Civil and Environmental Engineering major

UTS major code: 02
UAC code: 603005
Testamur title: Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Diploma in Engineering Practice
Total credit points: 204

In addition to the need for all engineers to have an awareness of modern environmental issues (especially the challenges of sustainable development for engineering) and the growing demand for specialist environmental engineers, there is significant demand in Australia for civil engineers with enhanced skills and knowledge in related areas of environmental engineering. Civil and environmental engineers are sought by the water supply and sanitation industry, in waste management, in transportation, and in the rapidly growing environmental management sector of the economy, including rehabilitation of degraded areas as well as the minimisation of the environmental impact of new activities. Employers include local government, road and other infrastructure agencies, consultants, construction enterprises, and environmental planning and regulatory groups.

This major provides a broad understanding of the art and science of civil engineering, and a wider and more detailed understanding than has been traditional in Australia of those aspects of environmental engineering which are often required in the civil engineering field of practice. This is achieved by substituting four environmental science and engineering subjects for civil engineering field of practice subjects, and utilising a more advanced version of another. While students have a free choice for their four elective subjects, those undertaking the Civil and Environmental Engineering major are encouraged to choose from graduate subjects in the area of environmental engineering and management.

Civil engineers practising in areas closely identified with environmental engineering require an understanding of the traditional areas of civil engineering: behaviour of structures, characteristics of the main materials encountered in civil engineering (soil, steel and concrete), hydraulics and hydrology, water supply and sanitation, transportation engineering, management of resources, construction, and design. In addition, they require:

• an understanding of biology, ecology and microbiology, and of how such knowledge can be utilised in engineering internship to preserve and enhance environmental values
• knowledge of the social and political arena in which environmental decisions are made
• excellent communication skills, so that they may exercise leadership in resolving potential environmental problems and disputes
• knowledge of the ways in which our laws determine the framework for environmental planning, design, and monitoring, and
• more detailed knowledge than most civil engineers of water supply, sanitation, waste management, pollution control, and land and water resources management.

The curriculum aims to develop attributes which encourage involvement in environmental issues in the community as well as through employment. It highlights the need for engineers to work collaboratively with other professions, with their community, and with environmental interest groups to enhance each other's knowledge of the possibilities for environmental management.

Standard program