two FDU students smiling while sharing a textbook and working on a laptop

The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology program prepares students in planning, designing and building infrastructure and facilities. Civil engineering technologists work in areas such as transportation, water systems, utilities, structures, pollution control, surveying, soil mechanics and foundations.

The B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology curriculum requires the successful completion of 128 credits. It includes mathematics, basic sciences, English composition and communications, humanities and social sciences, and technical courses.

Professional Accreditation

The B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org.

 

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology program define the career and professional accomplishments that the graduates are being prepared to achieve three to four years after graduation. The program will produce graduates who:

  1. Enter into and advance their careers in the planning, design, construction, operation or maintenance of buildings and infrastructures utilizing their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in analyzing and designing systems or structures, specifying construction methods and materials, performing cost estimates and analyses, and inspecting and managing civil projects.
  2. Continue their formal education and obtain advanced degrees such as M.S. in construction management, M.B.A. (industrial management), M.S. in environmental studies, M.S. in technology management or other related fields.
  3. Continue to conduct themselves as both responsible professionals and global citizens who are aware of and who understand ethical issues and societal needs and problems.

These objectives are consistent with the mission of Fairleigh Dickinson University to educate and prepare students as world citizens through global education. They also fulfill the needs of the program constituencies, which include students, alumni, employers, faculty, and the Industrial Advisory Board.

Student Outcomes

Each civil engineering technology graduate will demonstrate the following attributes and achievements as required by the ETAC of ABET upon or before graduation:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  2. An ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  3. An ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
  4. An ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
  5. An ability to function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.

Cooperative Education or Work Experience Option

Students in the B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology program have the option to undertake a cooperative education experience and earn a total of 6 academic credits toward their technical electives. The co-op experience provides students a real-world grounding, linking theory and practice, academic and industrial experiences, and college education and lifelong learning. It better prepares students for jobs, gives them a competitive edge in the job market, helps them develop networking skills and professional contacts and allows them to experience career fields before graduation. Industry benefits from better-prepared graduates with real and relevant work experience – saving time and money by reducing the training period for new employees.

Instead of undertaking cooperative education, students may earn up to 6 academic credits for appropriately documented industrial experience (Work Experience) counted toward their technical electives. Note that credits earned from industrial experience and/or cooperative education may not be substituted for any required course work and that they altogether may not exceed a total of six credits. Students must have successfully completed the course EGTG2210 Technical Communications before the application for “Work Experience” credits can be considered. The application form and directions for submission of necessary documents in support of the application may be obtained from the office of GHSCSE.

Degree Plan

The program requires the successful completion of 128 credits with a minimum cumulative grade point ratio of 2.00 as described below.

1st Semester (15 credits)

  • ENGR1301 Engineering Practices, Graphics and Design (3 credits)
  • MATH1107 Precalculus (4 credits)
  • PHYS2101 General Physics I (3 credits)
  • PHYS2201 Lab: Physics I (1 credit)
  • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life (1 credit)
  • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry (3 credits)

2nd Semester (17 credits)

  • EGTC1223 Introduction to CAD (2 credits)
  • ENGR3000 Modern Technologies: Principles, Applications and Impacts (3 credits)
  • MATH1201 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • PHYS2102 General Physics II (3 credits)
  • PHYS2202 Lab: Physics II (1 credit)
  • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life (1 credit)
  • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument (3 credits)

3rd Semester (17 credits)

  • CHEM1201 General Chemistry I (3 credits)
  • CHEM1203 General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
  • EGTC1205 Surveying I (3 credits)
  • EGTC1245 Construction Materials and Systems (3 credits)
  • EGTG2221 Statics (3 credits)
  • MATH2202 Calculus II (4 credits)

4th Semester (18 credits)

  • EGTC1206 Surveying II (3 credits)
  • EGTG2210 Technical Communications (3 credits)
  • EGTG2228 Strength of Materials (3 credits)
  • EGTG4221 Engineering Statistics and Reliability (3 credits)
  • ENGR1204 Programming Languages in Engineering (3 credits)
  • UNIV2001 Cross Cultural Perspectives (3 credits)

5th Semester (15 credits)

6th Semester (15 credits)

7th Semester (15 credits)

  • EGTC3256 Steel Structures (3 credits)
  • EGTC4263 Project Management and Control I (3 credits)
  • EGTG2215 Circuits I (3 credits)
  • EGTG3211 Materials Technology I (3 credits)
  • EGTG4269 Management and Engineering Economics (3 credits)

