Civil and Construction Engineering

Construction Engineering (B.S. in Engineering)

Do you aspire to oversee a construction project—taking a design to completion and being integral to planning, design, and execution of varied projects involving structures and facilities? If you envision a hands-on career helping bring safe and sustainable projects to communities, earning your bachelor's degree in construction engineering is a great way to start. Western and the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering offer everything you will need.

Pride Points

100%

of civil and construction engineering graduates working full time are satisfied with their job

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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$70K to $80K

median starting salary for recent College of Engineering and Applied Sciences graduates working full time

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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100%

of civil and construction engineering graduates are working or continuing their education

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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Pursue a bachelor's degree in construction engineering

The construction engineering program is committed to preparing you to contribute to the global civil and construction engineering community. You'll be prepared for construction planning, management or development with technical, business and human relations knowledge and skills industry leaders seek.

Your skills will develop in the classroom and on residential and commercial construction job sites as part of coursework or internships, culminating in a Senior Engineering Design project where you'll team up with peers and industry to address a real-world project.

If you are thinking about graduate school, you can save time and money with our accelerated master's program.

By graduation, you'll be ready to take on the evolving challenges in the such industries as water resources and environment, transportation, construction, urban development and energy.

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What you'll learn

As a construction engineering major, you'll study soil mechanics, fluid mechanics, engineering materials, construction codes, specifications, planning and contracts, structural analysis and design, planning and scheduling, and estimating, bidding and cost control.

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Drew Bielawski, B.S.E’25

Working through the construction engineering program with my peers has been the best experience. We all help each other move toward graduation.
— Drew Bielawski, B.S.E’25

Where you'll be after graduation

When you graduate from the construction engineering program, you'll be ready to take on a range of responsibilities as a construction engineer, project manager, project executive, or structural engineer.  Recent WMU graduates with degrees in construction engineering are working for companies including AECOM, CSM Group, Prein & Newhof, Siemens Logistics & Assembly Systems and Walbridge.

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Making the most of your learning

Professors and advisors will support your participation in real-world experiences that will set you apart when you launch your professional career. You'll make lifelong friends and apply your skills by joining student organizations such as Concrete Canoe Team. Internships and co-ops will all boost the knowledge you build in your coursework. Your time at Western culminates in a Senior Engineering Design project, where you will team you up with peers and industry to apply your knowledge to a real world project.

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Resources

What scholarships are available to construction engineering students?

A number of scholarships are available for students enrolled in the construction engineering program at Western. We encourage you to apply for all scholarships that match your interests, career goals and financial or academic needs.

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Frequently asked questions

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from WMU pursue careers in fields such as planning, management or development. They also have technical, business and human relations knowledge and skills. Graduates have job titles such as construction project engineer, chief executive officer and project engineer.

Yes, in the mechanical engineering program you will learn through hands-on opportunities.

  • Professors incorporate hands-on learning into your coursework, including projects in academic labs.
  • WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences has more than 25 student organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers. These organizations allow you to compete and network with peers at other institutions while extending your learning.
  • Many students also complete internships or co-ops during their time in the program.
  • All students complete a Senior Engineering Design capstone project, where you work as a team to address real-world projects.

Yes, there are a number of scholarships available for students enrolled in the construction engineering program at Western. You may also be eligible for additional scholarships from WMU. We encourage you to apply for all scholarships that match your interests, career goals and financial or academic needs. View scholarship information.

View scholarship information.

As a construction engineering student, you should enjoy solving problems using math and science and have three and a half years of college preparatory mathematics, including trigonometry, and two years of basic science, such as physics and chemistry.

At Western, you'll start with foundational engineering courses. Once you successfully complete these pre-engineering requirements, you’ll apply to the upper-level professional program where you’ll dive deeper into your specific major.

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View admissions information for transfer students

Yes, we welcome students who are interested in transferring to WMU from a community college or other college or university. View transfer information and set-up an appointment to meet with an advisor.

 Many students in the construction engineering program participate in internships or co-ops during their time at WMU. Check with a faculty member or your academic advisor for more information. 

Western gives you options for receiving academic support in construction engineering. Check with your professors or instructors during office hours to ask questions about your courses or find tutoring via the Bronco Study Zone.