Effective Fall 2024
- School of Engineering Technologies
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
- More Information about Civil Engineering Technology
This curriculum is designed to equip graduates to face the challenge of modern engineering practice. The major emphasizes applications-based engineering studies involving the planning, analysis, and design of civil engineering/surveying projects. Modern approaches to the planning, analysis, and design of highways, structures, hydraulic systems, and site development are emphasized. Technical instruction with modern instrumentation, hardware, and software is reinforced with foundation courses emphasizing written and oral communication, and physical sciences. All of the instruction is presented with problem solving in mind and with a strong emphasis on applications and critical thinking. The major prepares students for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which is the first step in registering as a professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Educational objectives, student outcomes, and enrollment/graduation data for this major
Career Opportunities
Graduates can seek employment in a wide range of civil engineering disciplines. These include bridge and highway design, construction management, geotechnical engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, land development, and structural design. Employment opportunities exist with private consulting firms, design/construction businesses, and government agencies, including PennDOT, DEP, USGS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the uniformed services. Local municipality planning and engineering agencies also offer opportunities for employment. Graduates seeking self-employment opportunities will be aided by education leading to licensure as a professional engineer
Recommended High School Subjects
Prospective students are advised to take the most challenging high school subjects that they are capable of and to take at least one mathematics course every year. Prior knowledge of mathematics including algebra and trigonometry is particularly important and calculus is strongly recommended. Coursework in the natural sciences such as chemistry and physics is recommended. Competency in communication and critical and ethical thinking is strongly recommended and can be acquired through coursework including, but not limited to, language arts, foreign languages, civics, economics, and history. Coursework in computer usage, computer programming, drafting, and operating CAD programs at the high school level is extremely helpful.
Special Equipment Needs
Laptop Computer Required
- Windows 11 or higher (recommended).
- 64-bit, 3.0 GHz or greater, 4 or more cores (Intel or AMD) (required).
- 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
- 16+ GB RAM (required); 32+ GB RAM (recommended).
- 1 GB GPU minimum Graphics Card (required); 4 GB GPU (recommended).
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
- Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance).
- Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.
Remediation Strategies
Civil Engineering coursework (CET) requires that students begin the first semester enrolled in MTH181 or higher.
Students who begin their first semester below MTH181 may not begin taking CET coursework. Related coursework (courses other than CET) may be completed. Students placing below MTH181 will need additional semesters to complete the degree.
Transfer Procedures
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see https://www.pct.edu/admissions/transfer/transferring-credits). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.
Program Goals
A graduate of this major should be able to:- apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
- design systems, components, or processes, meeting specified needs for broadly defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
- apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.
- conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and analyze and interpret the results to improve processes.
- function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.
Performance Standards
Program reviewers during the last ABET site visit suggested that there be a minimum grade requirement higher than “D” for the B.S. Civil Engineering Technology. Based on the department's qualitative data, most students have been able to achieve a minimum “C” grade in CET courses. A minimum grade requirement should provide incentive for underperforming students to take corrective measures or to consider alternative majors.
The following language for performance standards is to be added:
Students must complete all required major courses in the B.S. Civil Engineering Technology major (those with the alpha-designator CET) with a grade of "C" or higher.
Curriculum
| First Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE101 | First Year Experience | 1.0 | .50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| CET160 | Surveying for Civil Engineers | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET151 | Computer Applications for Civil Engineers | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| ENL111 | English Composition I | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| CSC124 | Information, Technology & Society | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| MTH191 | Pre-Calculus | 3.0 | 2.50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16.0 | ||||||
| Second Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET120 | Erosion Control & Stormwater Management | 3.0 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| CET168 | Geographic Information Systems & Small Unmanned Aerial Systems | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| ENL201 | Technical & Professional Communication | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| OEA | Open Elective | 3.0 | S | OEA | |||
| ECO111 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15.0 | ||||||
| Third Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET203 | Engineering Mechanics I | 4.0 | 4 | M | REQ | ||
| CET229 | Transportation Engineering | 3.0 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| CET238 | Origin, Distribution & Behavior of Soils | 3.0 | Writing Enriched Requirement | 2 | 3 | M | REQ |
| PHS115 | College Physics I | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| or | |||||||
| PHS201 | General Physics I | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| MTH240 | Calculus I | 4.0 | 4 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 18.0 | ||||||
| Fourth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET213 | Engineering Mechanics II | 4.0 | 4 | M | REQ | ||
| CET246 | Materials of Construction | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET312 | Hydraulics & Hydrology | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| PHS125 | College Physics II | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| or | |||||||
| PHS202 | General Physics II | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| MTH242 | Calculus II | 4.0 | 4 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 18.0 | ||||||
| Fifth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET242 | Fluid Mechanics | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET305 | Structural Engineering I | 4.0 | 4 | M | REQ | ||
| SPC | Speech Elective | 3.0 | S | SPC | |||
| CHM111 | General Chemistry I | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14.0 | ||||||
| Sixth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET320 | Land Development for Civil Engineers | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET315 | Structural Engineering II | 4.0 | 4 | M | REQ | ||
| CET324 | Water Resources & Environmental Engineering | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| MET315 | Engineering Economics | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| CET | Civil Engineering Technology Elective | 3.0 | M | CET | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16.0 | ||||||
| Seventh Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET410 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET420 | Sustainable Infrastructure | 3.0 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| CET495 | Senior Capstone Design-Planning | 2.0 | 1 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| CET | Civil Engineering Technology Elective | 3.0 | M | CET | |||
| HIP | Core Historical Perspective | 3.0 | S | HIP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14.0 | ||||||
| Eighth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| CET496 | Design for Capstone Project | 2.0 | 6 | M | REQ | ||
| MET321 | Engineering Ethics & Legal Issues | 3.0 | Writing Enriched Requirement & Science, Technology and Society Requirement | 3 | S | REQ | |
| ARP | Core Arts Perspective | 3.0 | S | ARP | |||
| MTH161 | Statistics for STEM Fields with Computer Applications | 3.5 | 3 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| CDP | Core Global & Cultural Diversity Perspective | 3.0 | S | CDP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14.5 | ||||||
Accreditation
Accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org ), under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Civil Engineering Technology and Similarly Named Programs.