BSc in Civil Engineering in Northridge United States | California State University, Northridge

Civil Engineers create the foundational systems of our modern world, spanning from bridges and highways to sewage networks and public buildings. Their contributions impact virtually every aspect of daily societal functions, encompassing structures, water resources, waste handling, materials science, construction, geotechnics, environmental concerns, and transit systems. This role is especially crucial in Southern California, where environmental, transportation, and water challenges hold significant weight, and where structural issues, particularly those connected to seismic activity, require robust engineering approaches.

At CSUN, Civil Engineering students acquire a comprehensive, well-rounded education. Throughout the initial two years and into the third, all Engineering students follow a shared core curriculum. This foundational program covers subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering materials, electrical circuits, engineering mechanics, thermodynamics, and engineering economics.

The final two years of the Civil Engineering program expand upon the common engineering core. These upper-division courses provide training in structural engineering, vibration analysis, hydraulics, soil mechanics, surveying, computer-aided design and graphics, material strength, concrete and steel design, construction engineering, and capstone design projects.

Civil Engineering students attend classes and conduct work in specialized facilities including: the Applied Mechanics Lab, where they apply engineering methods to study both static and dynamic properties of mechanical systems; the Civil Engineering Senior Design Laboratory, utilized in a two-semester course replicating professional civil engineering practice; the Geotechnical Laboratory, where students examine soil behavior as an engineering material; and the Structural Analysis Research Center, which offers collaboration opportunities with faculty on varied projects involving dams, buildings, towers, and spacecraft.