To become a Civil Engineer, you need a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering (BSE) focusing on Civil Engineering. While a Master's degree is not necessary to enter the field, it can help you stand out and give you some more specialization since Civil Engineering is such a broad field of study. Some universities, like the University of Michigan, even offer programs that allow you to take graduate classes during your undergraduate degree, thus getting a Bachelor's and a Master's within five years. 

You will take math, engineering, statistics, physics, and architectural design courses during your undergraduate degree. During your junior or senior year, you will spend a semester doing an internship or co-op placement. This is an excellent opportunity to get real-world experience, receive mentorship from an experienced Civil Engineer, and maybe even leverage this experience into a job after graduation. 

Within Civil Engineering, you will need to concentrate on one area of specialty. Standard concentrations include construction engineering, environmental Civil Engineering, or transportation engineering. If you have a specific interest within Civil Engineering, you should research university programs that offer this concentration. 

After graduation, you will need to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. You will then be considered an Engineer in Training (EIT). After four years of work in the field, you will be admissible to take the Principle and Practices of Engineering (PE) exam, which will allow you to work as an engineer in all 50 states and Washington DC. 

What Can Help You Become a Civil Engineer

• Science and Math Skills

Engineers need to have a very advanced understanding of math and physics and rely on these skills to solve complex problems. 

• Project Management Skills

When issues arise on a project, it is common for stakeholders to turn to the engineer for guidance and resolution. As an engineer, you need to have good organization, people, and communication skills to solve problems and prevent them before they arise. They also need to ensure that they work within their allocated budget and timelines. 

• Creativity

The job of the Civil Engineer is to find solutions for infrastructure problems. This requires a high degree of creativity. Whether it's implementing a new design or reducing a project's environmental impact, the Civil Engineer needs to rely on their creativity to find innovative solutions.