Minors in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Civil engineering students often seek to gain additional depth and breadth of knowledge in another area outside of civil engineering through the election of a minor. Although almost all minors offered at Vanderbilt University are available to civil engineering students, the more popular minors include:

  • Engineering Management

    The engineering management minor is designed to provide a student majoring in an undergraduate engineering program with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of management and business. Engineering management courses include such topics as accounting and finance, applied behavioral science, engineering economics, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain management, project planning and control, systems engineering, and technology-based entrepreneurship.

  • Mathematics

    A solid background in mathematics provides an excellent foundation for continuation of engineering studies at the graduate level as well as several other professions including law, medicine, or business.

  • Economics

    A minor in economics provides additional study in a range of economic areas including micro, macro, financial, and managerial economics. Such additional background provides an excellent foundation for preparation of engineers for professional practice, business, and management positions.

  • Energy and Environmental Systems

    The minor in energy and environmental systems is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the fundamentals of energy systems and their impact on the environment. The future health and well-being of humanity hinge in large part on smart production and use of energy, water, and related resources, as these are central determinants of climate change, habitable space, and human and ecological health. This program examines the relationships among individual, institutional, and societal choices for energy production and use, and the impacts and benefits of these choices on the environment and health through climate, water quality, and natural resources.

  • Environmental Engineering

    A minor in environmental engineering is available to all non-civil engineering students. It requires a total of 15 hours of environmental engineering courses, comprised of 6 hours of required courses and 9 hours of electives. Required courses are CE 226 (Intro to Environmental Engineering) and ENVE 271 (Environmental Chemistry)

  • Computer Science

    Computer science blends scientific and engineering principles, theoretical analysis, and actual computing experience to provide undergraduate students with a solid foundation in the discipline. Emphasis is on computing activities of both practical and intellectual interest, and on theoretical studies of efficient algorithms and the limits of computation.

  • Pre-Architecture Program

    Civil engineering students interested in pursuing architecture at the graduate level should include courses that emphasize a broad sense of art and architectural history, including courses in studio art. Before applying to graduate programs, students will need to develop a portfolio of creative work that generally includes drawing, prints, sculpture, photographs, and creative writing. Professor Michael Aurbach in the Department of Art serves as the pre-architecture advisor to Vanderbilt students.

In addition, students interested in pursuing Architecture at the graduate level often participate in the Pre-Architecture Program and the student organization BLUEPrint.