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Construction Engineering

Construction Engineering Major

Construction Engineering involves the planning, design, and management of construction facilities, such as highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams, and reservoirs. The construction of such projects requires the knowledge of engineering, management, economics, and business. Construction Engineering is differentiated from Construction Management from the standpoint of the use of math, science, and engineering to design projects and processes and analyze problems. Construction Engineering is involved in a variety of construction disciplines, including: commercial, residential, transportation, and infrastructure systems. Construction Engineers are also involved in the engineering design of temporary structures, cost estimating, planning and scheduling, material procurement, selection of equipment, and cost control. Due to their diverse skills, there is a very high demand for Construction Engineers.

The Department of Construction Management and Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering which offers a blend of engineering and construction courses. The program is designed for those who want to work in the construction industry and enjoy the status of a professional engineer. A thorough knowledge of the physical sciences, math, and engineering is developed during the first two years followed by construction management and engineering courses. The technical side of the program is balanced with requirements in writing, humanities, social science, and communications. The Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the ABET.

Educational Objectives

The Educational Objectives of the Construction Engineering Degree Program describe the career and professional accomplishments that we expect our graduates to achieve early in their careers. Within the first few (3-5) years after graduation, we expect our alumni:

  • To maintain a sustained program of continuing education and life-long learning with a focus on contemporary issues.
  • To be productive construction engineers and/or construction managers who are pursuing or have attained professional registration.
  • To be effective communicators who work on multidisciplinary teams.
  • To be engaged engineering professionals who are aware of and comprehend the ethical, social, environmental, and economic impacts of engineering solutions.
  • To be engaged citizens who become involved and seek leadership roles in professional societies and community organizations.

Major Requirements

Major: Construction Engineering

Degree Type: B.S.Cons.E.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 131

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

major requirements

Construction Engineering Core Requirements
CM&E 111Introduction to Construction Management and Engineering1
CM&E 200Construction Documents and Codes3
CM&E 204Construction Surveying3
CM&E 212Construction Graphic Communications3
CM&E 240Financial Cost Concepts for Construction Managers3
CM&E 301Construction Technology and Equipment3
CM&E 305Pre-Construction Management3
CM&E 315Specifications and Contracts3
CM&E 380Construction Estimating: Quantities and Costs3
CM&E 403Scheduling and Project Control3
CM&E 405Construction Support Operations3
CM&E 489Construction Design Capstone3
CE Courses:
CE 303
303L
Civil Engineering Materials
and Civil Engineering Materials Laboratory
3
CE 309Fluid Mechanics3
CE 316Soil Mechanics3
CE 343Structural Engineering and Analysis4
CE 400 Level Courses: Select 12 credits from the following:12
Bridge Engineering and Management
Design of Site Erosion Control
Reinforced Concrete
Water Resources and Supply
Design of Pre-stressed Concrete
Slope Stability and Retaining Walls
Pavement Design
Open Channel Flow
Timber and Form Design
Finite Element Analysis
Structural Steel Design
Foundation Engineering
Designing with Geosynthetics
Water Quality Management
ME Courses Required:
ME 221Engineering Mechanics I3
ME 222Engineering Mechanics II3
ME 223Mechanics of Materials3
Math Courses Required:
MATH 128Introduction to Linear Algebra1
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
Additional Courses:
BUSN 431Business Law I-Contracts, Property and Torts3
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 122General Chemistry II (May satisfy general education category S)3
ECON 105Elements of Economics3
ENGR 402Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility1
ENGL 320Business and Professional Writing (May satisfy general education category C)3
or ENGL 321 Writing in the Technical Professions
GEOL 105Physical Geology (May satisfy general education category S)3
or GEOL 106 The Earth Through Time
PHYS 252University Physics II (May satisfy general education category S)4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
Total Credits110

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college.  Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.
  • A minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA is required for transfer students to be admitted to the B.S. in construction engineering program.