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BSCE major coursework

(The requirements below reflect the BSCE AUT24 Program Plan)

During the junior year, students typically complete the BSCE 300-level Core Curriculum in a pre-arranged sequence of courses, called Track I or Track 2. In the senior year, students explore their areas of interest while taking courses to meet Technical Elective and Engineering & Science Elective requirements. Seniors also complete a spring capstone design course in a focus area of their choice, typically in spring quarter of their senior year.

Students complete roughly 90 credits of major coursework, depending on course options selected. A minimum of 84 major coursework credits are required.

BSCE major coursework

Core curriculum (40 credits)

COURSETITLECREDITS
CEE 307 Construction Engineering5
CEE 317 GeoSurveying5
CEE 327 Transportation Engineering5
CEE 337 Construction Materials5
CEE 347 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics5
CEE 357 Environmental Engineering5
CEE 367 Geotechnical Engineering5
CEE 377 Introduction to Structural Design5

The BSCE Junior Core Curriculum is offered in separate tracks

CIVE Students

In your junior year, you'll complete the eight 300-level BSCE core classes in a specific order, or "track", as long as you have completed your program prerequisites (courses indicated with * or ** on the BSCE General Education Courses and Program Prerequisites page).

There are two tracks - I and II. The tracks are identical other than the order of the classes, and you are free to select either track depending on your schedule preferences. The intention is that you will follow your selected Track for Autumn 2026, Winter 2027, and Spring 2027, so plan accordingly. Each track's schedule is listed in the CIVE/BSCE sample 4-year plan. If you have not completed your program prerequisites prior to AUT26, please connect with your advising team at ceadvice@uw.edu to develop a custom junior year plan.

AutumnWinterSpring
Track I
CEE 317 5 cr.CEE 307 5 cr.CEE 327 5 cr.
CEE 337 5 cr.CEE 347 5 cr.CEE 367 5 cr.
CEE 377 5 cr.CEE 357 5 cr.CEE 378
(if structures)
or TE/E&S/other
+
CEE 440 2 cr.  
Total17 cr.Total15 cr.Total10+ cr.
Track II
CEE 307 5 cr.CEE 327 5 cr.CEE 337 5 cr.
CEE 317 5 cr.CEE 367 5 cr.CEE 357 5 cr.
CEE 347 5 cr.CEE 377 5 cr.CEE 378
(if structures)
or TE/E&S/other
+
CEE 4402 cr.  
Total17 cr.Total15 cr.Total10+ cr.

Capstone & professional practice: 7 credits

  • CEE 440 Professional Practice (2 credits)
    • Typically taken junior year.
  • Capstone Design Course (5 credits)
    • The Capstone is typically taken SPR Qtr. or WIN/SPR Qtr. of senior year.

Technical electives (TE): 15 credits

Technical Electives are CEE 400-level courses that provide students with in-depth knowledge and design experience.

For breadth, students are required to satisfy the area requirement by taking at least one core course from three of the six designated areas of emphasis (Construction, Environmental, Geotechnical, Hydrology/Hydrodynamics, Structural, and Transportation).

Any additional 400-level CEE courses taken, whether from the Technical Electives list or not, will count toward Technical Electives credits until 15 credits is reached. Any additional credits from 400-level courses will count toward the Engineering & Science Electives requirement below.

Engineering & Science Electives (E&S): 12 credits

BSCE students are required to complete 12 credits of Engineering and Science Elective coursework (CEE 400-level courses or non-CEE courses from a department-approved list). See the BSCE Engineering & Science Electives list for complete details.

Upper Division Engineering and Science Electives are courses that require substantial college-level preparation on the part of the student. The intent is to require courses that provide in-depth learning in a particular subject as opposed to an introductory and/or survey course. All CEE technical elective courses meet this standard and can count towards requirements in this section. Beyond this, the department maintains a list of non-CEE courses that meet these standards. However, new courses are continually developed at UW, some of which may meet these requirements. Seminars generally do not meet these requirements. If a student identifies a course that they believe meets these requirements but is not on the departmental list, they may submit a course petition to have it count toward their upper division engineering and science elective requirement. The following definitions are provided to help students identify such courses:

  • Engineering course: Offered by the College of Engineering or its departments.
  • Science course: Offered by a department, not in the College of Engineering, that addresses the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world. This excludes courses such as math, social sciences, business, anthropology, music, and others that do not meet the definition. 
  • Substantial college preparation: The course contains a recommended college-level background as indicated by prerequisites, minimum credit requirements to enroll, required academic progress (e.g., junior/senior standing) to enroll, required permission, or entry code to enroll). These courses are typically offered at the 300- and 400-level, although some 100 and 200-level courses meet this definition.

General electives

General Electives can bring the balance of credits to 180, which is required to complete the degree.

Recommended coursework for seniors