Civil Engineering is considered among the first engineering disciplines. Arguably civil engineers were practicing between 4000 and 2000 BCE in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia; consider the qanat water management systems first developed by the Persians some 3000 years ago, the Parthenon designed by the Iktinos and Kallikrates (construction began in 447 BCE) and the Great Wall of China (ordered to be constructed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang around 221 BCE). Civil Engineers are now dedicated to design, build, and maintain our modern infrastructure – roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, dams and bridges, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment. Employment opportunities for Civil Engineering graduates are plentiful and diverse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) job market growth rates for Civil Engineering is booming. During the coming decade, employment for civil engineers is projected to grow 20 percent – this is faster than the average for all occupations. Civil engineering graduates are encouraged to take the Fundamentals in Engineering Exam. A considerable fraction (approximately 1/3) of civil engineering positions are government jobs, either at the local, state, or federal level. The remaining jobs are with architectural or construction companies where they will likely design, and analyze the construction and repair of a wide variety of structures including buildings (even skyscrapers!), bridges, and water treatment facilities.

Civil Engineers design, build, and maintain our modern infrastructure – roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, dams and bridges, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment.The civil specialization undergraduate program prepares graduates who are prepared for employment or for graduate study. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of engineering, emphasizes the basic principles, and educates the student in the use of these principles to reach optimal design solution for engineering problems. Opportunities for civil students to deepen and broaden their technical education exist through several avenues, including faculty-led research, Mercer On Mission, or through the pursuit of a minor in Engineering for Development.