Civil Engineering is described as the art of sustainably harnessing the natural environment to meet human needs. The success of this endeavor is evident all around us. The arid plain which greeted the early settlers in Southern California has been transformed into a thriving regional community largely by the application of civil engineering.

The goal of the Civil Engineering curriculum is to prepare graduates for a career in practice, research, or teaching. At the undergraduate level a common core of fundamental subjects is provided, and students are required to specialize in their senior year. Specializations are offered in General Civil Engineering, Environmental Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Transportation Systems Engineering. Graduate opportunities are in three major thrust areas: structural analysis, design, and reliability; transportation systems engineering; and water resources and environmental engineering.

Career opportunities in environmental engineering are diverse. Graduates generally find careers related to pollution control and the remediation of air, water, and soil environments.