8th Semester (16 credits)

  • EGTC3270 Environment and Land Use Planning (3 credits)
  • EGTC4260 Contracts and Specifications (3 credits)
  • EGTC4272 Advanced Steel Design (3 credits)
  • EGTC4385 Civil Technology Design Project (1 credit)
  • Technical Electives (6 credits)

Technical Electives

The student must take 6 credits of technical electives, to be chosen from the following list:

  • CHEM1202 General Chemistry II (3 credits) with CHEM1204 Lab: General Chemistry II (1 credit)
  • EGTC4320 Highway Design (3 credits)
  • EGTC4321 Bridge Design (3 credits)
  • EGTC4322 Hydraulic Design (3 credits)
  • EGTC4323 Seismic Design (3 credits)
  • EGTG3212 Materials Technology II (3 credits)
  • EGTM4356 Stress and Vibration Analyses (3 credits)

Other technical electives may be taken with prior approval from a program adviser. Up to 6 credits for work experience or cooperative education experience but not both may be used in place of technical electives.

Program Enrollment and Degree Data:

The official fall term enrollment figures (head count) of the B.S. in Civil Engineering Technology program for the last five academic years and the number of degrees conferred during each of those years.

Academic Year Enrollment Year Total Degrees Awarded
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
2018 -2019 FT 2 5 6 10 23 Not yet available
PT     1   1
2017 -2018 FT 6 5 10 8 29 12
PT   1   3 4
2016 -2017 FT 14 6 9 13 42 15
PT   1   2 3
2015 -2016 FT 22 12 11 8 53 14
PT 1     4 5
2014-2015 FT 20 15 5 12 52 10
PT 1     1 2

FT- full time, PT- part time

Contact Information
Vahid Alizadeh, Ph.D., P.E.
alizadeh@fdu.edu, Program Co-Coordinator
Accreditation

Course Descriptions

  • CHEM1201 The fundamental laws, theories and principles of chemistry, with emphasis on atomic structure, chemical bonding, periodic classification of the elements, solutions, equilibrium, reaction kinetics and the theory and practice of the qualitative chemistry of the common ions.

  • CHEM1202 Fundamental principles of chemistry, with emphasis on atomic and molecular structure, physical, chemical and periodic properties, stoichiometry, energetics, kinetics and equilibria of reactions, and descriptive chemistry of elements, including theory of qualitative analysis of common ions.

  • CHEM1203 Practical applications of the fundamental laws, theories and principles of chemistry through problem solving and laboratory experiments.

  • CHEM1204 Laboratory experiments emphasizing representative physical and chemical properties, synthetic and analytical techniques, and including an introduction to the qualitative analysis of the common ions.

  • EGTC1205 Surveying as applied to the construction industry. Such areas as layout and control of buildings and roads, earthwork measurements, horizontal and vertical curves, superelevation on curves, computer applications to surveying and electronic measurements will be studied.

  • EGTC1206 Surveying as applied to the construction industry. Such areas as layout and control of buildings and roads, earthwork measurements, horizontal and vertical curves, superelevation on curves, computer applications to surveying and electronic measurements will be studied.

  • EGTC1223 Introduction to the practical use of computer hardware and software for drafting applications.

  • EGTC1245 An introduction to the methods, equipment and personnel employed in constructing buildings and subsystems of buildings such as foundations, walls, floors and roofs. The types and physical properties of construction materials.

  • EGTC3250 Classical analysis methods of determinate and indeterminate structures. Deflection calculation of beams and trusses, work-energy methods, influence line concept for moving loads

  • EGTC3256 The application of the principles of statics and strength of materials in the design and analysis of structural steel beams, columns, trusses, and frames: connections and base plates, all in accordance with current AISC specifications.

  • EGTC3257 The analysis and design of reinforced concrete beams, girders, slabs and columns, all in accordance with current ACI code and standards.

  • EGTC3261 The development of a procedure (including check and balance) for preparing a quantity survey of materials, labor and equipment for both general and specialty contractors.

  • EGTC3270 Environmental laws and pollution, environmental impact analysis, land usage laws and economics will be covered.

  • EGTC4241 The mechanics of soil and rock masses as applied to construction, with emphasis on footing and pile foundations, retaining walls, bulkheads, fills, embankments and the control of landslides. Identification, classification and testing of the physical properties of soils.

  • EGTC4242 Design of concrete and reinforced concrete footings and foundations and retaining walls. Bearing, friction and combined pile, pile caps and sheet piling.

