OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW

The BSc in Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Historically the first field of engineering, Civil Engineering addresses the sustainable and resilient to natural hazards design, construction, life-cycle operation, and decommissioning of all the standing engineering systems, structures, and infrastructure which make up our Built Environment and define our civilization and well-being: from residential developments, parks, skyscrapers, roads, schools, artificial islands, hospitals, and all the way to urban planning; from highways, bridges, retaining walls, railways, tunnels, airports, and all the way to transportation network systems; from dams, irrigation networks, water treatment facilities, desalination infrastructure and all the way to water distribution systems; from sanitation infrastructure, solid waste collection and processing facilities, sewage treatment infrastructure and all the way to recycling plants; from seaport terminals, coastal protection structures, wind turbine foundations, underground and underwater pipelines, marinas, offshore floating platforms and all the way to marine transportation systems and energy infrastructure distribution networks.

Given that a large portion of global greenhouse emissions come from the construction and operation of large-scale Civil Engineering structures and infrastructure, Civil Engineers play nowadays a major role to ensure the sustainable transition to a carbon neutral economy by pioneering solutions to pollution, aging infrastructure, automation in construction, traffic congestion, renewable energy infrastructure, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, urban development, and community planning.

The BSc in Civil Engineering program at Khalifa University lays the foundation for the main core civil engineering streams, including structures & geotechnics, hydraulics & water, transportation & urban planning, construction & project management, and environmental engineering, while engaging students to study and understand the civil engineering profession and industry. Principles of science and engineering are applied to the design and analysis of diverse civil engineering problems in well-designed course sequences, ensuring that students gain hands-on and problem-based learning experiences, thus preparing them for a successful career in the most thriving civil engineering sectors.

Program Enrolment and Degree Data
Number of Enrolled Students
TERM COUNT
Fall 2023 75
Fall 2022 83
Fall 2021 97
Fall 2020 101
Fall 2019 89
Fall 2018 64
Number of Graduates
Academic Year Count
2023 20
2022 20
2021 35
2020 22
2019 9
2018 6
Program Educational Objectives
  • Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of civil engineers.
  • Qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if they so desire.
Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BSc in Civil Engineering will attain the following:

(1)

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

(2)

An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

(3)

An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

(4)

An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

(5)

An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

(6)

An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

(7)

An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

 

Career Opportunities

Due to the broadness and versatility of the Civil Engineering Profession, Civil Engineers are employed by a large variety of private companies as well as by government, national, and local authorities throughout the public sector. Examples of private sector employers are structural and geotechnical engineering consultancies, infrastructure construction and contractor firms, architectural design offices, urban and transportation planning & consulting companies, project management firms, and environmental engineering consultancies. In the public sector, civil engineers are found in all the centralized (governmental) and local technical engineering agencies and authorities which, decide, authorize, and overlook the planning, the construction, and the maintenance of public civil engineering works, structures, and infrastructure (e.g. buildings, roads, bridges, airports, seaports, highways, public transportation systems, power plants, energy and environmental infrastructure etc.) as well as regulating the design and construction of private civil engineering works and structures to the standards of construction and building codes of practice. In every case, Civil Engineers work indoors to plan and design engineering systems, structures, and infrastructure in close collaboration with other engineering disciplines and architects, while interacting with clients, local councils & authorities, and government agencies. Invariably, Civil Engineers conduct on-site inspections of existing infrastructure facilities and systems in operation as well as attend construction sites.

The current employability prospects for Civil Engineers are quite positive in the UAE and beyond as governments and the private sector rely on Civil Engineers to facilitate the sustainable development of communities towards circular and net-zero economy while ensuring their resilience to natural hazards.

