Dear Prospective Undergraduate Student:
I am delighted that you are interested in studying Civil and
Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. CEE's undergraduate program in
civil engineering was ranked the #1 program in the country for 2008 by
U.S. News & World Report.
I want to take this opportunity to answer important questions you may have about
what civil engineers do, the undergraduate program at Berkeley, and information
about applying for admission.
What do civil engineers do?
Civil engineers design, construct, and maintain the built environment in which we
live and work. Civil engineers make possible the efficient transportation of people
and goods on the highway system, in the air transportation system, through port
facilities, and by the railroad network. The structural and foundation systems for
the world's tallest buildings, soaring bridges, and deep tunnels are all designed and
constructed by civil engineers. Our engineers manage the water resources of the nation,
and they design and operate environmental systems to protect the quality of the air,
water, and natural environment. New challenges in civil and environmental engineering
include restoring ecosystems and considering environmental impacts of a project including
materials selection and fabrication, construction, operation, and decommissioning. Civil
engineers use modern systems analysis methods to manage and renew privately and publicly
owned facilities. Civil engineers are deeply involved in the design of systems to protect
buildings, bridges, and transportation systems against natural and man-made hazards such
as earthquakes, floods, wind, and terrorist attack. Civil engineers often lead the management
of large engineering projects, nationally and internationally, because of their education
and experience in marshalling resources and managing risks.
Is there a demand for civil and environmental engineers?
Demand for our graduates is and will be strong. In California alone, the population is
expected to increase from over 30 million now to 45 million people by 2020. California of ten
leads the way in innovative civil engineering systems, and California has some of the most
environmentally sensitive development requirements in the nation. In the United States, more
than $300 billion dollars of construction occurs annually, providing a robust demand for civil
and environmental engineers. Many opportunities are available internationally to work on
challenging and unique projects, particularly with the movement towards globalization of
engineering and construction services.
What is the role of information technology in civil engineering?
As with many other fields, computing, communications, and information technology are
revolutionizing the work of civil engineers. Computing, communications and information technology
tools are enabling civil engineers to predict, design, and monitor large-scale systems.
High-performance computing is used to simulate the behavior of complex civil systems, visualize
the results, and optimize management. Demands for improvements to the built environment are
ever-present because of population growth, economic growth, and deterioration of existing systems
over time. Geographic Information Systems are used extensively in the field and civil engineers
led many of the developments in GIS.
What does the civil engineering program at Berkeley have to offer?
Our faculty includes 50 active professors, many of whom are internationally renowned. We value
undergraduate teaching highly, and student ratings of our teaching effectiveness and course worth
are among the highest in the College of Engineering. Enrolling at a leading research university
like Berkeley will provide unique opportunities for you to get involved in research projects while
you are an undergraduate. Student organizations in the department offer an enriching and supportive
group of fellow students with engineering, education, and social activities. Many students take
advantage of the proximity to the large and active professional engineering community in the Bay
Area through the engineering co-op program or summer engineering internships.
The educational philosophy at Berkeley emphasizes fundamentals of science and engineering.
Laboratories are an essential aspect of our approach because of the importance of hands-on experience.
Throughout your undergraduate program you will have an academic advisor who can help you make decisions
about courses that will meet your objectives. In the first two years, you will take math, science, and
computing courses, in addition to introductory engineering courses in materials, mechanics, and the
environment. The second two years involve a civil engineering core program, in which you have a great
deal of flexibility to select courses in areas that you are interested in. You will complete your
undergraduate program with a civil engineering design elective and five engineering electives from a
broad range of courses. Students take at least six humanities and social science electives in other
highly renowned departments at Berkeley.
Do you have advice about applying for admission?
Admission into the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley follows the standard
application procedure for all UC admission. Make sure to indicate your selection of Civil Engineering in
the application.
Writing an excellent essay is your best opportunity to improve your chances of admission. It is essential
that you discuss why you want to study engineering in your essay. As with all good writing make sure you
have enough time for a rough draft. Set it aside to think about what you wrote, proofread it, and then edit
it until you are satisfied that the essay conveys your goals and why you want to study civil engineering.
In recent years, the picture has emerged that entry to the College of Engineering has become extremely
competitive, and this has discouraged many from applying to Berkeley. It is true that there is much pressure
on admissions to certain fields such as computer science, and it is also true that entry to Berkeley
Engineering remains competitive. This does not mean, however, that admission to many majors, including civil
engineering, is beyond reach for good applicants. If you are interested in studying civil engineering, I
encourage you to apply to Berkeley.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact us at
ceugrad@ce.berkeley.edu.
Sincerely,
Lisa Alvarez-Cohen,
Fred and Claire Sauer Professor of Engineering
and Chair
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
