Civil Engineering/Environmental Engineering

What are civil and environmental engineering?

Civil and environmental engineering is about designing and maintaining the systems that make everyday life possible. Civil engineering focuses on large, visible projects like roads, bridges, buildings, and transportation systems that help communities function. Environmental engineering is a more specialized area that focuses on clean water and air, waste treatment, and protecting the environment and public health.

Why should I choose Trine University’s civil engineering degree with a minor in environmental engineering?

Undergraduate education is our primary mission at Trine University. From day one, you will have civil engineering faculty leading at least one of your classes every semester. You'll have a lab or hands-on learning experience scheduled every semester of the program, building your practical skills from freshman year through a senior capstone design project. This steady progression ensures you develop practical engineering skills alongside technical knowledge, making you job-ready on day one.

What will I learn through this experience?

The civil engineering degree covers five civil engineering sub-disciplines: structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, and water resources engineering. The environmental engineering minor gives you additional expertise in water treatment, remediation processes, and pollution control. You'll learn the technical skills required to protect the environment and public health.

What will I get to do?

Our faculty use evidence-based teaching practices to support student learning and development. Active learning, guided practice, and real-world problem-solving supplement traditional lectures. You'll work through problems in class, complete integrated labs, and work on various design projects where faculty can observe, help, and coach, building confidence and competence simultaneously.

We sponsor a number of fully funded trips each year, with transportation, hotels, and meals covered. You can visit large-scale civil projects and attend professional conferences.

Additional experiential learning opportunities include regional and national design competitions, internships and co-ops, and undergraduate research. The student chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and Engineers Without Borders (EWB) also provide other valuable experiences.

The goal is to immerse you in the profession, build your network, and help you see yourself as an engineer, not someday, but right now.

What can I do with a civil engineering degree and a minor in environmental engineering?

Most of our students pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam before they even graduate—the critical first step toward a Professional Engineering (PE) license and a certification that potential employers desire.

Our graduates work at major consulting firms like Jacobs, Kimley Horn, and Fishbeck, construction companies like NUCOR and Hensel Phelps, and government agencies like Indiana and Ohio DOTs and the USACE.

Our graduates are also prepared to pursue graduate degrees. The environmental engineering minor will strengthen your graduate school applications by demonstrating specialized expertise.

An Investment in Your Education—and Your Future

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