  • EGTC4260 A study of codes and specifications required in engineering contracts. General contracts, subcontracts, constructions management contracts. Contract Law.

  • EGTC4263 The use and management of equipment, personnel and materials for construction projects. Planning and control through the use of methods involving CPM, bar charts, purchasing, PERT and construction models. Labor relations and safety requirements (OSHA).

  • EGTC4272 Design of a complete structural steel frame building including beams, floors, columns and connections; preparing design notes, structural drawings and shop drawings all in accordance with codes, industry standards and AISC. LRFD method used.

  • EGTC4276 Design of a complete reinforced concrete building including beams, girders, slabs, columns and footings; preparing set of design notes, structural drawings and shop drawings. All in accordance with codes, industry standards and ACI.

  • EGTC4320 Highway and urban transportation systems. Organizations and associations. Planning. Driver, vehicle, traffic and road alignment, sight distances. Intersection and interchange design. Drainage details. Earthwork: calculations of volumes. Materials for roads and surfaces, bearing qualities. Computer applications. Term and laboratory projects assigned.

  • EGTC4321 Loads. Maximum moments and shear in simple and continuous spans. Steel bridges: floor systems, concrete and steel floors. Beam and plate-girder bridges. Truss, concrete and prestressed concrete bridges. Railing design. Railroad bridges. Steel-plate-deck bridges, economic considerations. Box girders. Computer applications. Term project assigned.

  • EGTC4322 Fluid flow in pipes, consideration for sewage and sludge. Special flow problems: culvert design and analysis, series and parallel pipe systems, pipe network. Drainage problems. Flow measuring devices. Hydraulic machines, types of pumps. Open flow channel, weirs, retention basins. Computer applications. Term and laboratory projects assigned.

  • EGTC4323 Response of simple structures to earthquake motions. Design: general considerations. Lateral forces. Seismic forces for overturning moments and shear distribution. Damping. Horizontal and vertical excitation. Curtain wall buildings. Core walls. Detailing and quality control/computer applications.

  • EGTC4385 Students will be assigned a project with the approval of the department chairperson and conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Oral presentation.

  • EGTG2210 Overview of the writing, editing, research, and design principles of technical and professional communication. Students will learn how to gather, organize, and present information effectively. Course includes business and technical documentation, including on-line tools; oral reports and public speaking; teamwork and participation in group meetings; use of visuals to communicate material; professional, ethical, and social responsibilities; and research techniques using the library and the Internet. Prerequisite: ENWR 1101 Academica Writing

  • EGTG2215 Circuit laws and theorems, DC circuits, inductance, capacitance.

  • EGTG2221 Vectors, forces, resolution of forces, resultants, equilibrium, center of gravity, centroids and force systems.

  • EGTG2228 Shear, moments, stresses, bending, torsional shear, moment and shear diagrams, deflections, stress strain, bolted and welded joints, combined loading and column.

  • EGTG3211 A two-sequence course covering properties of metals and alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, glasses and polymers. Crystal structure, structural defects, alloying and phase diagrams. (Must be taken in proper sequence.)

  • EGTG3212 A two-sequence course covering properties of metals and alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, glasses and polymers. Crystal structure, structural defects, alloying and phase diagrams. (Must be taken in proper sequence.)

  • EGTG3351 Introduction to the basic concepts of thermodynamics. Applications of gas and steam cycles to open and closed loop systems, such as gasoline and diesel engines, and steam turbines. Principles of refrigeration and air conditioning.

  • EGTG3431 Kinematics, kinetics, linear, angular, plane motion. Work, energy, power, impulse and momentum.

  • EGTG4221 Statistics, regression, probability, Poisson distributions and reliability as applied to engineering decisions, performance and quality control. Prerequisites: EGTG 2202 Applied Calculus II, MATH 2202 Calculus II, or permission of instructor

  • EGTG4254 Applied fluid mechanics, applications of hydraulic and pneumatic control amplification and power circuits. Introduction to fluidics.

  • EGTG4269 Concepts and techniques to evaluate the worth of technical systems, products and services in relation to their cost. Time value of money, cash flow equivalence, economic decision making among alternative courses of action, depreciation and taxes, replacement and break-even analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 2202 Calculus II or permission of instructor

  • EGTM4356 The differential equations of stress and strain, shear flow, virtual flow, energy principles, curved beams, noncircular bars. Computer-oriented problem solving. Analysis of motion arising from lateral and torsional vibrations of systems, free and forced vibrations, damping, isolation, balancing.

