Civil engineers plan, design, operate, and construct the infrastructure in our communities. PSU’s innovative civil engineering program will provide you with the education and skills to join talented professionals in this exciting field, and create strong career prospects.
As a student in the program, you’ll:
- Learn about transportation practices and structural, geotechnical, and water resources from expert faculty who offer real-life perspectives.
- Participate in community service projects that support and improve the municipalities in the Portland metro area.
- Gain valuable work experience through paid internships with government agencies and engineering firms, such as the City of Portland, Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation, HDR Engineering.
- Engage in student groups that offer networking, career support, leadership development, and team building opportunities.
You’ll grow personally and professionally as you prepare to join the next generation of civil engineers, and learn how to keep communities safe and healthy through your work.
As a student joining PSU’s diverse community of aspiring engineers, you’ll learn how to solve problems and develop your critical thinking skills through:
- Hands-on experiences: You’ll enjoy plenty of opportunities to develop your expertise through coursework that turns the city into your classroom. During the program, you’ll participate in projects that support local communities and allow you to make a fast and lasting impact.
- Undergraduate research: Our faculty members receive more than 3 million in research funding every year, giving you the opportunity to conduct real-world research with them as an undergrad.
- Career-building opportunities: You’ll have the chance to gain valuable work experience through our Engineering Work Experience and Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program. These competitive programs offer paid internships at top companies such as Jacobs, the City of Portland, and David Evans and Associates.
When you graduate from PSU, you’ll have the skills and connections to pursue your next steps, whether you’re starting your civil engineering career or going on to graduate school.
Our civil engineering Bachelor of Science program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
In addition to being admitted to PSU, you must also separately request approval to the Upper Division Program.
Located in downtown Portland—one of the most inventive and industrious cities in the nation—Portland State University makes it possible to experience civil engineering innovation as you study it.
Our urban campus gives you access to city infrastructure, public transportation routes, unique and sustainable buildings, and some of the world’s top engineering employers, who hire students for internships and full-time positions.
In recent years, PSU’s civil engineering students have leveraged our distinct location to:
- Pursue paid internships at leading engineering employers such as the City of Portland, Jacobs, and David Evans and Associates.
- Get hands-on experience applying engineering concepts to the real world, such as analyzing structural systems and materials, testing water quality, and developing sustainable solutions for stormwater management.
- Complete a real-world project that makes an immediate impact in the community, like creating a temporary traffic control plan along a busy city road.
- Connect with leaders in private industry and government agencies through networking events and job fairs.
With so many opportunities available, you’ll find your path at PSU and prepare yourself to join a growing and rewarding field.
The Portland metro region is home to some of the world’s top engineering employers—and with our deep industry ties, PSU’s civil engineering program can provide you with the connections and opportunities you need to launch a thriving career in the field.
Our program graduates go on to earn their professional engineering licenses and find jobs at top companies, government agencies, and organizations like the Oregon Department of Transportation, the City of Portland, Jacobs, and David Evans and Associates.
Once you graduate, you can do meaningful work:
- Designing structures using concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and composites.
- Predicting the amount of water available for human use.
- Improving the water quality in bodies of water.
- Using rock and soil mechanics to design foundations, earth structures, and pavement subgrades.
- Developing methods to improve air quality contaminated by industrial and transportation sources.
Many of our alumni do this work at consulting engineering firms or government agencies — and 90% of our students have a job within six months of graduation. Locally, civil engineers can expect a starting salary of $65,000.
Whether you want to find a great job or go on to graduate school, PSU’s program will prepare you to take the next steps in an exciting and high-demand field.