Career Specializations

Career specializations with in the civil engineering field include and are not limited to:

  • Construction and Project Manager
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Infrastructure Technical Consultant
  • Structural Design Engineer
  • Transportation Planner
  • Pavement Engineer
  • Geotechnical Engineer
  • Urban Planner
  • Water Resources Engineer
  • Construction Materials Engineer
Program Facilities
  • Asphalt & Bituminous Materials Laboratory
  • Concrete Materials Laboratory
  • Environmental Engineering Laboratory
  • Geotechnical and Soil Mechanics Laboratory
  • Hydrology and Hydraulics Laboratory
  • Structural Computing Laboratory
  • Structural Testing Laboratory
  • Transportation and GIS Laboratory
Professional Chapters

ASCE Student Chapter

The mission of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter is to provide an enriching experience to its members and to build academic, social and professional relationships in addition to developing leadership, advocating lifelong learning and promoting professionalism. The Student Chapter conducts regular meetings with speakers from a variety of civil engineering fields on professional issues and technical topics. It organizes field trips in different related domains: Geotechnical, Structural, Construction and Environmental. Also, it participates in community service projects, ensures entries in national and international competitions, helps students participate in the ASCE Student Conferences and sends potential members to workshops for Student Chapter Leaders. The ASCE Student Chapter offers students an excellent opportunity to learn more about the civil engineering profession and to meet with the civil engineering professionals and learn from them Read more

STRUCTURE
COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course Description of Civil Engineering

CIVE 180                              Engineering Graphics and Visualization (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      ENGR 113

This course is an introduction to graphical communication concepts and tools used by engineers. It covers visualization and technical sketching skills, implications related to manufacturing processes, computer-aided design methods, and development and interpretation of drawings of civil engineering structures.

 

CIVE 200                              Statics (3-0-3)

*(Cross listed with AERO 200; MEEN 200)

Prerequisite:      PHYS 121

A vector treatment of force systems and their resultants: equilibrium of trusses, beams, frames, and machines, including internal forces and three-dimensional configurations, static friction, properties of areas, and distributed loads and hydrostatics.

 

CIVE 225                              Mechanics of Solids (3-3-4)

(Cross listed with AERO 225 and MEEN 325)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 200

The course is an introduction to the mechanics of deformable solids applied to basic engineering structures. It covers the concepts of stress and strain at a point; factor of safety in design, deformation of axially loaded members; symmetric and unsymmetric bending of elastic and elastic-perfectly plastic beams; torsion of open and closed section; beam deflection; stress and strain transformations, and elastic buckling of columns.

 

CIVE 238                              Geology for Civil Engineering (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      PHYS 121

This course focuses on concepts of physical geology and the geologic processes relevant to civil and environmental engineering practices. Topics include: the nature and structure of earth, earth’s history, formation of rocks, chemical and physical properties of minerals, and basic techniques for geologic field and site characterization. This course satisfies the requirement for a Science Elective for Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering students.

 

CIVE 310                              Geomatics (2-3-3)

Co-requisite:     CIVE 180

The course is an introduction to Geomatics.  It covers Plane and topographic surveying; distance, angle, and elevation difference measurement; error theory; traverse computations; topographic mapping; horizontal and vertical curves; CADD applications; GPS and GIS.

 

CIVE 332                              Fundamentals of Construction Engineering & Management (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      ENGR 111

This course offers a sampler of the broad construction engineering and project management topics. It covers the project management tools and practices as performed throughout the construction processes, including bidding; contract format and construction administration; construction documents; reading and interpreting contract plans; project planning and scheduling; resource management and project control; cash flow analysis; risk management and safety in construction.

 

CIVE 335                              Fluid Mechanics (3-3-4)

Prerequisites:    PHYS 121; MATH 231

This course introduces students to concepts of fluids and examines the forces on them. Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy are fundamental to the physics. Various mathematical representations are considered, including differential and integral formulations. The complexity of fluid dynamics motivates the notions of simplifying assumptions, dimensional analysis, and boundary layers among others.

 

CIVE 336                              Civil Engineering Materials (3-3-4)

Prerequisites:    CHEM 115; CIVE 225

The course is an introduction to scientific concepts of civil engineering materials. It covers relationship between macroscopic material properties and response and microscopic properties; physical, mechanical, surface, fracture, and rheological properties of civil engineering materials including metals, composites, polymers, and Portland cement concrete.

 

CIVE 338                              Geotechnical Engineering (3-3-4)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 225

This course is an introduction to the basic principles that govern the behavior of soils, foundations, and other geotechnical engineering works. The central concepts to be covered in this class are: engineering properties of soils, soil classification, permeability, stresses in soil due to applied loads, consolidation, compaction, shear strength and applications to engineering design.

 

CIVE 340                               Behavior and Analysis of Structures (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 225

This course is to study behavior and analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate beams, frames, and trusses. It covers displacement calculations using the method of virtual work, analysis of statically indeterminate structures by consistent displacements and slope-deflection equations, and the basic fundamentals of using the direct stiffness method for analyzing structures.

