Overview
Civil Engineering is the technology of planning for, and safely designing, constructing, maintaining, and rehabilitating community infrastructure. Civil engineers design and construct many facilities that are critical to our society.
Civil Engineering addresses the interaction of people with the built and natural environment. Engineers use established theories, techniques, and emerging technologies to understand and solve complex problems.
“What I love about my stream is how real it is. Civil Engineering students take courses on materials like steel and concrete which are used to construct buildings, bridges, hydro dams, highways, sewer systems, and more. Moreover, we look at the environmental impacts civilization has on our world both locally and globally.” – Mike Sucharda, Civil Engineering & Management
What makes this program unique?
- Relevancy of our innovative research to Canadian communities
- Dedication of our faculty and staff, and quality of our teaching
- Emphasis on sustainability extending into many facets of our curriculum and our research programs
- We produce leaders in the field of Civil Engineering through high quality education, community engagement and leading edge training
Civil Engineering is comprised of the following specialty areas:
- Construction Engineering and Management
- Environmental & Water Resources Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
Refer to information under Specializations tab for descriptions of the specialty areas.
B.Eng. – Co-op and Experiential Learning
Experiential learning provides students with hands-on opportunities beyond the traditional lecture-style format to gain valuable experience.
Engineering Co-op Program
The Engineering Co-op Program is an optional program which provides you with the opportunity to work in real engineering positions before you graduate. The Undergraduate Co-op Program is administered by the Engineering Co-op and Career Services Department (ECCS).
Example Employers:
- Toronto Hydro Corporation
- Canadian Solar Solutions
- Metrolinx
- Government of Ontario
- Sobotec
- McNally Construction
- Aecon Group
Extracurricular Activities
McMaster Engineering has many engineering clubs, teams and societies you can join to enhance your practical knowledge and soft skills, provide support, or give you the chance to explore new activities. Clubs are an enjoyable way to enrich your student life and contribute to your social development and academic success.
- McMaster Seismic Design Team
- Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Student Chapter (EERI McMaster)
- Civil Engineering Club
- McMaster Engineering Musical
- Engineers without Borders
B.Eng. – Careers and Research
Career Paths
- Design and construction of buildings and infrastructure systems
- Earthquake engineering
- Environmental and water resources engineering
- Education
- Government
- Consulting
- Industry
- Construction
Research Areas
- Techniques to increase the performance of concrete, masonry and steel structures; mitigation of damage due to extreme load situations
- Sensing and automation for heavy construction; development of innovative disruptive and intelligent transportation systems.
- Watershed planning and storm water management; groundwater cleanup; energy harvesting from wastewater
- Mitigation of damage due to earthquake, blast and other extreme load situations
- Watershed planning and stormwater management
- Energy harvesting from wastewater
Education (Graduate Studies > University President)
Government (Entry Level Engineer > Agency Director)
Consulting (Entry Level Engineer > CEO/President)
Industry (Entry Level Engineer > Executive/Senior Management)
Construction (Entry Level Engineer > Executive/Senior Management)
B.Eng. – Specializations
Civil Engineering is a diverse discipline comprised of the following specialized areas:
Construction Engineering and Management
Construction is one of the largest industries in Canada. Construction engineers and managers work in different organizations such as construction management firms, general contractors, specialty contractors, design-builders, consulting engineers, and architects and they may deal with residential, commercial, industrial, or heavy construction projects.
Environment & Water Resources Engineering
Environmental & Water Resources Engineering combines scientific principles, computer modelling and aspects of public policy to create practical solutions for improving the quality of our air, water and soil. Environmental & Water Resources engineers work within a multi-disciplinary context to design systems that minimize the use of materials, energy and water to maximize the protection of our natural ecosystems as we build our communities.
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineers are concerned with the properties and behaviour of soil and rock, flow of groundwater, as well as stability and settlement/deformation characteristics of slopes, retaining walls, and foundations.
Structural Engineering
Structural Engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction of structures of all types ranging from high rise buildings, bridges, dams, power plants, off-shore platforms, tunnels, etc. In doing so, they deal with all sorts of construction and building envelope materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, composites, glass, and aluminium etc.
Transportation Engineering
Transportation Engineering is the application of science and technology in planning, design, operation and management of transportation networks for safe, timely and efficient movement of goods and people through road, rail, water and air.
B.Eng. – Admission Requirements
Admission to Level II Engineering Programs
Admission to Level II Engineering programs requires completion of all 31 units of required Engineering I courses. Students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0. All programs have limited enrolment; should there be more applicants than the limiting number in any program, admission to that program will be based on the students Cumulative Grade Point Average.
B.Eng. – Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
CIVENG 2A03 Undergraduate | Surveying and Measurement for Transportation and Construction |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 2B04 Undergraduate | Principles of Environmental Engineering |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 2C04 Undergraduate | Structural Mechanics |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 2E03 Undergraduate | Computer Applications in Civil Engineering |
Sessional Instructor: Feras Al-Sheet
|
Outline | More |
CIVENG 2J03 Undergraduate | Engineering Geology |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 2O04 Undergraduate | Fluid Mechanics |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 2P04 Undergraduate | Statics and Mechanics of Materials |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 2Q03 Undergraduate | Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics |
Sessional Instructor: Moustafa Naiem Abdel-Mooty
|
Outline | More |
CIVENG 3A03 Undergraduate | Geotechnical Engineering I |
Sessional Instructor: Meckkey El-Sharnouby
|
Outline | More |
CIVENG 3B03 Undergraduate | Geotechnical Engineering II |
|
More | |
CIVENG 3C03 Undergraduate | Engineering Systems |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 3G04 Undergraduate | Structural Analysis |
Sessional Instructor: Mehdi Shafikhani
|
Outline | More |
CIVENG 3J04 Undergraduate | Reinforced Concrete Design |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 3K03 Undergraduate | Introduction to Transportation Engineering |
|
Outline | More |
CIVENG 3L03 Undergraduate | Water Quality |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 3M03 Undergraduate | Municipal Hydraulics |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 3P04 Undergraduate | Civil Engineering Materials and Design |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4A04 Undergraduate | Engineering Hydrology |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4BP4 Undergraduate | Building Science |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 4CA4 Undergraduate | Construction Management and Automation |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4DD4 Undergraduate | Structural Dynamics and Seismic Design |
|
More | |
CIVENG 4G04 Undergraduate | Pavement Materials and Design |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4K04 Undergraduate | Modern Methods of Structural Analysis |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4L04 Undergraduate | Design of Water Resources Systems |
|
More | |
CIVENG 4N04 Undergraduate | Steel Structures |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4S04 Undergraduate | Foundation Engineering |
|
More | |
CIVENG 4T04 Undergraduate | Transit Modelling and Intelligent Transportation Systems |
|
More | |
CIVENG 4TA4 Undergraduate | Traffic Analysis: Theory and Simulation |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 4V04 Undergraduate | Biological Aspects of Wastewater Treatment |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 4W04 Undergraduate | Design of Low Rise Buildings |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 4X06 A/B Undergraduate | Design and Synthesis Project in Civil Engineering |
![]() |
Outline | More |
CIVENG 4Y04 Undergraduate | Bridges and Other Structural Systems |
![]() |
More | |
CIVENG 4Z04 A/B Undergraduate | Independent Study |
|
More | |
ENGINEER 2PX3 Undergraduate | Integrated Engineering Design Project 2 |
|
Outline | More |
ENGINEER 4A03 Undergraduate | Ethics, Equity and Law in Engineering |
![]() |
Outline | More |