Department Chair:

Dr. Ossama “Sam” Salem, 151 Link Hall, omsalem@syr.edu, 315-443-2311

Program Director:

Dr. Riyad S. Aboutaha, 151 Link Hall, rsabouta@syr.edu, 315-443-2311

Civil Engineering Faculty

Riyad S. Aboutaha, Shobha K. Bhatia, Douglas F. Call, David G. Chandler, Ruth Chen, Andria Costello Staniec, Joan V. Dannenhoffer, Cliff I Davidson, Charles T. Driscoll Jr., Chris E. Johnson, Lashun K. Thomas, Eric Mun Lui, Sinead Mac Namara, Dawit Negussey, Ossama “Sam” Salem, Laura J Steinberg

The mission of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is to promote learning and the creation, dissemination, and application of knowledge in civil and environmental engineering through integration of teaching, scholarship, and service.

The goal of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is to prepare students for engineering practice, advanced study, and lifelong learning in civil and environmental engineering. Graduates are expected to be proficient in the fundamentals of sustainable engineering analysis and design and understand the importance and methods of effective communication. Students are encouraged to use the extensive international network and educational resources of Syracuse University and the Syracuse community to broaden and enhance the quality of their university education.

The educational objectives of the civil engineering program are to produce graduates who:

• can apply technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to advance their careers and serve the community;
• are prepared for engineering practice and advanced studies in civil engineering;
• will engage in life-long learning to keep themselves abreast of new developments in their fields of practice or study; and
• are capable of effective written and oral communications

Our student outcomes are in line with those identified by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. At the time of their graduation, our students should have acquired:

• an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
• an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
• an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints
• an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
• an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
• an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• an ability to communicate effectively
• the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economical, environmental, and societal context
• a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
• a knowledge of contemporary issues
• an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Civil Engineering Description

Civil engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines, extending across many interrelated technical specialties. These technical specialties include structures, hydraulics, geotechnical, environmental, transportation, construction, and water resources. Civil engineers plan, design, and construct facilities essential to modern life in both the private and the public sectors. These facilities vary widely in nature, size, and scope, and include bridges, buildings, tunnels, highways, transit systems, dams, airports, irrigation projects, facilities for water, collection and treatment facilities for wastewater, and many others.

The first-year curriculum emphasizes the physical and mathematical sciences and includes computer-based approaches to civil engineering problems. Additional courses in mathematics and the sciences, as well as introductory courses in civil engineering measurement and sustainability, are taken during the second year. The last two years of the program focus on planning, design, analysis, and management in civil engineering. The curriculum provides flexibility to allow students to customize their academic programs and take advantage of the diversity across both the college and all of Syracuse University. The four-year program includes coursework in the social sciences and humanities necessary for a well-rounded academic background.

By selecting electives carefully, students may specialize in any of the following areas: structural engineering, which deals with the analysis, design, and rehabilitation of structures under static and dynamic loads; environmental engineering, which involves the purification and distribution of water in cities and the proper disposal of sewage and industrial wastes; geotechnical engineering, which analyzes the properties of soils and rocks that support and affect the behavior of structures, pavements, and underground facilities and construction engineering which concerns the planning and execution of large-scale construction and infrastructure projects. Students may complete minors in a variety of subjects.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Adjustments in the program can be made to accommodate transfer students from accredited two- and four-year institutions so they may develop their programs of study as soon after admission as possible.