FAQs

• Environmental – the study of man’s interaction with the    environment, and the use of engineering to lessen the impact of that interaction. Required courses include CE 320 and CE 321.

• Materials – the study of various materials used in construction, their properties and characteristics. Required courses include CE 340 and CE 341.

• Soil Mechanics – the study of soil properties and how engineering projects interact with soils. Required courses include CE 360 and CE 361.

• Structures – the study of how buildings, bridges and other structures are put together and how they are engineered to carry various loads. Required courses include CE 352 and CE 450.

• Surveying – the application of trigonometry, geometry and the laws of physics to lay out, monitor and project information for engineering applications. Required courses include CE 210 and CE 211.

• Transportation – the study of the movement of people, vehicles and goods and how to create smoother and more efficient traffic flow through engineering. Required courses include CE 370.
  

• Water– the study of the properties of fluids in general and water in particular. How to utilize and design for these properties in engineering projects. Required courses include ENGR 330 and ENGR 331.

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The Civil Engineering curriculum is effectively divided into four years of study and a preparatory period based upon a full-time course load of an average of 16 ½ credits per semester. These years are grouped together by a general philosophy:

• The preparatory period aims at bringing the student up to speed to begin an Engineering Education.

• The Freshman year’s aim is to offer the student a strong foundation in mathematics and science at the appropriate university level.

• The Sophomore year continues the idea of the Freshman year, but also begins training the student in the basics of engineering and shows how engineering is different from math and science.

• The Junior year is when most of the sub-disciplines of civil engineering are introduced to the student. It is during this period that the student explores what it means to be a civil engineer.

• The Senior year allows the student to explore the various aspects of civil engineering encountered in the Junior year through a choice of electives. The Senior year culminates in a Senior Design Project where teams of students design a project with major components in at least 3 sub-disciplines of civil engineering. The design experience provides the students with a sense of what they might expect when they enter the labor force upon graduation.

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All the courses required in the curriculum are important for producing a rounded individual. It is the purpose of a university to broaden the understanding of its students by exposing them to many different aspects of philosophy and life. It is also realistic to observe that some courses will allow a student to proceed at a quicker pace towards achieving their goal of higher education.

In Civil Engineering math is key for many of our courses. If a student has to choose between falling behind in math or in a CORE course, the math course would generally cause more of a delay. Aside from math, the ENGR 210 Engineering Statics course is of great significance. After ENGR 210, ENGR 350 Mechanics (or Strength) of Materials would be the next “must have” course since it is prerequisite to most of the Junior year.

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Engineering is applied math and science…

A student may enter MATH 170 Calculus I based on either their ACT or SAT test scores or by taking the placement test at Boise State.

Some students who have scored well enough to take calculus but have been away from school for a while, or don’t feel quite ready for calculus may wish to begin at the step before MATH 170.

MATH 147 Precalculus or MATH 143 College Algebra may be the appropriate place to begin. MATH 143 is a 3-credit Algebra course that covers approximately 60% of the material in MATH 147. MATH 143 is a semester long course that will be followed by MATH 144 Trigonometry, before calculus may be taken. However, successful completion of MATH 143 will allow the student to take first semester Chemistry CHEM 111. MATH 147 is a 5-credit, one semester long course covering both advanced Algebra and Trigonometry. Successful completion of MATH 147 will also allow the student to take first semester Chemistry. A placement test is available to gain admittance to either MATH 147 or MATH 143.

Before MATH 147 or MATH 143, there is MATH 108.  A student starting with MATH 108 should plan to add up to one year to their academic career plans. A placement test is available to gain admittance to MATH 108.

Students who have been away from formal mathematics education for some time, have a poor skill level, or have no ACT or SAT score need to start by taking MATH 025. This is a zero credit course that prepares students for university level math. No placement test is necessary to enter this class.

Test score requirements may be found on the Freshman Online Advising page.

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Engineering is the application of scientific principles in a manner that is useful and usable. Civil Engineering requires the ability to explain an answer to a public that does not necessarily understand the math or science behind building a bridge or widening a road. In order to help our students be able to do their job in an effective manner, writing and speaking skills are a necessity.

Writing skills will be developed through the English composition courses ENGL 101 and ENGL 102. Students may enter ENGL 101 directly based on their ACT or SAT scores, or they may take a placement test to be able to enter ENGL 101 or, possibly, even ENGL 102.  Test score requirements may be found on the Freshman Online Advising page.

Beyond ENGL 102, Civil Engineering requires ENGL 202 Technical Communication. This course teaches students how to write scientific reports to present the results of their research concerning different engineering topics. Students should take ENGL 202 as early as possible in their academic career because many of the engineering courses require writing an elaborate report as part of the final assignment.

COMM 101 Fundamentals of Speech Communication offers students some formal training in public speaking to prepare them for clearly communicating their

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As part of a University education a student is expected to learn about many areas of life, not just his/her major. The Arts & Humanities/Social Science requirement is part of the degree program to broaden the perspective and understanding of the student.

A total of six (6) courses need to be taken to cover the Arts & Humanities/ Social Science CORE requirement. Three (3) courses are to come from the Area I – Arts & Humanities list, from two different fields, and three (3) of these courses are to come from the Area II – Social Science list, also from two different fields.

Over the course of your career at Boise State you will need to meet the Diversity Requirement.  While the courses that may be used to meet this requirement do not necessarily come from the list of core courses, they are generally speaking from the arts, humanities or social sciences.

* Courses that instill cultural values are acceptable while routine exercises of personal craft are not.

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You should choose the core classes you take based on two things.

First, are you interested in the subject?  You should not necessarily take courses that just repeat what you already know, but rather take classes in material that interests you.

Second, ask yourself, your advisor or other students, will this class help my understanding of Civil Engineering?  There are many related topics, outside of Civil Engineering proper, that will help you understand why things are done.

Based upon the Fields of Interest listed below we make the following specific Core course recommendations:

Remember, other options are available.  Talk with your advisor.

NOTE:  When selecting core courses you may be able to meet the Diversity Requirement by selecting courses from the appropriate fields

In Area I the selection of a language course will meet this requirement, and by taking a full year of a language you will also meet the in-depth requirement.

In Area II the fields of Political Science and Sociology are the most readily available to meet this requirement.

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Due to the size of our student body, some required courses will be offered only once a year. Students should ask their advisors when courses are offered, but the following is generally what will be done until the student population grows:

Most of these courses constitute the introductory course in one of the seven sub-disciplines of civil engineering, which are taught at Boise State.

Elective courses are offered on either a one or two year rotating basis. Students should see their advisor or the civil engineering bulletin board about courses that are coming up when.

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