Civil engineering plays a vital role in projects that make our daily lives run smoothly. For example, civil engineers help develop, design and maintain major infrastructure projects like roads, buildings, airports and bridges.
With the right skills, civil engineers can have an enormous positive impact on society and our communities.
What Does a Civil Engineer Do?
The job description of a civil engineer is vast and depends on specialty. Civil engineers can troubleshoot problems, consult and work to upgrade infrastructure. The projects they work on may include constructing and maintaining buildings, tunnels, and water and sewage systems.
They collaborate with stakeholders, sharing their engineering expertise to focus on safety and efficiency. Through project management, clear communication and an understanding of engineering, they help our world function well from construction to maintenance. Some civil engineers work on a project from start to finish, but they can also be brought in for single stage.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following responsibilities of civil engineers:
- Analyze plans, survey reports, maps and other data related to project design
- Consider regulations, site selection and other factors relevant to a project
- Analyze the results of tests on soil and building materials to determine strength for foundations and other support
- Prepare cost estimates for equipment, materials and labor to determine a project’s economic feasibility
- Use design software to plan transportation systems, hydraulic systems and structures
- Submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies, as needed and confirm that projects comply with regulations
- Perform or oversee surveying to establish building locations, site layouts, grades and elevations to guide construction
- Manage the construction or repair, maintenance, and replacement of buildings and infrastructure
Civil engineering skills are needed in both public and private sectors. Civil engineers can work for engineering services companies, federal, state and local governments, nonresidential construction companies and more.
Civil Engineer Qualifications
Candidates must hold at least a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field to pursue a career in civil engineering. Licensure requirements vary by state, but many engineers secure a Professional Engineer (PE) license, earning the title of professional engineers (PEs). PEs can supervise the work of other engineers, as well as sign off on projects. Some states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.
Sometimes, engineers also gain specific certifications to demonstrate their knowledge in a specific area. For example, a Certified Planning Engineer certificate or a Certified Construction Manager credential.
Often, civil engineers pursue graduate-level education to prepare for leadership and management roles. Programs like the online Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Ohio University can help professionals stand out among the crowd and prepare them to earn PE licensure. When pursuing higher education in civil engineering, ensure that your program of choice is ABET accredited, indicating that it’s in line with the most up-to-date instruction.
Demand for civil engineers is expected to grow 5% between 2022 and 2032, resulting in 16,200 new jobs, according to the BLS. In addition, bipartisan federal initiatives may create many new engineering jobs. Those with certifications or graduate-level degrees are in an excellent position to fill new roles.
Advance Your Career with a Master in Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering Skills
A variety of skills can help you lead a long and successful career as a civil engineer. They include:
- Communication skills.Civil engineers must communicate with various stakeholders with diverse backgrounds orally and in writing. Complex information must be conveyed clearly to ensure efficiency and safety.
- Decision-making skills.Civil engineers often have to weigh conflicting objectives, such as cost and safety, to ensure the best outcome for projects. Being a confident and competent decision-maker is an essential skill.
- Leadership skills.PEs and those with master’s degrees often become managers, so it’s imperative that civil engineers can lead those in various roles and with differing backgrounds. Ensuring that a team works together toward a shared goal is vital in civil engineering.
- Problem-solving skills.It’s often necessary to solve problems in real-time at every step of a project’s progress. Being able to evaluate an issue and quickly find safe, affordable solutions will help you succeed.
- Organizational skills.Civil engineers must juggle a lot of moving parts to run their projects. This requires top-notch organization and attention to detail to ensure that no aspect of a project goes unnoticed.
Master's programs can help civil engineers sharpen these skills and more. For example, Ohio University’s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering helps you learn the following:
- Design systems under various constraints for one or more areas of technical specialization
- Develop leadership skills necessary to assume progressively more responsible roles in their profession
- Exhibit effective communication skills necessary to interact in a diverse professional environment
- Employ modern engineering and computational tools
Engineers who exhibit these competencies will be prepared to guide civil engineering projects effectively.
How Do I Prepare for a Career in Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering is an important job that must be done correctly for public safety and functioning communities. A great deal of knowledge is needed to succeed as a civil engineer. The array of responsibilities of those in the field make the role complex, but with the right education, civil engineering is a great career option. Pursuing certificates along with master’s-level education will help you gain the essential engineering competencies necessary in this dynamic field.
You should look for an engineering program led by civil engineering professionals who can help you learn the in-demand skills needed in the fast-paced field.
Programs like Ohio University’s M.S. in Civil Engineering ready you for any challenge that comes your way as a civil engineer. OHIO’s program boasts a low student-to-teacher ratio that provides a direct and individualized connection to experienced engineering faculty who are versed in a wide range of specialties.
In Ohio University's classes, you’ll explore advanced topics and acquire specialized knowledge in environmental analysis of transportation systems, structural reliability, forensic analysis of construction failures and more. You will hone skills in cutting-edge engineering principles, advanced computational tools and analytical techniques to solve complex engineering problems. Graduate ready for an array of impactful leadership roles in as little as five semesters.
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