Civil Engineering

BE in Civil Engineering

EAC logo

The Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org .

ABET is the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology.

ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public.

The civil engineering program provides a superior education to those who wish to become talented and creative engineers. It draws upon LAU’s broad resources in sciences and liberal arts. Graduates of the civil engineering program have a strong theoretical background, training in the latest design methods, and proficiency in technological applications.

The courses offered by the civil engineering department cover construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering, as well as surveying.

Our graduates go on to pursue various careers in design, construction, management, and research. They are prepared to work effectively in today’s work environment because they are technically competent, critical thinkers, and abreast of the latest technical software.

The UK-based Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) now recognizes the LAU Civil Engineering degree as: “Fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)”. LAU Civil Engineering graduates will no longer need to apply for an academic assessment to gain an ICE professional qualification in the UK. This sets LAU Civil Engineering graduates on the path to a successful career by partially satisfying the educational requirements for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK.  

Mission

The Mission of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Lebanese American University is to provide students with a quality and challenging education, through innovative teaching, professional practice and community service, enabling the students to enrich their lives and make valuable contributions to their communities.

Program educational objectives

Within a few years of graduation, the graduates of the Civil Engineering program will:

  1. Achieve success in their chosen career path be it professional practice or graduate studies
  2. Adapt to meet the changing requirements of the job market
  3. Be responsible citizen engineers

Student Outcomes

The students will acquire in their matriculation through the program, the following skills, knowledge, and behaviors:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Student Data

  Enrollment Data   BE
Civil
Engineering
Academic Year
2023-2024
91

 

  Graduation Data   BE
Civil
Engineering
Academic Year
2022-2023
40

Curriculum before Fall 2017

First year

Fall

Number Course Cr
MTH201 Calculus III 3
COE212 Engineering Programming 3
CHM201 Chemical Principles 3
CIE200 Statics 3
COE201 Computer Proficiency 1
MEE211 Engineering Graphics 1
ENG202 Advanced Academic English 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
ARA2—/3— Arabic Language/Literature 3
HLT201 Basic Health 1
CIE202 Mechanics of Materials 3
MTH206 Calculus IV 3

BIO200 OR
BIO203

Basic Biology      OR
Introduction to Ecology

3
ENG203 Fundamental of Oral Communication 3
ETH201 Moral Reasoning 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
MTH304 Differential Equations 3
—- Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
PED2— Physical Education 1

Second year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE308 Construction Materials 3
CIE309 Construction Materials-LAB 1
CIE302 Structural Analysis I 3
CIE303 Structural Analysis - SOFT 1
CIE320 Fluid Mechanics 3
CIE321 Fluid Mechanics-LAB 1
CIE361 Surveying 2
CIE362 Surveying Lab 1

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE306 Concrete Structures I 3
CIE307 Concrete Structures I -SOFT 1
CIE322 Hydraulics 3
CIE323 Hydraulics-SOFT 1
CIE304 Stress Analysis 3
CIE305 Stress Analysis-LAB 1
CIE460 Highway Engineering 3
CIE461 Transportation Engineering -SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
GNE331 Probability and Statistics 3
GNE301 Professional Communication 2
INE320 Engineering Economy I 3
—— Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Third year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE444 Soil Mechanics 3
CIE445 Soil Mechanics - LAB 1
CIE424 Water Distribution & Treatment 3
CIE425 Environmental Engineering -LAB 1
CIE465 Transportation Systems Engineering 3
CIE480 Civil Eng. Management Fundamentals 3
GNE305 Professional Ethics 1

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE400 Steel Structures 3
CIE426 Wastewater Collection & Treatment 3
CIE427 Environmental Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE446 Foundation Engineering 3
CIE447 Geotechnical Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE485 Construction Management 3
CIE486 Construction Management - SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
CIE498 Professional Experience - Civil 6

Fourth year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE436 Detailing for Civil Engineers 2
CIE434 The Civil Engineering Profession 2
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE499 Capstone Design Project 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Technical electives

Number Course Cr
CIE510 Finite Element Method I 3
CIE512 Concrete Structures II 3
CIE516 Adv. Steel Design and Behavior 3
CIE517 Earthquake Analysis of Structures 3
CIE518 Adv. Stru. Anal. for Grav. & Lat. Load 3
CIE520 Solid Waste Management 3
CIE521 Hydrology 3
CIE522 Environmental Impact Assessment 3
CIE525 Environmental Policy and Management 3
CIE526* Environmental Remediation 3
CIE540 Advanced Geotechnical I Engineering 3
CIE544 Geotech. Asp. of Earthquake Eng. 3
CIE562 Airport Planning and Design 3
CIE563 Transportation Planning and Land Use 3
CIE564* Mass Transit Systems 3
CIE565 Airport Planning and Design 3
CIE582 Infrastructure Management 3
CIE584 Quality Management Systems 3
CIE585 Risk and Natural Hazard Management 3
CIE586 Construction Decision under Uncertainty 3
CIE587 Construction Cost Engineering 3
CIE588 Construction Estimating I 3
CIE596 Topics in Civil Engineering 3
CIE597 Undergraduate Research 3

Or any other approved technical elective by the department.
Note: All technical electives require at least senior standing in addition to their relevant pre- requisites.

