Is civil and environmental engineering for you?
Do you care about the environment and sustainability?
Do you want to make the world a better and safer place?
Are you interested in a profession with a 98 percent job placement rate?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may find civil and environmental engineering (CEE) is a good fit for you — especially at the University of Iowa, where you’ll be part of a close-knit community of friends and faculty that truly feels like family.
Civil and environmental engineers are on the front lines of some of the world’s most pressing problems, building solutions and putting technology to work for the good of all. The world needs your passion for doing good — for abundant clean drinking water, for safe roads and bridges, for flood protection and reduction, and much more.
At the University of Iowa, you won’t find yourself being “weeded out” of the program. Instead, we want every student to succeed, and we offer the support and programs to make that happen.
You’ll work closely with faculty members who not only know your name but also your interests and aptitudes. They may even ask you to work with them on a research project.
But don’t take our word for it. Listen to what University of Iowa students have to say about civil and environmental engineering at Iowa. Then plan a campus visit so you can sit in on a class, meet students and faculty, and see our state-of-the-art facilities. Email today to schedule your visit!
What do civil and environmental engineers do?
Choose civil and environmental engineering at the University of Iowa and take the first step on a lifetime of meaningful work that can truly make a difference in the world!
Here's a sample of what civil and environmental engineers do:
- Design and construct safe and functional structures, such as bridges, dams, buildings, and more
- Design transportation systems so we can travel to work, school, and around the world
- Plan and design facilities to capture, treat, and distribute water
- Protect the environment by keeping the water, air, and soil clean and by developing sustainable practices to guard the Earth's resources
- Develop and perfect systems to use renewable energy sources such as the sun and the wind to power our homes and businesses
- Design and construct safe and functional structures, such as bridges, dams, buildings, and more
Quotes from students
"Civil and environmental engineering will provide you with the analytical tools to develop and implement structures, projects, and techniques that reduce the overall impact of the built environment. As a student, there are numerous opportunities within the CEE major to learn about, question, and engage with the principles of sustainability and to apply these principles throughout your life, schoolwork, and extracurricular projects. Professionally, the major serves as a gateway for a diverse array of positions from which you can positively impact the world around you." — Isaac Schrock, Moundridge, KS
"The University of Iowa engineering program truly has no classes designed to ‘weed out’ students. Iowa’s College of Engineering expects the highest quality work from all students, no matter what program you enroll in. Regardless, the engineering faculty aim to see that every first-year student becomes a successful graduate, and they put the necessary effort and resources toward this goal, year after year. In fact, most faculty I’ve encountered here relate to our hectic college lifestyle and accommodate homework due dates, projects, and exams accordingly, making sure you have additional time for student organizations, volunteering, and extracurricular activities!" — Kevin Garrone, St. Louis, MO
"A lot of my friends have found jobs already, and I've had no issues getting into graduate school. The professors really want to make sure we have the tools to succeed. My professor not only wrote me a recommendation letter, but also spoke to potential advisors at graduate schools himself on my behalf! He walked me through the entire process, and now I'm going to be attending the University of Minnesota for my PhD, with not only my tuition paid for, but also a research stipend. You can also take some graduate courses as an undergraduate to help prepare you for graduate school." — Meghan O'Connor, Phoenix, AZ
Why Iowa?
If you like to think for yourself and chart your own path, you’ll want to consider the civil and environmental engineering program at the University of Iowa. Yes, there are larger programs at other universities, but bigger doesn’t always mean better. You’ll find Iowa has a lot to offer.
It's great to be a Hawkeye!
And Iowa's outstanding athletic teams are just the beginning...
A close-knit community
At Iowa, you'll be part of a welcoming community of friends. The University of Iowa is a major research university, but most required CEE classes have fewer than 55 students, and CEE elective classes are often much smaller, at 25-35 students.
Find your niche
At Iowa, we offer programs and groups to help you find your place and "fit in." You can be part of a Living Learning Community, such as People in Engineering. You'll live with peers working toward similar goals.
Faculty who know you and want you to succeed
Our faculty are not only leading professionals in their fields, they also take an interest in students as individuals and work to help them do well.
Get started the right way
We admit qualified students directly to engineering. Most graduate in four years.
No weed-out classes
We want our students to succeed, and we provide the programs and support to make it happen.
Help when you need it
Engineering is a challenging field. If you need help with coursework, the Hanson Center for Communication, the Lichtenberger Engineering Library, and Engineering Tutoring offer free support resources to engineering students.
And individualized curriculum
Once you've chosen a major, such as civil and environmental engineering, you can also select a focus area in engineering or even another field, such as communications, art, or business.
Get some hands-on experience
If you're ready to get started on research, all you have to do is ask! Faculty often hire students to work closely with them on research on a wide range of real-world problems, from water quality to sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
State-of-the-art facilities
Our recently renovated building, the Seamans Center, offers tech-infused classrooms, cutting-edge laboratories, and open collaborative spaces.