The engineering discipline that involves the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and natural environment is termed as Civil Engineering.
Public works such as canals, dams, roads, bridges, sewage systems, airports, structural components of buildings, railways and pipelines are included in this.
This is cited as the second oldest professional engineering discipline after military engineering. Civil Engineering has a number of sub disciplines.
Civil Engineering touches us in our day to day life. The foundation of our society is built by Civil Engineers. They are instrumental in designing, building and maintaining our roads and our drinking water supply. They supervise the infrastructure like bridges, dams, and tunnels etc. that are important in our daily lives.
In this blog we will discuss the qualifications, degrees, specializations and career advancement opportunities in Civil Engineering. We will also provide valuable information on how to select the best colleges for this course along with the eligibility, admission process, the curriculum and the average fees. This blog will help you understand the various career opportunities that exist after the successful completion of this course and we will also endeavor to provide information on indicative salaries in this profession.
What is the required qualification for Civil engineering?
The required qualifications to pursue a Civil Engineering course are –
Completion of class 12 in the Science stream from a recognised Board.
The compulsory subjects must include Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at the qualifying level.
The students must have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% in the above mentioned subjects at the qualifying level and pass marks in the other subject. (This is subject to change and may vary from one institute to another.)
Students, who have completed a diploma degree after their Class 10th/12th in the relevant discipline i.e. Mechanical or Allied Sciences, are also eligible to appear for the B.Tech Civil Engineering course.
What are Civil Engineering Degrees and Specializations?
Civil Engineering has many sub categories, and it is always advisable to check which degrees the colleges that you are interested in, offer. A few popular ones are mentioned below:
Structural Engineering Degree:
This is the oldest forms of civil engineering and has been present for many years. It focuses on the building of non- building structures. The structures that do not have occupancy are termed as non- building structures. A few examples of these are: dams, water culverts, roads, railroads, tunnels and bridges. The non-building structures are in high demand and therefore structural engineering jobs are very important.
Construction Engineering Management Degree
This will interest those who have an inclination towards building commercial or residential building structures. This focuses on building houses, and office buildings. The size of the building to be constructed determines the duration of the projects which are generally short term. The job options for construction engineers is influenced by the demand for housing or commercial buildings and may increase or decrease accordingly.
Environmental Engineering Degree
Civil Engineers who are interested in solving environmental issues will be interested in this degree. A few tasks include in this would be to help design better water and purification systems, help reduce waste within a construction site and so on.
Architectural Engineering Degree
This is similar to construction and structural engineering, since it also focuses on the building of structures. The difference here is that it focuses on the aesthetics of the structures. Although it focuses primarily on the beauty and looks of the structure but going beyond that, it also designs new structures in keeping with its relevance in that particular time period and also the demands of construction existing at that time. As an example, if a Victorian style town were to be revamped, then an architectural engineer’s expertise would be needed.
Engineering Project Management Degree
A project manager’s role is a very important one in civil engineering, since almost every engineer works with them. This is one of the strong reasons that make civil engineers pursue a bachelor’s or a master’s in Project Management. The role of a project manager is to facilitate work with companies, multiple processes and engineering specialties to finish large projects. The people who come under the various specialties are drafters, structural engineers, electricians and architects.
The various Civil Engineering specializations are:
Structural Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Hydraulic Engineering
What are Career Advancement Opportunities after Civil Engineering?
The key responsibility of civil engineers is to build and maintain infrastructure projects for private and public sector enterprises. After they join at entry level positions they may want to advance their careers, and then will move on to specialize in areas of their choice. Geotechnical engineering, utility engineering are some of the fields that they may want to explore and specialize in. Urban planning is another avenue they may want to explore which will allow them to take a broader view of planning and development. The other avenue is to take on administrative responsibility as an engineering or architectural manager.
After acquiring enough experience civil engineers can climb the corporate ladder to senior positions and can become;
Project managers
Functional managers of design, operation, maintenance or construction.
The important factors that will help career advancement opportunities are:
Good work experience
Licensure as a professional engineer
Advanced degrees which may include a Masters degree, in Business or Public administration or a PhD in Civil Engineering.
