Advising Handbook for CEE Undergraduates
Introduction
Welcome to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering! You are joining a proud department with a long history that dates back over a hundred years at the University of Washington. The CEE faculty and staff welcome you as you embark on your pursuit of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE).
The Advising Handbook is intended as a resource to help you familiarize yourself with the BSCE program, our department, and your “next-steps” as your pursue the BSCE degree.
You will also be assisted by a faculty mentor who, with insight and knowledge about the engineering field, will help you to select appropriate courses given your interests and guide you in your preparation for future employment or graduate study. As undergraduate advisor, I will help you navigate through academic requirements and regulations, and the rest of “University life.”
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the undergraduate advisor at ceavice@u.washington.edu, or 206-543-5092, or simply drop by More Hall 201.
Thank you for serving as a faculty mentor for our undergraduate students! As a faculty mentor, you provide students with insight and guidance for preparation and entry into the civil and environmental engineering field. You can help students to identify and explore their areas of interests and to select senior-year coursework that support their professional and/or academic goals.
You are not responsible for understanding University regulations and academic requirements in detail. As undergraduate advisor, I will be working with you and the student to ensure the student’s progress towards degree.
The Advising Handbook is always a work in progress if it is to remain current. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcomed.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the undergraduate advisor at ceavice@u.washington.edu, or 206-543-5092, or simply drop by More Hall 201.
About Our Department
Civil engineering was officially recognized as an academic discipline at the University of Washington in 1898 and granted its first bachelor’s degree in 1901. Since then, the UW Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) has graduated over 6,000 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate students The Department currently offers the following degrees:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.)
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)
Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.)
Master of Science (M.S.)
Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The BSCE degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, Tel: 410-347-7700). The BSCE program at the UW attracts a wide range of prospective students from the state as well as from across the nation and internationally. The program also attracts a number of working individuals returning to obtain the BSCE degree as their first or second baccalaureate (or “post-baccalaureate”) degree. Majors are admitted only once a year in autumn quarter, and admission is competitive. The Department enjoys exceptionally high retention and graduation rates of approximately 96%.
The BSCE program provides excellent preparation for students entering the civil & environmental engineering field as well for those pursuing graduate education. The quality of the BSCE program is reflected in the high passage rate for our students in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination (approximately 92%) that results in the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) licensure and in the strong placement of our students in industry and in their admission to prestigious graduate programs.
The Department enjoys national-ranking among civil and environmental engineering programs, and it is positioned to become even better recognized in the future under the strategic leadership of the College of Engineering Dean, Matthew O’Donnell. Dean O’Donnell recently announced the appointment of Dr. Craig Benson (University of Wisconsin, Madison) to the position of Department Chair effective July 1, 2008. Dr. Timothy Larson serves as Acting Chair during the 2007-08 year.
The Department currently has approximately 220 undergraduate students, 200 graduate students, 35 faculty and 21 staff.
The Department’s area of focus includes construction, structural, transportation, geotechnical, water resources/hydrology/hydraulics, and environmental engineering. It enjoys annual research funding of approximately 12 million dollars. Undergraduates and graduate students participate in faculty research, often working through many of their projects in the Department’s many research labs and centers. The Department occupies four buildings: Wilcox, Wilson Ceramics, Roberts Annex, and More Hall, which serves as the department center and houses administrative and student services.
Overview of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Major
All new undergraduate majors attend a New Majors Orientation in September prior to the start of the autumn quarter. This orientation provides a broad introduction to the CEE Department and the BSCE degree and includes a review of the students’ individualized degree audit, assignment of faculty mentors, completion of change of major paperwork, and an optional tour of the department and labs.
Each new major is assigned a faculty mentor who will help the student to explore his or her areas of interest within civil & environmental engineering, select appropriate courses for the senior year, and prepare for post-graduation. The undergraduate advisor will assist students with degree requirements, understanding University and departmental policies and regulations, registration issues, and other matters related to student life. Students should meet with the faculty mentor and the undergraduate advisor regularly.
Students typically enter the CEE department after completion of the program prerequisites and University general education requirements. During their first-year in the major (CEE “junior” year), students complete a set of 300-level courses that comprise the fundamentals of civil & environmental engineering. During their second-year in the major (CEE “senior” year), students complete program requirements including Professional Practice, Technical Electives, Upper-Division Engineering and Science Electives, and a capstone design course. Students select courses in their senior year in areas that reflect their civil/environmental engineering interest, which may be a generalized program or in an area of engineering emphasis (such as construction, transportation, geotechnical, etc.)
Qualified students may pursue an Honors Program within the Department. Students who have participated in the University’s College Honors Program beginning in their freshman year and who have complete the University Honors general education requirements may enroll in the College Honors Program to graduate with “College Honors.” Students who wish to enter the Honors Program once admitted to the BSCE degree program may enroll in the Departmental Honors Program to graduate “With Distinction.” Generally, students will need a 3.3 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 CEE departmental GPA. Honors students complete 9 credits of Honors Engineering coursework in addition to other required courses. More information regarding Honors Programs is available online at the University Honor Program and CEE Student Resources Websites.
All CEE students are encouraged to participate in active learning through internships, independent research or participation in faculty-sponsored research projects, and involvement in extracurricular activities through student societies and professional organizations. Participation in student and professional societies, such as American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Chi Epsilon (engineering honor society) and competitions, such as the “Concrete Canoe” and “Steel Bridge” provide excellent opportunities for student involvement.