Civil Engineering Technology

Civil Engineering Department

The Civil Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil Engineering Technology Program Criteria. CET students take electives in the following areas: Construction Management, Structural Design, and Site Development.

Students in this program are prepared for employment in a wide range of professional and technical positions with the construction, consulting engineering, surveying and site development industries. Graduates are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, the first step to licensure as a professional engineer. CET courses include topics such as computer-aided drafting, statics, strength of materials, materials testing, surveying, building construction, steel and concrete design, soils and foundations, and hydrology and drainage.

The B.S. degree program in Civil Engineering Technology (CET) offers a high quality degree program that meets national standards of excellence. It is a significant component of the University's commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, which are fields of major importance to the region.

Through the University's distance learning program, the CET program provides opportunities for technical personnel throughout the state and elsewhere to enhance their education and pursue baccalaureate level studies.

Simultaneously, the program supports the general education components that yield a well-rounded graduate who is aware of societal needs and issues.

Senior electives in this area prepare students for careers in the construction industry by providing a combination of knowledge and skills from a number of disciplines. In addition to the basic technical skills in structures, materials, fluids, etc., students take courses in scheduling, project management, cost estimating, sustainable building design, and other topics that enable projects to be completed on schedule and within budget. These graduates are employed at both large and small companies as project engineers, field engineers, assistant superintendents, estimators, schedulers, and similar construction related positions.

Senior electives in this area prepare students for careers in both the public and private sectors. In addition to the basic technical skills in statics, strength of materials, structural analysis, etc., students take courses in computer applications in structural design, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and wood design. These graduates have found employment at both large and small companies as design engineers, project engineers, structural engineers, and similar structural related positions.

Senior electives in this area prepare students to develop survey plans, prepare subdivision plats, design site improvements, obtain approvals and entitlements, and provide turn-key services to manage developments. Students take course work in hydrology & drainage, land design & development, and water resources engineering. These graduates are employed in government agencies, engineering firms and surveying firms.

Senior electives in this area prepare students for careers in the construction industry by providing a combination of knowledge and skills from a number of disciplines. In addition to the basic technical skills in structures, materials, fluids, etc., students take courses in scheduling, project management, cost estimating, sustainable building design, and other topics that enable projects to be completed on schedule and within budget. These graduates are employed at both large and small companies as project engineers, field engineers, assistant superintendents, estimators, schedulers, and similar construction related positions.

Senior electives in this area prepare students for careers in both the public and private sectors. In addition to the basic technical skills in statics, strength of materials, structural analysis, etc., students take courses in computer applications in structural design, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and wood design. These graduates have found employment at both large and small companies as design engineers, project engineers, structural engineers, and similar structural related positions.

Senior electives in this area prepare students to develop survey plans, prepare subdivision plats, design site improvements, obtain approvals and entitlements, and provide turn-key services to manage developments. Students take course work in hydrology & drainage, land design & development, and water resources engineering. These graduates are employed in government agencies, engineering firms and surveying firms.

Senior Design Projects

Explore the Future of Civil Engineering Technology

Transfer Pathways

Creating a seamless transfer experience from community college to ODU

Academic Catalog

Chart Your Educational Path

CET program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil Engineering Technology Program Criteria.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Civil Engineering Technology (CET) program is to sustain a high quality undergraduate program of study leading to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree. The program prepares graduates to become certified in their area of specialization. Civil engineering technology is a significant component of the University's commitment to science, engineering and technology, particularly in structural design, construction, site development and related fields, which are of major importance to civilization. Students around the world are enabled to expand opportunities to enhance their education and pursue baccalaureate level studies through the University's distance learning program. Simultaneously, the program supports the general education components that yield a well-rounded graduate who is aware of and able to address societal needs and issues.

Typical technical problems that CET graduates will be able to address include: building and non-building type structures and construction operations. Typical technical tasks the CET graduates will be expected to perform include: planning and design, field testing and inspection, on-site technical coordination and control, and other tasks relevant to one's emphasis area.

The objective of the civil engineering technology (CET) program is to prepare graduates to establish themselves as successful engineering professionals in a diverse and global environment. Graduates are expected to have a capacity for critical reasoning based on scientific and technical principles and an inclination for continuous learning.

The objectives of the CET undergraduate program at Old Dominion University are that our graduates should accomplish the following:

  1. Identify and solve increasingly complex technical problems, both theoretically and practically, as raised by continually evolving technologies and industry needs and practices.
  2. Make educated, responsible, and ethical decisions in response to the needs of the profession and society, with these decisions solidly grounded in science and engineering fundamentals.
  3. Work effectively as a member or leader of technical teams and clearly communicate ideas leading to successful team outcomes. 

The civil engineering technology program has adopted, after deliberations by its constituents, five student outcomes for the Bachelor of Science program in civil engineering technology. These outcomes are listed below:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
  2. An ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
  3. An ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.
  4. An ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes.
  5. An ability to function effectively as a member or leader on a technical teams..

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Degrees Conferred and Enrollment

Message from the Program Director

Welcome to Old Dominion University and thank you for your interest in our Civil Engineering Technology (CET) Program. The CET program currently offers three options, Construction Management, Structural Design, and Site Development. The CET program is accredited. Consequently, our graduates are able to sit for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) license examinations such as the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and the Professional Engineering (PE). The Engineering Technology Department encourages students to take the FE examination during their senior year.

The CET program focuses on the application and practice of civil engineering principles. Graduates from our program will have the technical and managerial skills necessary to enter careers in planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure systems.

A large variety of courses are offered in our curriculum. Effective written, oral, and graphic communications are emphasized throughout the curriculum along with computer literacy. To satisfy the upper-division general education requirements, students are encouraged to complete a minor in either Engineering Management or Mechanical Engineering Technology. The program culminates in a senior design project that integrates course work with a practical project assignment in the student's area of concentration.

Master Lecturer Engineering Technology