Civil Engineers design, construct, and maintain society's infrastructure - the highways, buildings, and water systems we use daily. A few areas in which civil engineers work include: construction management; groundwater contamination; transportation design and planning; design, construction, and monitoring of waste containment facilities; disaster prevention; river mechanics and stream restoration; earthquake engineering; flood prediction, forecasting, and control; community development; surveying and mapping; and wind engineering. The infrastructure of the United States is deteriorating and in need of repair. Civil Engineers will be called upon to do this. Civil Engineers employ scientific principles to serve society. Many Civil Engineers work internationally to improve the quality of life throughout the world. There is a huge need. For example: 1.1 billion people worldwide live without safe drinking water, 2.6 billion people do not have adequate sanitation, and 3.4 million people die annually from water-related diseases. One student organization, Engineers Without Borders, is trying to help in one small way to improve the quality of life in third world countries. See video: CSU EWB in El Salvador Civil Engineers apply modern tools such as global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to solve problems related to water resources, transportation, or structures. They use information technology to protect infrastructure from natural hazards or terrorist threats.

Career in related fields.