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Have you ever wondered "who built this road?" while driving your car?
Civil engineers are the ones who are building these roads! Civil engineers not only build roads, but also build structures that serve the general public, such as dams, bridges, canals, and power plants, to name a few.
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on UnsplashIf building something for the general public sounds interesting to you, then consider the career of a civil engineer!
Duties of Civil Engineering
Quiz
You're doing research to see if steel will be appropriate to use to build a bridge. What phase are you on right now?
The building phase is when the materials to be used for the project are selected and then the construction begins. The design phase and repair phase involve other important activities.
Where can you be employed?
Structural Engineering — analyze and design structures to ensure the safety and resistance of stress and force
Environmental Engineering —study and address the effects of technological advances on the environment
Transportation Engineering —construction of transportation facilities, often including roads, railways, airports, bike paths, and sidewalks
Water and Wastewater Engineering —plan, design, and manage the construction and operation of water or wastewater supply systems
What education do you need?
To be a civil engineer, you'll usually need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, civil engineering technologies, or related fields like construction.
You'll need to take programs like civil engineering and civil engineering technology, and take courses that emphasize different subjects and specialities like math, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics.
Your courses will involve classroom learning along with both lab and field work, and may include work experience programs.
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
Did you know?
You'll love this career if you have...
Communication Skills — you can act as a mediator to communicate clearly and accomplish tasks.
Leadership Skills — you have the ability to motivate and effectively lead a team to achieve project goals.
Problem-Solving Skills — there are many variables that can hinder the project, such as materials, government standards, and regulations so it is important to have the ability to identify, evaluate and resolve problems effectively.
STEM Skills — both mathematical and physics skills are required.
Data Computation Skills — civil engineers collect a lot of data and organize them to present them to people with different expertise.
Photo by Mark Potterton on Unsplash
⚡Check your knowledge!
David
shy and prefers working alone
likes to engage in artistic activities
organized and detail-oriented
doesn't like following strict work schedules
works part-time as a math tutor
Erika
an extrovert who likes to meet new people
enjoys being creative and playing with Lego sets in her free time
has excellent problem-solving skills
leads the debate team at her school
Quiz
Who would be a better fit as a civil engineer?
Erika is a better fit as a civil engineer because of her outgoing personality, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Her hobby of playing with construction sets also suggests she might enjoy this career. Although David has certain skills that are well suited to being a civil engineer, his introverted personality and dislike of following strict schedules show that he might want to consider other more suitable careers.
Take Action
Photo by Compare Fibre on UnsplashIf you want to work towards pursuing a career as a civil engineer:
This Byte has been authored by
Hain Moon
Science Teacher