Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering

About the Department
Program Offerings, Course Descriptions & Curricular Tables

David Ernst, M.E., Interim Chairperson

Horn Professor: Mehta
Professors: Chen, Fedler, Jackson, Liang, Liu, A. Morse, Norville, Rainwater, Reible, Song, V. Uddameri, Won
Associate Professors: Cleveland, Darwish, Ernst, Green, Hernandez, Jayawickrama, Lawson, Na, Senadheera, Smith, Zuo
Assistant Professors: Bae, Ghebrab, Millerick, Morse, Nejat, Seo, Yan
Instructors: Carter, Gurley, Phillips, Shturman, Spears

CONTACT INFORMATION: 150 Civil and Environmental Engineering Building, Box 41023, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023, T 806.742.3523, F 806.742.3488, www.depts.ttu.edu/ceweb

About the Department

This department supervises the following degree programs:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Master of Environmental Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Construction Engineering and Management

Dual Degree Program

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering/Bachelor of Science in Architecture (see the College of Architecture section in this catalog for a curriculum plan)

Vision. The vision of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering is to be nationally and internationally recognized for producing well-prepared graduates, developing visible research programs, and advancing knowledge through public outreach and professional service.

Mission. The mission of the department has four elements:

To provide excellent instruction and design experiences essential for graduates to enter the practice of civil, environmental and construction engineering and pursue lifelong professional development.
To provide research opportunities for students that generate, communicate, and apply new knowledge for the betterment of society.
To provides graduates who are well-educated in both the technical disciplines and the humanities and are prepared to contribute to society and excel in a diverse and highly competitive global workforce.
To foster a spirit of service and leadership among students and faculty and assist the public in addressing issues concerning the use of resources, protection of the environment, and development of infrastructure.

Program Educational Objectives. The undergraduate program educational objectives embody the expected accomplishments of graduates during their first few years following graduation. The program educational objectives of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering as adopted by the faculty, Advisory Council and the Student Advisory Council are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Program

Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of civil engineers.
Graduates will continue their professional development through graduate study if qualified and continuing education.

Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Program

Have a strong personal sense of professionalism and pride in their chosen career field.
Engage in professional service, such as participation in a professional society and community service.
Advance to higher levels of professional responsibility.
Be committed to professional development via obtaining professional registration, certification, or other credentials appropriate to their career, professional training, or via postbaccalaureate course work.

Master of Environmental Engineering Program

Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of environmental engineers.
Graduates will continue their professional development through continuing education.

These objectives are published in the university’s catalog and on the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering website.

Student Outcomes. Student outcomes are statements of the expectations for the knowledge and skills that students should possess when they graduate with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, B.S. in Construction Engineering, or the Master of Environmental Engineering degree from Texas Tech University.

Graduates of the program must demonstrate the following:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
A broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.

By the time of graduation, civil engineering students should also demonstrate the following civil engineering program specific outcomes:

Apply knowledge of mathematics, calculus-based physics, chemistry and one additional area of science.
Apply knowledge of four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering.
Conduct experiments and analyze and interpret data.
Design a system, component, or process in more than one civil engineering context.
Explain basic professional practice concepts.
Explain the importance of professional licensure.

By the time of graduation, environmental engineering students should also demonstrate the following environmental engineering program specific outcomes:

Proficiency in mathematics, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, general chemistry earth science, biological science and fluid mechanics.
Knowledge of environmental issues associated with air, land, and water systems and associated environmental health impacts.
An ability to conduct laboratory experiments and critically analyze and interpret data.
Performed engineering design by means of integrated design experiences.
Proficiency in advanced principles and practice relevant to the program objectives.
Understanding of professional practice concepts.

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering, as well as the Master Environmental Engineering, are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Undergraduate Program

General Standards and Requirements. Admission requirements and academic standards for the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering are consistent with the dynamic enrollment plan for the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering. Refer to the introduction to the Whitacre College of Engineering section of this catalog for a description of the criteria for initial admission to the Whitacre College of Engineering and the lower-division foundational curriculum. The recommended foundational curriculum for civil, environmental and construction engineering consists of ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 ; MATH 1451 , MATH 1452 ; CHEM 1307 /CHEM 1107 ; PHYS 1408 ; and ENGR 1315 .

