What courses will you take?

A female UMass Lowell student wearing goggles and working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab or class.

The B.S. in Civil Engineering at UMass Lowell offers rigorous training in the four main areas of civil engineering: 

  • Environmental engineering
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Transportation engineering

The first year begins with fundamental courses in college writing, mathematics and science. You will also take an introduction to civil and environmental engineering course that covers computer-aided engineering and design. 

During the second year, you will learn the principles of engineering mechanics, including statics, dynamics and strength of materials. Other courses cover statistics, surveying, geomatics and differential equations. At this point, you can begin the Professional Co-op Program by taking a professional development seminar. 

Junior and senior year coursework provides a working knowledge of structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering. You can also take two professional electives, which will count toward a master’s degree if you are accepted into the combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program. In the senior year, you will participate in a comprehensive capstone design project, which is typically a service-learning project with a community partner.

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about the minor in Business Administration for Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Why study civil engineering at UMass Lowell?

 Timothy Roberts, Natalie Melconian, Rebecca Gonsalves-Lamontagne, and Zachary Morris paddle UMass Lowell's concrete canoe during the 2014 regional competition.

Fun Outside the Classroom

Solving problems is fun, and at UML you can put your learning into practice. Check out some ways that students connect outside of the classroom.

UMass Lowell Professor Pradeep Kurup working with  a male student in a lab coat.

Research Opportunities

The civil engineering department conducts innovative research in structural, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering, including:

  • Monitoring and assessment of wind turbine foundation degradation
  • Electromagnetic detection and identification of concrete cracking in highway bridges
  • National Science Foundation: Ethical Algorithms in Autonomous Vehicles
A Female African American UMass Lowell student working in a Civil & Environmental Engineering lab.

Experiential Learning

Build career-ready skills through experiences outside the classroom, including:

  • Research in a faculty laboratory 
  • Co-ops and internships 
  • Paid work on campus 
  • Service learning 
  • Study abroad
A female UMass Lowell student working on a computer with a bridge model behind her.

Bachelor’s-to-Master's Program

Get on the fast track to an advanced degree with our combined Bachelor's-to-Master's program.

  • Available to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.000 or better
  • Offers a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses
  • Reduced credit-hour requirements can save you time and money

What can you do with a degree in civil engineering?

UMass Lowell's civil engineering program offers a wide variety of career paths, including design engineer, project manager, project superintendent, town or city engineer, construction site supervisor, city planner, transportation planner, highway engineer, high school teacher and professor.

Three UMass Lowell students taking part in the Steel Bridge Competition.

Alumni of our program have worked at:

  • Columbia Construction Co. 
  • Commodore Builders 
  • GEI Consultants 
  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation
  • Methuen Construction 
  • Nobis Engineering 
  • Underwood Engineers 
  • Weston & Sampson

Meet Our Students & Alumni

Maureen Kelly
Maureen Kelly '15, '17
Civil & Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering

A service-learning capstone in Lowell and Haiti transformed Maureen Kelly’s civil engineering education — and her life. She now works for a firm that supports her ongoing volunteer work in Haiti and her mentoring of current students.

Students should be sharing what they learn and what they know with the community, and we do that at UMass Lowell.
Read More About Maureen Kelly 
Zach McDonough, facilities project coordinator at UMass Lowell
Zach McDonough '16
Civil and Environmental Engineering

As senior project manager with Facilities Management, Zach McDonough ’16 is building a successful career path at his alma mater.

(Facilities) was a wonderful team to intern with, because they treated me like an adult.
Read More About Zach McDonough 
Ariel Shramko headshot
Ariel Shramko '24
Environmental Engineering

Ariel Shramko is growing food for Earth and beyond.

I never thought that I would be able to get this far this soon, but I now truly believe that dreams can come true.
Read More About Ariel Shramko 
Sadrac-Noel-UMass-Lowell-Undergraduate-Civil-Engineering
Sadrac Noel ’12
Civil Engineering

When Sadrac Noel graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, he could look back on many twists and turns in his path – and one professor who was always there for him.

They expect a lot from you here. This is a good school.
Read More About Sadrac Noel