^All CIE and MTH courses require a passing grade of C.
* Courses Not Offered for the Past Three Years

Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives - 12 credits

The 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum A as described below:

  1. Fine Arts, Communication Arts, Music Appreciation, Theater (3 credits)
  2. Cultural Studies, History, Philosophy, Religion (3 credits)
  3. English, Arabic Language, Literature (3 credits)
  4. Social Sciences (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found here

Curriculum effective Fall 2017

First year

Fall

Number Course Cr
MTH201 Calculus III 3
CHM205 Fundamentals of Chemistry 3
CIE200 Statics 3
COE201 Computer Proficiency 1
ENG202 Advanced Academic English 3
—- Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE212 Computer Programming for Civil Engineering 3
CIE202 Mechanics of Materials 3
MTH206 Calculus IV 3
BIO200 OR
BIO203
Basic Biology      OR
Introduction to Ecology
3
COM203 Art of Public Communication 3
MEE211 Engineering Graphics 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
MTH304 Differential Equations 3
—— Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
—- Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Second year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE308 Construction Materials 3
CIE309 Construction Materials-LAB 1
CIE302 Structural Analysis 3
CIE303 Structural Analysis - SOFT 1
CIE320 Fluid Mechanics 3
CIE321 Fluid Mechanics-LAB 1
CIE361 Surveying 2
CIE362 Surveying Lab 1

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE306 Concrete Structures 3
CIE307 Concrete Structures -SOFT 1
CIE322 Hydraulics 3
CIE323 Hydraulics-SOFT 1
CIE304 Stress Analysis 3
CIE305 Stress Analysis-LAB 1
CIE460 Highway Engineering 3
CIE461 Transportation Engineering -SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
GNE331 Probability and Statistics 3
GNE301 Professional Communication 2
INE320 Engineering Economy I 3
MEE392 Machine Shop 1

Third year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE444 Soil Mechanics 3
CIE445 Soil Mechanics - LAB 1
CIE424 Water Distribution & Treatment 3
CIE425 Environmental Engineering -LAB 1
CIE465 Transportation Systems Engineering 3
CIE466 Traffic Simulation - SOFT 1
CIE480 Civil Eng. Management Fundamentals 3
GNE303 Engineering Ethics 2

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE400 Steel Structures 3
CIE426 Wastewater Collection & Treatment 3
CIE427 Environmental Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE446 Foundation Engineering 3
CIE447 Geotechnical Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE485 Construction Planning & Scheduling 3
CIE486 Construction Planning & Scheduling - SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
CIE498 Professional Experience - Civil 6

Fourth year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE436 Detailing for Civil Engineers 2
CIE434 The Civil Engineering Profession 2
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
GNE3— Engineering Signature Elective 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE499 Capstone Design Project 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

VIP Courses

Students interested in the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program can register VIP courses that could count towards their degree as per the below list:

Current course Substituted by/VIP credits
SOE signature course [3–0, 3 cr.] Vertically Integrated Project
Technical Elective [3–0, 3 cr.]

URE Courses

Students interested in the Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) program can register URE courses that could count towards their degree as per the below list:

Current course Substituted by/URE credits
SOE signature course [3–0, 3 cr.] Undergraduate Research Experience
Technical Elective [3–0, 3 cr.]

CIE Technical Elective Courses (18 credits)

A minimum of three courses have to be selected in one of the five emphasis areas below.

Construction Engineering & Management

Number Course Cr
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE583 Sustainable Construction  3
CIE584 Quality Management Systems 3
CIE585 Risk and Natural Hazard Management 3
CIE586* Construction Decision under Uncertainty 3
CIE587 Construction Cost Engineering 3
CIE588 Construction Estimating I 3
CIE589 Construction Methods & Equipment 3
CIE590* GIS and Remote Sensing 3
CIE593 Construction Safety 3

Environmental & Water Resources

Number Course Cr
CIE502* Design of Hydraulics Structures 3
CIE520 Solid Waste Management 3
CIE521 Hydrology 3
CIE522 Environmental Impact Assessment 3
CIE523* Water Resources Planning and Management 3
CIE524* Air Quality Management 3
CIE525 Environmental Policy and Management 3
CIE526 Environmental Remediation 3
CIE527 Environmental Microbiology 3
CIE529* Hydrogeology 3
CIE530* Irrigation and Drainage 3
CIE533* Groundwater Engineering 3
CIE534* Computational Hydraulics 3
CIE535 Groundwater Hydrology and Pollution  3

