Princeton University

Civil and Environmental Engineering focuses on design and analysis of the built environment, including buildings, bridges, energy facilities, and other aspects of society's infrastructure.  Civil and environmental engineers also analyze the impacts that human activity has on the natural environment and develop solutions that lead to environmental preservation.  As such, civil and environmental engineers connect the built environment to the natural environment and provide environmental stewardship with a strong foundation in science and technology.  This technology-based stewardship of the built and natural environments is strongly coupled with humanistic and societal concerns, including analysis of policy issues and development of regulatory frameworks.  At Princeton, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering are educated through five different programs of concentration, which are described below.

Engineering analysis, particularly for the siting of buildings and the design of their structural and environmental systems, is a vital component of contemporary architecture.  This program, offered jointly by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Architecture, presents a unique opportunity to integrate engineering and architectural design by combining the curricula of the two schools.  It is designed particularly for students planning to do graduate work in architecture or to practice engineering in collaboration with architects and planners.  Click here for more information

The Environmental Engineering program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career related to the environment (engineering, law, business, or medicine) and for students who wish to continue on to advanced graduate studies in environmental engineering or a related earth science discipline.  Course work in environmental engineering focuses on the analysis of, and engineering solutions to, environmental problems through combined study of the fundamental hydrological and environmental sciences and environmental engineering design.  Click here for more information

Geological Engineering is the application of science to problems and projects involving the Earth, its physical environment, earth materials, and natural resources.  The curriculum is offered in a cooperative effort between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Geosciences and is specially designed for the student who wishes to build upon the freshman and sophomore mathematics and engineering courses as a basis for studies in the earth sciences.  Click here for more information

Structural engineering is concerned with the analysis and design of civil engineering structures with an emphasis on buildings, bridges, stadiums, dams, and foundations.  Particular emphasis is given to the design of these structures to resist earthquake and wind loads.  Its basic aim is the preparation of flexible and innovative graduates who can address the novel problems of modern engineering.  Students in this program have the chance to directly interact with some of the best design and consulting companies in structural engineering.  Click here for more information

This program is designed for students who wish to obtain an engineering background as a foundation for a wide range of careers, such as medicine, law, public policy, visual arts, or engineering studies in materials, ethics, or history.  Coursework in this track should integrate engineering courses in a coherent manner with the topic of interest to the student.  The track is designed to be rigorous, yet allow for a wide degree of flexibility in the course of studies.  Click here for more information

The Department firmly believes that independent research is an integral component of an engineer’s education.  Consequently, all seniors are required to write a thesis and present the results of their work at the annual CEE Senior Conference, which is held during the first week in May.  Sophomores and juniors are also encouraged to participate in independent research and should take the initiative to discuss their interests with departmental faculty members.

Study abroad can be used to enhance and diversify the educational experience. For many CEE students, study abroad has served as a valuable option for junior independent work and in providing research material for the senior thesis.

CEE students have had experiences ranging from research assistants to interns in companies such as Jacobs Engineering and Malcolm Pirnie to municipal/governmental agencies such as the city of Owensboro, KY, and Maryland Sea Grant.  They have interned as close as Princeton University to as far as Canada and China.

Recent graduates have been employed by companies such as Clark Construction, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Schlumberger, and UNAVCO.  Others have continued in graduate schools such as Cornell, Stanford, and University of California at Berkeley; and more have held yearlong internships with the Princeton in Africa Program, Princeton in Asia Program, and Eric Schuldenfrei Animation, NY.