate Programs Office, EII room 304. If you are not automatically assigned a second advisor for your new major or degree, contact the department offering that major or the Director of Advising in the SoE (for majors in SoE), to get assigned an advisor in that program.
How do I revise my POS?
Once your POS is approved, you will be unable to make revisions to it on your own. Thus, you will need to make the changes when you go to submit your final POS. Hold all of your revisions until the beginning of your final semester, and then do the following:
As you take more and more courses, you may find that your declared major is not a good match for you and your educational or career objectives. After thinking about it and researching your new major of choice, see your Advisor for an additional point of view. Following is a suggested course of action:
A second degree (outside of SoE e.g. B.A. in German for EuroTech) requires an additional 30 credits of 2000-level or higher courses beyond the CE degree, for a minimum of 158 credits. You must fill out an Additional Degree Petition Form with the Registrar’s Office in order to declare a second degree.
FAQs about Registration and Grading What If I decide I want to take a different course after seeing my advisor? How many credits may I take per semester? What if I get lower than a “C-” in a required course? May I take graduate courses as an undergraduate student?
Contact your advisor before signing up for a different course schedule than what you agreed upon in your advising session. Making a change in your schedule without talking to your advisor could result in missing a critical graduation requirement and postponing your graduation by a semester or even a year.
Engineering students may take up to 19 credits in one semester. To enroll in 20 or more credits you must get an overload approval form from the Registrar’s website signed by your advisor (or the Director of Undergraduate Studies of CEE) and the Associate Dean of Engineering (in the Undergraduate Programs Office). This form must be returned to the Registrar.
The CE program requirements in the catalogs of 2011-12 and later state “A minimum grade of C- is required in each of the following courses: ENVE 2310, CE 2110, 2211, 2251, 2410, 2710, 3110, 3120, 3510, 4900W and 4920W”. If you receive a grade lower than “C-” in any of these courses, you must retake it and earn a grade of at least “C-”.
Yes! You will need to get a permission number from the instructor teaching the course. He/she will ask if you have the necessary preparation or pre-requisites that would be expected of graduate students taking the course. Most CE seniors have the preparation necessary to take entry-level graduate courses in the Department. In general, if you have a GPA of at least 3.0, and have the necessary preparation courses, you should be able to successfully complete a graduate course as an undergraduate. There are two ways you might apply a graduate course to your academic record:
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Civil & Environmental Engineering
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