Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Welcome to the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Department at Portland State University, where our students and faculty drive real-world change by solving the most critical infrastructure and sustainability challenges. Situated in the heart of downtown Portland, our urban campus serves as a living laboratory for innovation. We welcome a diverse community of aspiring engineers, working professionals, and career-changers into our undergraduate and graduate programs. Our  program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, ensuring you receive a high-quality education.

• Our Mission & Faculty
  Our mission is to provide the tools, information, and talented engineers to build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future that supports and enriches daily life. This is driven by our expert faculty who bring invaluable real-life perspectives to the classroom, guiding you through coursework that turns the city into your classroom.
• Our Community & Urban Laboratory
  Our prime location in downtown Portland creates a powerful link between your education and the professional world. As a student, you'll learn to design smart, climate-friendly cities by using Portland's infrastructure as a hands-on lab. Our deep industry connections provide a rich learning environment, preparing you to enhance community health, safety, and quality of life in your career.

Our Civil and Environmental Engineering department offers a comprehensive range of degrees and pathways, from undergraduate minors to doctoral studies. We provide the tools and information to build a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future, attracting students and working professionals who want to solve complex problems in our built environment.

Undergraduate Programs

• We offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in both Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, an undergraduate Minor in Environmental Engineering, and an Honors Program option. Ambitious students can fast-track their education through our Bachelor's + Master's Pathway (4+1), which allows qualified undergraduates to begin graduate coursework early. Enrollment in our upper division classes (300-400 level) requires special permission.

Graduate Programs

• Our Master's (MEng, MS) and Doctoral (PhD) programs allow you to become a technical expert and meet the challenges related to enhancing infrastructure and the environment. Graduate students focus on distinct specializations, such as: environmental, transportation, geotechnical, structural engineering and more. 

Our department offers a comprehensive range of degrees and pathways, from undergraduate minors to doctoral studies. We provide the tools and information to build a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future, attracting students and working professionals who want to solve complex problems in our built environment.

PSU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is at the forefront of creating resilient and sustainable communities. Our faculty and students engage in advanced research and innovation to address critical infrastructure and sustainability challenges, enhancing community health, safety, and quality of life. This work is supported by over $3 million in annual departmental research funding.

Research Specializations
Our pioneering research is focused within our five graduate specializations, allowing students to develop deep expertise. Key research topics include:

• Transportation Engineering: Shaping smart cities by researching big transportation data, connected and autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and sustainable logistics systems.
• Geotechnical Engineering: Focusing on earthquake engineering, including the study of soil liquefaction, soil-structure interaction, numerical modeling, and seismic hazard analysis.
• Structural Engineering: Advancing earthquake-resistant design, assessing high-voltage infrastructure, developing green building designs, and using innovative sensing for structural health monitoring.
• Environmental & Water Resources: Addressing pressing issues like water quality in surface and groundwater systems, sustainability, and the interactions between climate, hydrology, and water resources.
• Preservation of Existing Structures: Developing methods for non-destructive testing, service-life modeling, and asset management, while considering the social and historic significance of structures.

Facilities & Opportunities
Students work in state-of-the-art labs using advanced analytical methods and cutting-edge modeling techniques to conduct their research. We also offer opportunities for funded graduate research assistantships. Learn more about Our Research.

Your experience in the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) department extends far beyond the classroom. You'll join a diverse and supportive community while gaining direct access to the professional connections and opportunities you need to launch a successful career.

• A Thriving and Diverse Community
  Our program is built on a diverse community of future engineers. Our student body is 34% women, 44% underrepresented minorities, 31% international students, and 45% first-generation college students. As Oregon's only federally recognized minority-serving institution (MSI) for engineering, PSU provides unmatched support. You can engage in hands-on community service projects, real-world capstone projects, and various student organizations that promote collaborative work, professional development, and inclusivity.
• Career Opportunities & Outcomes
  Our graduates are in high demand, with a 90% job placement rate within six months of graduation for both the CEE BS programs and average starting salaries of over $75,000. With support from a dedicated Career Success Center, you'll benefit from extensive paid internship opportunities with leading engineering firms and major-specific programs like MECOP and EWX. We have deep industry connections with top employers like the Oregon Department of Transportation, the City of Portland, Jacobs, and David Evans and Associates.
• A Track Record of Success
  The quality of our program is reflected in our students' success.
  • Licensure Exam: PSU students have an 85% first-time pass rate on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam—17% above the national average for Environmental Engineering.
  • Return on Investment: Our programs are ranked #1 for ROI in Oregon for both Environmental Engineering (#10 nationally) and Civil Engineering (#43 nationally).