Geotechnical Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE504* Case Histories in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE510 Finite Element Method 3
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE529* Hydrogeology 3
CIE533* Groundwater Engineering 3
CIE540 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE544 Geotechnical Aspects of Earthquake Engineering 3
CIE585 Risk and Natural Hazard Management 3
CIE590 GIS and Remote Sensing 3
CIE725* Geo-Environmental Engineering 3

Structural Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE501 Prestressed Concrete Design 3
CIE502* Design of Hydraulics Structures 3
CIE504* Case Histories in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE506* Structural Dynamics 3
CIE507 Seismic Design of Structures  3
CIE508* Applied Elasticity 3
CIE509 Concrete Foundation Structures  3
CIE510 Finite Element Method 3
CIE512 Concrete Building Structures 3
CIE513* Reinforced Masonry Design 3
CIE516* Advanced Steel: Design and Behavior 3
CIE518 Advanced Structural Analysis for Gravity & Lateral Load 3
CIE519* Advanced Reinforced Concrete Behavior  3

Transportation Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE521 Hydrology 3
CIE561* Traffic Engineering 3
CIE562 Airport Planning and Design 3
CIE563 Transportation Planning and Land Use 3
CIE564 Mass Transit Systems 3
CIE566* Highway Design and Management 3
CIE582 Infrastructure Management 3

General Technical Electives

Number Course Cr
CIE596 Topics in Civil Engineering 3
CIE598 Research Methods 3
CIE599 Undergraduate Research 3

Note that all technical electives require that the student has completed at least 120 credits in addition to their relevant prerequisites, and courses require a passing grade of D.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives - 12 credits

  1. For students entering the program in Fall 2022 or after, the 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum Z as described below:
    1. Digital Cultures (3 credits)
    2. Change Makers (6 credits)
    3. LAS Free Elective, Arts & Humanities (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found here

  1. For students entering the program prior to Fall 2022, the 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum A as described below:
    1. Fine Arts, Communication Arts, Music Appreciation, Theater (3 credits)
    2. Cultural Studies, History, Philosophy, Religion (3 credits)
    3. English, Arabic Language, Literature (3 credits)
    4. Social Sciences (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found here

* Courses Not Offered for the Past Two Years

Curriculum effective Fall 2023

First year

Fall

Number Course Cr
MTH201 Calculus III 3
CHM205 Fundamentals of Chemistry 3
CHM005 Preparatory Chemistry 0
CIE200 Statics 3
COE201 Computer Proficiency 1
ENG202 Advanced Academic English 3
—- Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE212 Computer Programming for Civil Engineering 3
CIE202 Mechanics of Materials 3
MTH206 Calculus IV 3
BIO200 OR
BIO203
Basic Biology      OR
Introduction to Ecology
3
COM203 Art of Public Communication 3
MEE211 Engineering Graphics 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
MTH304 Differential Equations 3
—— Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3
—- Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

Second year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE308 Construction Materials 3
CIE309 Construction Materials-LAB 1
CIE302 Structural Analysis 3
CIE303 Structural Analysis - SOFT 1
CIE320 Fluid Mechanics 3
CIE321 Fluid Mechanics-LAB 1
CIE361 Surveying 2
CIE362 Surveying Lab 1

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE306 Concrete Structures 3
CIE307 Concrete Structures -SOFT 1
CIE322 Hydraulics 3
CIE323 Hydraulics-SOFT 1
CIE304 Stress Analysis 3
CIE305 Stress Analysis-LAB 1
CIE460 Highway Engineering 3
CIE461 Transportation Engineering -SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
GNE331 Probability and Statistics 3
GNE301 Professional Communication 2
INE320 Engineering Economy I 3
MEE392 Machine Shop 1

Third year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE444 Soil Mechanics 3
CIE445 Soil Mechanics - LAB 1
CIE424 Water Distribution & Treatment 3
CIE425 Environmental Engineering -LAB 1
CIE465 Transportation Systems Engineering 3
CIE466 Traffic Simulation - SOFT 1
CIE480 Civil Eng. Management Fundamentals 3
GNE303 Engineering Ethics 2

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE400 Steel Structures 3
CIE426 Wastewater Collection & Treatment 3
CIE427 Environmental Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE446 Foundation Engineering 3
CIE447 Geotechnical Engineering - SOFT 1
CIE485 Construction Planning & Scheduling 3
CIE486 Construction Planning & Scheduling - SOFT 1

Summer

Number Course Cr
CIE498 Professional Experience - Civil 6

Fourth year

Fall

Number Course Cr
CIE436 Detailing for Civil Engineers 2
CIE434 The Civil Engineering Profession 2
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
GNE3— Engineering Signature Elective 3

Spring

Number Course Cr
CIE499 Capstone Design Project 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
CIE— Technical Elective 3
Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective 3

VIP Courses

Students interested in the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program can register VIP courses that could count towards their degree as per the below list:

Current course Substituted by/VIP credits
SOE signature course [3–0, 3 cr.] Vertically Integrated Project
Technical Elective [3–0, 3 cr.]

