Small Classes, Hands-On Experience
Civil engineers plan, design, inspect and rehabilitate the infrastructure upon which our survival depends, as well as protect the public from natural hazards. You can work in the field collecting environmental data, laying out and managing construction, studying traffic flow and inspecting deteriorated facilities.
If you prefer the laboratory, you can evaluate material properties and clean drinking water, and treat human and industrial waste — or you can work in the office with advanced computer software to plan and design malls, industrial parks, buildings, bridges, flood control and transportation facilities.
We are seeking ABET accreditation for this program in 2025. If received, accreditation will be conferred retroactively for up to two years, allowing the first graduating class to hold degrees from an accredited program.
With our cutting-edge software, laboratory equipment and course content, you'll be well prepared for a career in civil engineering.
About Engineering at Point Park
Courses & Topics
You will receive a well-rounded education through our core curriculum and classes in the civil engineering major. Some of the courses in our Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program include:
- Introduction to Surveying
- Engineering Geology
- Structural Analysis
- Steel Structural Design
- Concrete Structural Design
- Construction Management
- Soil Mechanics
- Foundation Design
- Transportation Engineering
- Fluid Mechanics
- Hydraulics
Program Requirements
You will gain a solid theoretical foundation of mathematics and science as the basis for their study of required technical courses in structure, geotech, hydraulics, surveying, environmental protection, transportation and materials.
Many of our science and technology courses supplement lectures with laboratory experiences using equipment typical of that found in industry, ensuring that graduates of the program are familiar with current technical practices and are able to apply theory to real-world situations.
Internships, which may carry University credit, are available with local companies for students who wish to obtain work experience during their studies.
Flexible Class Schedules, Convenient Downtown Pittsburgh Location
All courses in our civil engineering program are available on an evening or weekend schedule, allowing working students to complete the four-year degree requirements without putting their careers on hold.
Numerous day courses, including the core curriculum, are available to serve the needs of traditional students as well.
Point Park's central location in Downtown Pittsburgh makes the program ideal for both residential and commuter students.
With our long-standing commitment to career preparation in the context of a liberal arts education, all students have the opportunity to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Transfer Credit
Subject to the review of the faculty, incoming transfer students may receive credit toward their degree for comparable course work taken at other institutions prior to matriculation at Point Park. Agreements with other local institutions also allow current Point Park students to register for courses that are offered elsewhere in the Pittsburgh area, giving them the opportunity to pursue subjects not taught on campus during a particular term.
Career Options
With a civil engineering degree, you will have the option to pursue various career opportunities, such as:
- Structural Engineer
- Geotechnical Engineer
- Senior Estimator
- Construction Manager
- Environmental Engineer
- Highway Designer
- Waste Manager
- Bridge Inspector
- Construction Inspector
Learn more about the Civil Engineering Program
Civil engineering is the profession that applies mathematics, chemistry, and mechanics to the design, construction and maintenance of public and private infrastructure.
Civil engineers work in a wide variety of areas encompassing all aspects of the natural and man-made environments. Among the important areas of study and practice in the profession are the following:
- Structures - This area concerns the design and construction of bridges, buildings, towers, and other structures made of materials such as steel, concrete, brick, stone, and wood.
- Hydraulics - This area deals with all aspects of the movement and use of water. The most common specialty within hydraulics is the design and construction of storm, sanitary, and water supply systems.
- Surveying - This area involves the accurate two- and three-dimensional measurement of land and structures, and the creation of maps to document these measurements.
- Environmental Protection - This area concerns the measurement of undesirable human-made changes to the natural world and methods for reversing or minimizing their impacts.
- Transportation - This area deals with all aspects of planning, designing, and constructing transportation systems, including highways, railroads, and waterways.
- Materials - This area concerns the characterization of soil, minerals, and man-made substances, and their use in construction.
- Land Use and Urban Planning - This area deals with the environmentally, politically, and sociologically appropriate use of land, particularly in populous areas.
A student who wants to work in one of these areas should plan to obtain at least a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Many students go on to earn Master of Science degrees that prepare them for a higher level of responsibility on the job; some even earn doctoral degrees that prepare them to do advanced research or to teach at the college level.
Earning a Master of Business Administration degree makes a civil engineer particularly well qualified to manage construction projects for private industry or government.
A civil engineer who wishes to offer his or her services directly to the public, or whose work for an employer directly impacts public safety, must be licensed by their state as a Professional Engineer (PE). Licensure requires graduation from an accredited engineering program, a minimum of four years of professional practice, and passing grades on two standardized examinations.
Program Educational Objectives are statements of the knowledge and skills that recent graduates of an educational program are expected to demonstrate in their personal and professional lives.
Point Park University faculty, in consultation with the program's industrial advisory committee, have established the three objectives listed below for graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program. These objectives are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to reflect the program's core values and the needs of the engineering profession.
- Graduates will achieve personal and professional growth through licensure, professional development, advanced studies, and new career opportunities.
- Graduates will develop their professions by applying their strong Civil Engineering, problem-solving, business, leadership, and communication skills to meet the expectations of their employers and society.
- Graduates will engage their community by serving their diverse communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
Student Outcomes are statements of the knowledge and skills that students in an educational program are expected to demonstrate by the time of graduation.
The faculty has established the following outcomes for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree program in civil engineering. Students' progress toward these outcomes is regularly measured using a variety of assessment tools, such as in-class problems and surveys.
- Students will identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
- Students will apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
- Students will communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Students will recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments that consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- Students will function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
- Students will develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Students will acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
The Industrial Advisory Committee comprises practicing professionals from industry and government who meet with faculty twice per year to review the program and discuss possible improvements.
One of the most valuable roles of the committee members is to inform the faculty of current professional practices and to alert the faculty to emerging trends in the workplace; by doing so, they ensure that course content, laboratory equipment, and software can be updated in a timely manner to provide students with the best possible preparation for their careers.
Committee Members
- Ms. Andrea Bucci, PHR, SHRM-CP
The Gateway Enginers, Inc. - Mr. James Converse
Converse Surveying Company - Mr. Bradley Duda, '89
Michael Baker Jr. Inc. - Mr. Graham Ferry, P.E., '02, '04
Sheffler and Company, Inc. - Mr. John J. Frydrych, P.E., '91, '03
National Survey & Engineering - Ms. Susan P. Grant '97
Keystone Structural Solutions - Mr. Robert Horvat, P.E., '06
Entech Engineering - Mr. Jason A. Lewis, P.E., '11
Alfred Benesch & Co. - Mr. Kevin Nadalin
The Gateway Engineers, Inc. - Mr. Leo Noker III
Noker Engineering - Mr. Leo Noker, Jr.
Noker Engineering - Ms. Jennifer Nolan-Kremm, P.E.
HDR - Mr. Aike Okolo, Ph.D., P.E.
Multi-Lynx Companies, Inc. - Mr. Robert H. Reid, Ph.D.
- Mr. David Schwemmer
JNE Consulting