North Carolina Civil Engineering Schools

Civil Engineering Schools in North Carolina

Civil engineers design and supervise construction of infrastructure projects to meet state and federal guidelines. Aspiring civil engineers must complete an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) bachelor’s degree program that includes:

  • calculus
  • physics
  • chemistry
  • thermodynamics
  • structural analysis

North Carolina, like all states, requires civil engineer licensure by a qualifying exam and work experience. Recent reports show a moderate to good civil engineering employment outlook in North Carolina.

There are 14 ABET-accredited colleges of engineering in North Carolina. On average 21 hours of technical electives are for flexibility for study in specific areas. Each undergraduate may design a technical elective program and take nine hours (three optional courses) beyond degree requirements from prescribed concentration areas in civil engineering:

  • environmental
  • geotechnical
  • structural
  • transportation

Qualified students may apply for early entry into the graduate program in civil engineering. If accepted, they study the optional courses for graduate credit while completing the undergraduate program. The graduate program offers discipline-specific and multidisciplinary education in civil and environmental engineering in five areas of concentration: Environmental and water resources, geo-environmental, geotechnical, structural and materials, and transportation engineering.

The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors makes and enforces rules for the practice of engineering. The board requires an accredited undergraduate engineering curriculum or equivalent education, and engineering experience performed under a licensed professional engineer or a written explanation of why any proposed substitution should be acceptable. Every applicant for licensure must show a minimum of one year experience of a progressive engineering nature in industry or government or under a licensed professional engineer offering service to the public. The board collects an annual $75 professional engineer licensure renewal fee. Every licensee must complete 15 professional development hours of continuing professional competency instruction or training during the renewal period. These hours may be earned in a number of ways as long as they are approved by the board:

  • college courses
  • continuing education courses
  • correspondence
  • televised
  • videotaped
  • audiotaped
  • other short courses/tutorials/activities

Employment prospects in civil engineering are moderate to good with about 6,500 employed at starting salaries of about $48,000 and mean salaries of about $70,000. Civil engineers can enter a variety of specialty fields including:

  • architectural
  • structural
  • transportation
  • traffic
  • water resources
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