Advanced credentials
An ongoing professional development
Is Civil Engineering Right for You?
Although the choice of a career is very subjective and depends on an individual’s inclination, let us attempt to understand if civil engineering is indeed a right fit for you.
Is civil engineering a part of our everyday world?
Yes. A civil engineers work is influences the way people learn, relax, live and work. It focuses on the planning, construction and maintenance of structures.
Is it an exciting job?
Yes. The civil engineers can choose from a dynamic and ever growing list of jobs and roles. All these positions need a lot of agility, quick response and versatility. You need to be on the move, dividing your time between the site and the office. You may also have outstation travel. The work involves below the surface construction including tunnels, underground railways, water supplies and so on. It also includes above the surface construction that includes roads, bridges, skyscrapers, hospitals and so on.
Do you get a sense of accomplishment?
Yes. The act of creating a structure that is long lasting and lives on in people’s memories is a fulfilling task.
Does this profession give you room for creativity?
Yes. Generally creativity is associated with the profession of architects, yet civil engineers too have the scope of displaying a lot of creativity. Their projects come with their own unique challenges. It may include the use of materials in novel and innovative ways, improving efficiency through workflows, handling growing demands form technological advancements adeptly and so on. The role of a civil engineer gives ample opportunities for creativity and problem solving, daily.
You also have access to advanced tools and technology to work with.
How to find top Civil Engineering Course & College in India?
While seeking admission and evaluating colleges the following criteria can be considered-
Ranks of the colleges
Fees
Placement Record
Number of Seats
Infrastructure
Faculty
Choosing a college should not be a last minute activity or done in haste. You should spend adequate time researching colleges, probably in high school itself so that you are prepared in advance. There are no right or wrong colleges. However they become a perfect fit for you once you decide on your criteria of choice and list them according to your priority.
A few simple steps to aid you in your choice are:
Choose an engineering stream and choose colleges based on that.
Categorize colleges based on the top ones, good ones and average ones. By this process of elimination you can zero down on your college. If you don’t qualify in a particular list you can move on to the next.
List down your criteria such as distance from home, commuting tine, knowledge and reputation of faculty members, social life, student bodies, placement record and so on. You can check the boxes that meet your criteria and then zero down on your choice.
Check your eligibility for any scholarships or grants and avail it of you qualify
Take a practical instead of a virtual tour of the college to understand what is in store for you once you join that college.
Don’t give undue importance to brands. Look for a college that offers good education and meets your criteria. You may then decide to go with your choice.
You must have good scores. It is good to aim for the best college but you must have the scores to get in. So spend time only on colleges which will accept you on your scores.
What is Civil Engineering Curriculum & Syllabus?
Civil Engineers make a huge impact in the everyday world. The candidates work towards designing, building and maintaining underground and surface structures. The B.Tech Civil Engineering programme imparts valuable knowledge on planning, designing and construction activities. The well designed course syllabus is as follows:
SEMESTER III
Building Materials & Construction Technology
Geotechnical Engineering
Calculus and Numerical Techniques
Surveying
Mechanics of Solids
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory
Surveying Laboratory 8 18BTCE313
Civil Engineering Material Testing Laboratory
Mini Project – I
SEMESTER IV
Concrete Technology
Building Planning and CADD
Fluid Mechanics
Theory of Structures
Transportation Engineering
Concrete Technology Laboratory
Fluid Mechanics I Laboratory
Transportation Engineering Laboratory
Mini Project – II
SEMESTER V
Design of Steel Structures
DCC
Theory of Structures II
Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering
Fluid Mechanics II
Elective
Automated Surveying Laboratory
Fluid Mechanics II Laboratory
Mini Project – II
SEMESTER VI
Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Environmental Engineering
Foundation Engineering 3
Construction Project Management
Elective II
Elective III
Environmental Engineering Laboratory
Mini Project – IV
SEMESTER VII
Quantity Surveying and Estimation
Pre-Engineered Structures
Elective IV
Elective V
Elective VI
Computational Laboratory
Quantity Surveying and Estimation Laboratory
Project Phase
SEMESTER VIII
Project Phase II 0 0 24 12 100 200 300 PRS
Elective Course Title
Elective I
Air Pollution and Control
Railways, Airport, Docs and Harbour Engineering
Safety in Construction Practices
Engineering Geology
Elective II
Advanced Irrigation Engineering
Advanced Analysis of Structures
Intelligent Transport Systems
Special Concrete
Elective III
Transportation Planning and Management
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Town Planning
Advanced Surveying
Elective IV
Hydraulic Structures Design of Prestressed Concrete Elements
System Approach in Construction
Renewable Energy Engineering
Elective V
Design of Retaining Structures
Planning for Sustainable Development
Industrial Waste Management
Total Quality Management
Elective VI
Green Building Technology
Disaster Management
Environmental Impact Assessment
Artificial Intelligence
What is Admission process for Civil Engineering Degree?
