The undergraduate programs in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering offer broad-based education in engineering fundamentals, coupled with the development of leadership, management and communications skills to establish a foundation for lifelong learning and flexible career development. Program objectives and student outcomes for each program are provided in the Department's Objectives and Outcomes Statement.
B.E. in Civil Engineering
Civil engineers must be able to address complex problems in modern society, including the development of physical facilities that serve the public while protecting the environment. Undergraduates majoring in civil engineering receive a strong background in mathematics, science, engineering science, and engineering design. The program also includes courses in economics, humanities, social sciences, resources management, and public policy. Students participate in design teams and laboratory studies as well as classroom activities. The use of various computer-based methods is integral to problem solving and design. Vanderbilt’s B.E. in civil engineering prepares students for entry-level positions in many specialty areas of civil engineering, as well as many other types of careers, such as business, construction, and law.
Qualified students may pursue accelerated 4+1 pathways to earn both the B.E. and M.Eng. or B.E. and M.S. degrees, and exceptional students may participate in the Civil Engineering Honors Program.
The B.E. in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
B.E. in Environmental Engineering
The environmental engineering program is a forward-looking, ABET-aligned engineering major that equips graduates with the scientific, engineering, and societal tools needed to design sustainable solutions for the world's most urgent environmental challenges and lead in fields such as water resources, infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, environmental consulting, government, and sustainability-focused industries. Rooted in strong foundations in mathematics, basic sciences, and engineering principles, the program integrates advanced study in contaminant fate and transport, water and wastewater treatment, climate and carbon-neutral technologies, energy and material resource resource management, and pollution mitigation.
Students develop both technical depth and global perspective through required coursework in data science, social sciences, economics, political science, and humanities—reflecting Vanderbilt's commitment to environmental solutions that account for social, cultural, economic, and policy dimensions. The curriculum culminates in a senior design experience that synthesizes engineering analysis, environmental systems thinking, and interdisciplinary decision-making.
The program benefits from Vanderbilt's new Center for Sustainability, Energy, and Climate (VSEC), expanding opportunities for undergraduate research, innovation, and experiential learning. Qualified students may pursue accelerated 4+1 pathways to earn both the B.E. and M.Eng. or B.E. and M.S. degrees, and exceptional students may participate in the Environmental Engineering Honors Program.