 

CIVE 341                               Design of Steel Structures (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 336; CIVE 340

This course is to understand the fundamentals of the design of steel structural members such as beams and columns and their connections based on the Load and Resistance Factor Design method. It covers design of structural members for tension, flexure, shear, compression, and combined loads, and design of bolted and welded connections.

 

CIVE 370                               Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3-3-4)

Prerequisites:    CHEM 115; MATH 112

This course introduces environmental problems and their resolutions including water and wastewater treatment, air pollution and control, and solid and hazardous waste management. It covers the fundamental theory, principles, and preliminary design of unit operations in environmental engineering. Laboratory classes illustrate analytical techniques used in the analysis of environmental samples, and demonstrate the mechanisms involved in the treatment processes.

 

CIVE 380                              Transportation Engineering (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 310

This course is an introduction to transportation engineering with emphasis on operation, design, and planning of transportation infrastructure including highway and arterial roads, signalized intersections.  Various issues related to transportation such as congestions, public transit, smart intersections, and autonomous vehicles are also discussed.

 

CIVE 391                               Independent Study I (Variable course credits from 1 to 3)

Prerequisites:    Approval of department and junior standing

This course gives an upper level undergraduate student the opportunity to participate in an individual or group project, study, or research activity under the supervision of a faculty member.  A formal report is required.

 

CIVE 442                              Design of Concrete Structures (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 336

 This course is a basic understanding of the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. It covers properties of reinforced concrete, behavior and ultimate strength design of reinforced concrete beams, slabs, columns, and footings, and design for flexure, shear, compression, bond, and anchorage.

 

CIVE 450                               Coastal Engineering (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 335; CIVE 370

This course is designed to give an overview of the analysis and design procedures used in the field of coastal engineering. The course covers basic wave properties in the near shore region, coastal sediment transport processes and the preliminary design of shore and harbor protection structures.

 

CIVE 455                              Blast Effects and Modern Protective Infrastructures (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 341; CIVE 442  

Threat and Hazard Assessment.  Conventional and Nuclear Environments.  Conventional and Nuclear Loads on Structures.  Behavior of Structural Elements.  Dynamic Response and Analysis.  Connections, Openings, Interfaces, and Internal Shock.  Structural Systems-Behavior and Design Philosophy.

 

CIVE 463                              Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 335; CIVE 370

Analysis of unit operations for coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection for treatment of drinking water.  Introduce the chemistry of drinking water treatment processes. Analyze facilities for physical, chemical, and biological treatment of wastewater; and treatment and disposal of sludge. Coverage of advanced wastewater treatment and land treatment systems.

 

CIVE 465              Water Resources Management (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 335; CIVE 370

A comprehensive introduction to hydraulics, groundwater, and surface water hydrology, statistical hydrology, deterministic hydrology, climatology, GIS, remote sensing, fundamentals of planning and management as well as other courses dealing with the general field of water resources.

 

CIVE 469                              Air Pollution Control (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CHEM 115; AERO/CIVE/MEEN 335

An in-depth instruction into air pollution covering such topics as the causes, sources, and effects of air pollution.  Topics include: legislative standards (ambient and source) for pollutants, regional and global air pollution issues, indoor air pollution, air pollution instrumentation and gas flow measurements, basic meteorology, and design of facilities for air pollution control. 

 

CIVE 470                              Foundation Engineering (3-3-4)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 338

This course focuses on geotechnical design of shallow and deep foundations, including spread footings, mats, driven piles, and drilled piers. Coverage includes bearing capacity, settlement, and group effects of the various foundation types. Additional topics include geotechnical proposal and report writing, subsurface exploration, and construction of deep foundations.

 

CIVE 472                              Pavements Design and Maintenance – TE (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 336

The course will focus on the (i) basic characteristics of a pavement structure, (ii) modes of failure for flexible and rigid pavements, (iii) fundamental properties of pavement materials for structural design purposes, (iv) heavy vehicle loads and analysis of the stress and strain distribution in multilayer pavement systems, and (v) fundamentals of the state-of-the-art pavement design methodology.