A student may apply for admission to the upper division of a degree program upon completion of the foundational curriculum and a minimum of 12 credit hours of Texas Tech coursework. The acceptance criterion is based exclusively on a cumulative GPA for coursework completed at Texas Tech. The specific GPA standard varies among the degree programs and may change from one academic year to the next as necessary to align enrollments with the educational resources. For students who entered Texas Tech prior to June 1, 2012, a minimum 2.0 GPA is required for admission to the civil, environmental, or construction engineering upper-division degree programs. Students entering Texas Tech after June 1, 2012, must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

The academic standards required by the Whitacre College of Engineering and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering are given in the introduction to the Whitacre College section of the catalog and summarized below. Exceptions to these academic standards are at the discretion of the dean of the Whitacre College of Engineering.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in an engineering degree plan.
A grade of C or better must be achieved in all prerequisites before the subsequent course may be attempted.
A minimum 2.5 GPA is required to maintain academic good standing and continued membership in the Whitacre College of Engineering.
A full-time student must achieve a C or better in 18 credit hours of coursework in the degree plan in each 12-month period.
An engineering course may be repeated only one time after a course drop, withdrawal, or failure to achieve a C or higher.
A maximum of three engineering courses may be repeated.

Students are required to plan their program in consultation with faculty advisors. Emphasis on communication skills requires the inclusion of a core curriculum oral communications course. All students must have a personal computer, which should be a laptop at a minimum, and should check with the department to obtain recommended specifications.

The required undergraduate programs for civil, environmental and construction engineering are contained in the curriculum tables shown in this section.

The broad Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering curriculum includes structural, geotechnical, environmental, water resources, and transportation topics to prepare the graduate for multiple career options. The undergraduate courses in the combined Bachelor of Science and Master in Environmental Engineering provide strong preparation in biology, chemistry, and environmental engineering.

The curriculum in construction engineering consists of a basic core of about 63 semester hours of specified courses. These courses in basic science, humanities, social studies, mathematics, and applied science give a foundation in engineering, technology and general education.

All students who complete the ABET-accredited five-year curriculum receive both the B.S.Env.E. and the M.Env.E. degrees concurrently. M.Env.E. graduates are prepared to move toward professional licensure in any state with the proper combination of examinations (FE, PE) and experience required by that state. Students who only complete the undergraduate courses in the curriculum (1000-4000 level) receive the non-ABET-accredited BS.Env.E. degree only. Graduates who have only a B.S.Env.E. degree and desire licensure must consult the engineering licensure regulations for graduates with non-accredited degrees in their states of interest.

The department requires students in their junior year to conduct a degree audit. Following this audit, they must meet with their academic advisors to discuss all courses remaining for completion of their degree. To graduate, the student must complete the specified minimum number of hours in each of these subject areas, and have a C or better in all degree program courses. Changes in the degree plan or exceptions to the above conditions require written approval of the chairperson of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering. Forms and information pertaining to departmental regulations are available in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering office. Professors and instructors reserve the right to restrict the use and type of calculators used during class hours and tests.

Students interested in obtaining both the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and the Master of Architecture degrees should refer to the dual degree curriculum listed in the College of Architecture section of this catalog.

Minors. Civil, environmental, and construction engineering majors may pursue a minor in any field of study at Texas Tech. A minor consists of 18 hours coursework, with at least 6 hours at the junior or senior level. A minor in mathematics normally can be obtained with the completion of a few additional hours.

Internship. The department believes that its students benefit greatly from participation in an internship program. One of the major benefits is improved full-time employment opportunities after graduation. Accordingly, all construction engineering students are required to complete at least the equivalent of three months of full-time work of an appropriate nature in order to graduate. However, part-time work of an appropriate nature conducted during the regular semester also will be considered. Students must enroll in CONE 4100 to obtain internship credit.

Credit by Examination. The examination for credit for EGR 1206 and EGR 1207 , Engineering Graphics, is held only in the fall, the first Friday after classes begin. Students must register for the exam in Room 224 of the Mechanical Engineering Building by 5 pm the first Wednesday after classes begin for the fall term. Students should have a background in beginning drawing and descriptive geometry.

Graduate Program

For information on graduate programs offered by the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, visit the Graduate School section of the catalog.

Program Offerings & Course Descriptions

Programs

Bachelor’s

Undergraduate Minor

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree

Environmental Engineering, B.S.Env.E./M.Env.E.

Courses

Civil Engineering (Undergraduate Courses)

Construction Engineering (Undergraduate Courses)

Engineering Graphics (Undergraduate Courses)

Environmental Engineering (Undergraduate Courses)