  • ENGR1204 Programming languages including C and Matlab applied to engineering problem solving.

  • ENGR1301 Analytical techniques: equations, graphics, statistics. Introduction to computer-aided analysis software. Engineering applications. Introduction to design. Fundamentals of graphics as applied to sketching and drafting. Professionalism and ethics. Integrated laboratory experience.

  • ENGR3000 This course provides a systematic introduction to modern technologies, their history, evolutionary development, principles, and applications. The influences and impacts of technology on the economy, politics, culture, environment, society and the world are investigated. Attention is given to the relationships and connections of technology to other fields. Students learn the basic principles underlying the technologies, how to apply and manage technologies and assess their impacts. Critically thinking and problem solving skills used in research, design, development, invention, and innovation are emphasized. The laboratory experiences help the students develop the experimental research, creative and design skills.

  • MATH1107 Algebraic operations, factoring, exponents, radicals; quadratic and higher degree equations; systems of linear equations; functions and their graphs; exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their graphs; trigonometric identities; triangle trigonometry.

  • MATH1201 Slope, equations of lines, slope of a curve, rate of change of a function, derivatives of algebraic and transcendental functions, maxima and minima, the Mean Value Theorem, indeterminate forms,the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, basic techniques of integration.

  • MATH2202 Differentiation and integration of transcendental functions, methods of integration, indeterminate forms, infinite series. Taylor series. Conic sections.

  • PHYS2101 The first semester of a survey of physics: mechanics, heat, sound, optics. A quantitative, noncalculus treatment oriented toward the biological sciences.

  • PHYS2102 The second semester of a survey of physics: electricity, magnetism, waves, light, modern physics. A quantitative noncalculus treatment oriented toward the biological sciences.

  • PHYS2201 Applications of PHYS2101 General Physics I. Experiments from mechanics, heat, sound and fluids. Measurement and data analysis.

  • PHYS2202 Applications of PHYS2102 General Physics II. Experiments from electricity, magnetism, circuits, waves, optics, light, modern physics. Measurement and data analysis.

  • UNIV1001 The first course in the University Core program provides support for the transition to university life. Students are introduced to the global mission of the University as well as to the competencies of information and technological literacy. Students participate in formal and informal learning experiences that facilitate their personal and academic growth, enabling them to become more thoughtful and engaged citizens of the world. Respect for individual and cultural differences is fostered throughout the course, as is the generation of positive attitudes toward life long learning.

  • UNIV1002 The second course in the University Core program helps promote the transition from classroom learning to experiential learning, as well as the transition from academic life to professional life. Students are introduced to methods of self-awareness and engaged learning, and are encouraged to develop an academic plan, with formal and informal components, that supports their ultimate career goals. Respect for individual and cultural differences is fostered throughout the course, as is the importance of an international perspective for professional success.

  • UNIV2001 In the third course in the University Core program, students learn to describe and analyze cultural phenomena in their own lives, to grapple with cultural differences and to understand cultural conflicts. Through a study of samples across a variety of cultures, students examine the fluidity and multiplicity of cultural identities and borders. Ways in which cultures changes, how cultures shape and are shaped by individuals, how misunderstands and conflicts arise within and between cultures, and how those differences evolve are central to the course. Critical thinking skills are a developed and brought to bear on these topics.

  • UNIV2002 In the fourth course in the University Core program, students develop essential aspects of critical thinking and apply those skills in evaluating international systems, environmental issues, and human rights questions. Not only will this course demonstrate the global dimensions of crucial contemporary issues, it will also develop the relational thinking that students will be expected to exercise in other academic contexts and throughout the rest of their personal and professional lives. In other words, this course is as much about how to study and think about global problems and relationships as it is a course about specific global issues.

  • WRIT1002 This course provides students with intensive study and practice in process-oriented writing, critical reading, and rhetorical inquiry. Students engage expository texts in order to describe and evaluate the choices writers make and then apply that knowledge to their own compositions. Throughout the course, students give and receive feedback, revise their work, and reflect on their growth as writers.

  • WRIT1003 This course focuses on the study and practice of writing as research-based argument. As a means of arriving at the writing from committed stances, students learn to seek out, engage, and interrogate a variety of sources. Students write in academic, professional, and/or public forms, including academic essays and rhetorical analyses. Particular emphasis is placed on information literacy, source integration, and appropriate documentation.