Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering

CEIE Changing Careers


Thinking About Changing Careers?

Considering Changing Careers? Want an Exciting Lifetime Making a Difference? Civil Engineering at George Mason May Be For You! The Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) Department at George Mason University has exciting opportunities for men and women considering a change in careers. The demand for qualified civil engineers is strong and growing. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider Mason’s civil engineering opportunities:

  • Our ABET accredited programs prepare you for a profession that is exciting and rewarding.
  • Our programs are innovative and focused on the needs of Northern Virginia and the greater Washington metropolitan area.
  • Our engineering classes are in the late afternoon and evenings to accommodate working individuals.
  • Our students at the Bachelors and Masters levels range in age from 18 to 70 years, come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and pursue degrees part-time and full-time.
  • Many of our students are seeking a change in career through further education.
  • Our graduates work for local, state, national and international governmental agencies; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); architecture and engineering firms; construction companies; IT firms; and an array of other organizations.

 

Bachelor of Science in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

Master of Science in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

Why pursue this degree?

The Bachelor’s degree is the professional degree in engineering
Coverage of civil engineering is both broad and deep
You are qualified to take the first of the engineering licensure exams (Fundamentals of Engineering)
George Mason is a Commonwealth of Virginia university and provides outstanding education at an affordable price.

The MS degree is focused on a specialty within civil engineering
The American Society of Civil Engineers is promoting the evolution of the MS degree to become the professional degree
You are qualified to take the first of the engineering licensure exams (Fundamentals of Engineering)
George Mason is a Commonwealth of Virginia university and provides superb education at an affordable price.

Are there specializations?

Within the BS-CIE degree, there are four technical electives that can be used to specialize in any area of civil engineering.

There are five defined emphasis areas within the MS-CIE degree program. You may select one of these or you may work with an advisor to design your own emphasis area.

How many classes are required?

This depends on your situation. The complete degree is only 120 credits, and it is accredited by ABET, the accrediting board for all engineering programs in the US. You may be able to transfer courses from your previous education into the BS-CIE degree program. In some cases, this may be a significant number of credits. There are a few courses that you might be able to satisfy through testing. The remaining courses you will need to take. Only through a careful review of your previous education is it possible to decide precisely what courses you will have to take.

This depends on your situation. If you have an undergraduate engineering degree, or have already passed the FE or PE tests, then you may begin to take the MS courses directly. However, if you have a non-engineering bachelor’s degree and have not yet passed the FE or PE exams, then you will be required to take a set of undergraduate courses that will provide the essential background that anyone with a degree in civil engineering should have. These are undergraduate courses are in addition to the graduate courses required for the MS-CIE degree.

Why isn’t “environmental” in the name of the degree?

Environmental engineering is an integral part of both degrees. Like almost all civil engineering programs, we do use the word “environmental” in the name of the department. However, we do not use the word in the title of the degree.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits all engineering programs in the United States. Our degrees are accredited and have been since their inception. Because of ABET rules, to use the words “civil” and “environmental” in the name of the degree would require a BS program with 150 or more credits. Hence, no degree program in the US uses both words in the degree title.

How to proceed?

You should make an appointment with one of the CEIE faculty to discuss both options—BS-CIE and MS-CIE. We can help you to make an informed choice about which degree to pursue based on your goals, your experience, and the requirements of both degrees. Email : ceie@gmu.edu, 703.993.1675 to schedule an appointment to see one of our faculty to decide whether Mason’s civil engineering programs are right for you!