Do you want to design systems and structures that shape our world and create safe, sustainable, and resilient communities?

Major in Civil Engineering

What is Civil Engineering?

A major in civil engineering prepares you to design, build, and maintain the infrastructure that powers everyday life. From bridges and highways to coastal protection and water systems, civil engineers create safer, stronger, and more sustainable communities. Gain hands-on experience in structural design, transportation systems, geotechnical engineering, and water resources while working in innovative labs and immersed in Louisiana’s unique coastal environment. Civil engineering jobs include structural engineer, transportation engineer, environmental engineer, and more. LSU offers concentrations in Coastal & Ecological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical & Geophysical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, and Mechanics of Materials.

Program Website

Degree Details

Admissions Info

Program Highlights

Top-Tier Facilities  Study in Patrick F. Taylor Hall, one of the nation’s largest engineering buildings, featuring advanced labs and cutting-edge technology like our Driving Simulator Lab, the Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation & Transportation Resiliency, the Materials Under Extreme Loading lab, and more.

Living Laboratory Learn in Louisiana’s dynamic coastal and urban environments, gaining hands-on experience in water resources, transportation systems, structural design, and coastal resilience.

Industry Partnerships Build your career through internships and co-ops with partners like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and major design and construction firms.

Engineering Residential College Live and learn with your peers in a smaller network within the larger campus, offering academic enhancement programs, classes in your residence hall, and corporate sponsored events introducing you to internships and cooperative education programs.

What You Can Do

An LSU degree opens doors to a wide range of career paths and professional opportunities. With a strong academic foundation, real-world learning, and support from a powerful alumni network, you’ll graduate prepared for success in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re planning to work in a corporate setting, nonprofit organization, government agency, creative industry, or research lab, LSU equips you with the in-demand skills and hands-on experience employers value most.

Potential Careers

Civil Engineer
Structural Engineer
Materials Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
Project Engineer
Field Engineer
Urban Planner
Coastal Scientist
Land Surveyor
Infrastructure Consultant

Workplace Settings

Engineering & Design Firms
Structural Engineering Offices
Construction & Project Sites
Coastal & Water Resource Agencies
Environmental & Sustainability Organizations
Urban Planning Departments
Government Agencies
Private Infrastructure Consulting Firms
Transportation Departments
Real Estate & Land Development Companies
Research Laboratories

Building Skills

Engineering Design Design and analyze structures, transportation, and water systems using modern tools.

Technical Proficiency Gain hands-on experience with modern design, surveying, and structural software.

Interdisciplinary Thinking Combine math, physics, and engineering to create sustainable, resilient infrastructures.

Field Experience & Project Management Learn materials, safety, and cost analysis through site evaluations and process management.

My experience in the LSU CEE department has been great due to the great professors and range of opportunities they provide. I am looking forward to using the problem-solving skills to complete a large-scale project that I can lead one day.William Latiolais
Civil Engineering

The faculty are engaging, personable, and care about students beyond just performance in the classroom. The department offers incredible research opportunities where students can learn unique and innovative skills.Grace Crifasi
Civil Engineering

LSU gave me the technical knowledge needed to design a solution to problems and taught me how to be resourceful with my research into those problems, how to work with other engineers to develop and compare potential solutions, and how to communicate the chosen design through calculation packages, construction drawings, and design reports.Emily Rone
Civil Engineering

The most important thing that I’m going to take away from this program is the ability to think critically and the knowledge on how to utilize all available resources.Kelsey Schmaltz
Civil Engineering

Advance your Career

Post-graduate education

LSU offers competitively ranked post-graduate programs designed to help you innovate and lead in your field. Engage in advanced coursework, contribute to impactful research, and learn from expert faculty who are solving real-world challenges across Louisiana and beyond. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, pivot into a new industry, or accelerate your career, LSU’s graduate programs open the door to a world of opportunity.

MS in Civil Engineering MS in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Transportation Engineering (Online) MS in Coastal & Ecological Engineering PhD in Civil Engineering

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