Most of the colleges/institutions offer both merit and entrance scores based admissions to the candidates.
Many colleges accept National level and state level entrance exam scores. Some of the exams are JEE Main, UPSEE, WBJEE and so on. Based on these scores they provide admission to the candidates.
A few institutes/colleges conduct their won qualifying exam. Some of these are BITSAT, SRMJEE.
In a few colleges direct admission is available based on their Management quota seats.
What is Fee structure for Civil Engineering Degree?
An annual fee of 40k to 1.5 lac is generally the fee slab for this course. This may vary from one college to another depending on various internal factors, such as faculty, infrastructure, location, courses and so on.
What does a Civil engineer do?
A civil engineer applies his expertise and scientific knowledge to improve the infrastructure and the common utilities that touch us in our day to day life. He is in charge of public works for example, airports, water sewage, roads, bridges, tunnels and so on. He is also involved in large infrastructure projects.
What is the scope in Civil engineering in India?
The task of a civil engineer encompasses the estimating, planning, designing, supervising of construction and managing the construction of structures. The civil engineer is also responsible for the maintenance of roads, buildings, dams and so on.
The civil Engineers assess the construction site and perform a feasibility study. They have to study the environment and then plan based on that outcome.
The civil engineers are responsible for the entire construction process. They have to plan systematically so that the work flows smoothly.
The civil engineers are responsible for the budgets. The raw materials, machinery, equipment, labour cost and other factors have to be decided by him in consultation with the planner. They also set the deadlines for the work to be completed.
The civil engineer is in charge of overseeing the construction work. They are responsible for quality checks at each phase of construction.
The civil engineer is also responsible for the final inspection once the project is said to be complete. They inspect the project thoroughly and issue a safety certificate and then term it complete.
What are Career Opportunities after Civil Engineering Degree?
After you complete your civil engineering degree you have a vast choice of career options in diverse fields. The various roles can be site engineer, structural engineer, Water engineer, rural and urban transport engineer, building control surveyor, consulting civil engineer, contracting civil engineer, nuclear engineer, design engineer, CAD technician, and many others.
The other job designations can be construction manager, geotechnical engineer, environmental engineer, public health engineer, transportation engineer, urban planning engineer and many others.
The sectors of employment can include both, government and private sector.
What is the salary of Civil engineer?
The average indicative package is a starting salary per annum ( in INR ) Rs.3,50,000- Rs. 6,00,00 and Mid-Level Salary per annum (in INR) Rs. 6,00,000- Rs. 10,00,000.
The senior level salary is higher depending on the company and the qualifications and the skills of the candidates.
Why Choose MIT ADT College of Engineering?
Nestled amidst a vast lush green expanse of 125 acres of land at Loni, Kalbhor, Pune is MIT-ADT University. A name that has become synonymous with excellence in education as a multidisciplinary university. It has been recognized as the best campus by ASSOCHAM.
MITSOE (MIT School of Engineering) offers a unique and result-oriented program on Civil Engineering. The BTech in Civil Engineering course is targeted at training young engineering aspirants to become leaders of the industry. The valuable knowledge that is imparted here is a unique blend of practice and theory. This is ably backed by the expert faculty and the state-of-the-art infrastructure