Civil Engineering and Construction Management

Undergraduate students in the department have mandatory advisement. Incoming freshman students are advised by the Matador Advising Hub. Continuing freshman and sophomore students are advised by the College of Engineering and Computer Science Student Services Center/EOP. Junior and senior students are advised by the full-time faculty of the department. Students are advised to contact the respective offices to schedule their advisement appointments.

B.S. in Construction Management graduates will be able to fill many government jobs in the construction industry at the local, state and federal levels. Roughly 59 percent of construction managers are employed in the construction industry; about 24 percent are employed by specialty trade contractors and engineering, architectural and construction management service firms, as well as local government; and educational institutions and real estate developers employ the rest.

Civil engineering is the oldest of the engineering disciplines, responsible for projects dating back more than 5,000 years. Rebuilding and expanding the civil engineering infrastructure of the United States—including roads, bridges, rail networks, sewage treatment plants, deep-water ports and municipal water systems—is one of the technology areas that has been targeted for rapid development by the National Science Foundation.

Most practicing civil engineers are employed in the areas of structural engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, construction engineering or surveying. Many of these areas, such as structural engineering, encompass the design of such diverse items as spacecraft and office buildings. Although the majority of civil engineers are employed in private industry, many are involved in consulting or own their own firm, and a significant number are employed in the government sector, where they are involved in the provision of highways and other public works for state and local government.

The degree can be used as a stepping stone to graduate work in engineering, law, business or even medicine. Many Civil Engineering graduates return to CSUN to earn their M.S. degree in Structural Engineering.

Large construction projects, such as office buildings or industrial complexes, are too complicated for one person to manage. These projects are divided into many segments: site preparation, including land clearing and earth moving; sewage systems; landscaping and road construction; building construction, including excavation and laying foundations, erection of structural framework, floors, walls and roofs; and building systems, including fire protection, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and heating. Construction managers may be in charge of one or more of these activities, and they often team with workers in other occupations, such as engineers and architects.

Construction managers direct and monitor the progress of construction activities, at times through other construction supervisors. They oversee the delivery and use of materials, tools and equipment; the quality of construction; worker productivity and safety.

Construction managers regularly review engineering and architectural drawings and specifications to monitor progress and ensure compliance with plans and schedules. They track and control construction costs against the project budget to avoid cost overruns. They meet regularly with owners, engineers, architects, trade contractors, business specialists, accountants and others to monitor and coordinate all phases of a construction project.

The B.S. in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The B.S. in Construction Management program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).

Honors Cooperative Internship Program

The college offers an opportunity for highly qualified students to work in local industry throughout an entire calendar year. Students work full time during the summer and half time during the academic year. Students receive 6 units of academic credit in conjunction with this experience. The program is open to undergraduates who are nearing their senior year and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Graduate students who want to participate must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. Applicants are matched to employer-supplied job descriptions and scheduled for interviews with prospective employers. The competitive nature of the program usually generates more applicants than available positions. The application period begins in early March, and the period of employment is typically from July 1 through June 30.

Civil Engineering students have opportunities to participate in student chapters of such professional societies as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA), as well as interdisciplinary student organizations in the College, such as Tau Beta Pi, the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society for Black Engineers and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Construction Management students have the opportunity to participate in the student chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), as well as interdisciplinary student organizations in the college, such as the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society for Black Engineers and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.