URE Courses

Students interested in the Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) program can register URE courses that could count towards their degree as per the below list:

Current course Substituted by/URE credits
SOE signature course [3–0, 3 cr.] Undergraduate Research Experience
Technical Elective [3–0, 3 cr.]

CIE Technical Elective Courses (18 credits)

Construction Engineering & Management

Number Course Cr
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE583 Sustainable Construction  3
CIE584 Quality Management Systems 3
CIE585 Risk and Natural Hazard Management 3
CIE586* Construction Decision under Uncertainty 3
CIE587 Construction Cost Engineering 3
CIE588 Construction Estimating I 3
CIE589 Construction Methods & Equipment 3
CIE590* GIS and Remote Sensing 3
CIE593 Construction Safety 3

Environmental & Water Resources

Number Course Cr
CIE502* Design of Hydraulics Structures 3
CIE520 Solid Waste Management 3
CIE521 Hydrology 3
CIE522 Environmental Impact Assessment 3
CIE523* Water Resources Planning and Management 3
CIE524* Air Quality Management 3
CIE525 Environmental Policy and Management 3
CIE526 Environmental Remediation 3
CIE527 Environmental Microbiology 3
CIE529* Hydrogeology 3
CIE530* Irrigation and Drainage 3
CIE533* Groundwater Engineering 3
CIE534* Computational Hydraulics 3
CIE535 Groundwater Hydrology and Pollution  3

Geotechnical Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE504* Case Histories in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE510 Finite Element Method 3
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE529* Hydrogeology 3
CIE533* Groundwater Engineering 3
CIE540 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE544 Geotechnical Aspects of Earthquake Engineering 3
CIE585 Risk and Natural Hazard Management 3
CIE590 GIS and Remote Sensing 3
CIE725* Geo-Environmental Engineering 3

Structural Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE501 Prestressed Concrete Design 3
CIE502* Design of Hydraulics Structures 3
CIE504* Case Histories in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering 3
CIE506* Structural Dynamics 3
CIE507 Seismic Design of Structures  3
CIE508* Applied Elasticity 3
CIE509 Concrete Foundation Structures  3
CIE510 Finite Element Method 3
CIE512 Concrete Building Structures 3
CIE513* Reinforced Masonry Design 3
CIE516* Advanced Steel: Design and Behavior 3
CIE518 Advanced Structural Analysis for Gravity & Lateral Load 3
CIE519* Advanced Reinforced Concrete Behavior  3

Transportation Engineering

Number Course Cr
CIE511 Pavement Design 3
CIE521 Hydrology 3
CIE561* Traffic Engineering 3
CIE562 Airport Planning and Design 3
CIE563 Transportation Planning and Land Use 3
CIE564 Mass Transit Systems 3
CIE566* Highway Design and Management 3
CIE582 Infrastructure Management 3

General Technical Electives

Number Course Cr
CIE596 Topics in Civil Engineering 3
CIE598 Research Methods 3
CIE599 Undergraduate Research 3

Note that all technical electives require that the student has completed at least 120 credits in addition to their relevant prerequisites, and courses require a passing grade of D.

* Courses Not Offered for the Past Two Years

Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives - 12 credits

  1. For students entering the program in Fall 2022 or after, the 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum Z as described below:
    1. Digital Cultures (3 credits)
    2. Change Makers (6 credits)
    3. LAS Free Elective, Arts & Humanities (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found here

  1. For students entering the program prior to Fall 2022, the 12 credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Electives should be taken according to Curriculum A as described below:
    1. Fine Arts, Communication Arts, Music Appreciation, Theater (3 credits)
    2. Cultural Studies, History, Philosophy, Religion (3 credits)
    3. English, Arabic Language, Literature (3 credits)
    4. Social Sciences (3 credits)

A list of courses for each of the above categories can be found here

Teaching the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Number of courses in the Civil Engineering Program that relate to each of the United Nations 17 SDGs

4

4

8

12

5

26

4

9

31

8

30

11

26

6

6

8

4

Course Map

Please click here to view Course Map effective Fall 2023.
Please click here to view Course Map effective Fall 2022.
Please click here to view Course Map Fall 2017 - Summer 2022.
Students who began their degree before Fall 2017 please click here to view Course Map.  

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