 

CIVE 473                               Structural Design of Buildings (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 341; CIVE 442

This course is to understand the design of multi-storey buildings in reinforced concrete and steel building by means of computer-aided analysis and design. It covers the response of multi-storey buildings to vertical and horizontal loads and includes a computer-aided design of a 3D multi-storey concrete building.

 

CIVE 475                              Earth Structures: Embankments, Slopes & Buried Structures (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    CIVE 338

Analysis of lateral earth pressures, slope stability, and stresses on buried structures, design of cantilever retaining walls, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, sheet piling, and slurry walls. 

 

CIVE 480                              Project Management and Contract Administration (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 332

Students take an owner’s project requirements through stages of scope definition, budgeting and planning, conceptual design, scheduling, and construction contract administration. Students apply engineering standards and consider realistic issues including engineering economics, constructability, environmental requirements, sustainability, and safety. The course addresses and applies management topics and concepts of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling in the context of a capstone engineering project. The course concludes with a project competition involving construction industry professionals.

 

CIVE 482              Project Control and Life Cycle Execution of Constructed Facilities (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 332

This course continues an introduction to construction management and engineering concepts for future engineers, contractors and owner representatives involved at different stages in the life-cycle of constructed facilities.  This course introduces further awareness of analytical tools and extends the basic foundation for advanced topics in construction engineering and management.

 

CIVE 484             Project Planning, Scheduling and Control (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 332

This course emphasizes the fundamental principles of modern management methods of planning and scheduling for construction projects. Covered topics include pre-bid planning; construction project planning using WBS; project network; estimating activity duration, CPM scheduling; resource management using resource allocation and leveling; project time-cost trade-offs; project monitoring and control; and, earned value analysis integrating cost and schedule.

 

CIVE 485                              Construction Project Management (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 480

This course emphasizes the methods and materials of construction as well as the management practices required to run a successful construction project. Topics include construction materials, project planning, scheduling, cost estimating, and field engineering. A semester project, in the form of a detailed study of a major construction project, complements the classroom experience.

 

CIVE 488                              Advanced Construction Management (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 485

This course will cover construction methods, equipment, and cost estimation of construction materials, excavation, foundation, retaining walls, formwork, pavements and other aspects of civil engineering construction projects by integrating geotechnical reports, materials specifications, quality control, equipment, estimation, scheduling, and design details.

 

CIVE 491                               Independent Study II (Variable course credits from 1 to 3)

Prerequisite:      Approval of department and senior standing

This course gives an upper level undergraduate student the opportunity to participate in an individual or group project, study, or research activity under the supervision of a faculty member.  A formal report is required.

 

CIVE 492                              Urban Transit Planning and Operations (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 380

The objective of this course is to introduce the fundamentals of urban transit planning and operations. The course will cover several topics, including public transit planning, role of transit in urban areas, classification of transit modes, fundamentals of transit performance and operational analysis, capacity analysis, scheduling, network design, transit economics, and mode selection.

 

CIVE 493                              Airport Planning and Traffic Management (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 380

 This course introduces students to the fundamentals of airport systems, airport operations, and airport administrative management.  The course topics includes the history of airport systems, planning, operations of airfields, airspace and traffic management, terminals and ground access, security, economic perspectives, and capacity/delay analyses.

 

CIVE 495                               Special Topics in Civil Engineering

Prerequisite:      Topic specific

This course mainly deals with new trends in Civil Engineering and emerging technologies. Course is repeatable if title and content differ.

 

CIVE 497                               Senior Design Project I (1-6-3)

Prerequisite:      Senior standing and (CIVE 332/ CIVE 335/ CIVE 338/ CIVE 341/ CIVE 370/ CIVE 380)

Participation in team projects dealing with design and development of a component or a structural system, in accordance with project-specific objectives and constraints. Number of projects will be offered by the different engineering departments, some of which will be multi-disciplinary in nature. This will provide an opportunity to exercise initiative, engineering judgment, self-reliance and creativity, in a team environment similar to the industry environment. The design projects require students to use engineering standards in their design process, developing suitable criteria for selection based on their acquired engineering skills, experience, and other pertinent resources. Oral and written presentations are required.

 

CIVE 498                               Senior Design Project II (0-9-3)

Prerequisite:      CIVE 497

 Continuation of CIVE 497.

 

TYPICAL STUDY SEQUENCE