Completing an undergraduate or graduate degree in civil or environmental engineering requires a heavy emphasis on math, science and fundamental engineering. A typical curriculum includes three levels of calculus, a statistics course and linear algebra. Students will also need to understand basic technical writing, general chemistry and as much as 15 credits in physics.
Many civil and environmental engineering departments include construction engineering as part of a student's options for specialization. The curricula of these programs teach student how to successfully plan and manage major building projects. Some of the courses are practical in nature, such as HVAC design, estimating and accounting. Others look at the theory of labor relations, construction law, or productivity enhancement. These programs often pair well with business administration degrees.
The complex movement of fluid bodies is important to many kinds of civil engineers. This field of civil and environmental engineering teaches student to measure this movement and use those measurements to a variety of ends, such as cleaning water or controlling erosion. Some schools refer to this as an "atmosphere" specialty, as the study of fluid dynamics also lends itself to atmospheric modeling. Such skills can allow a student to work in the fields of pollution control, hazardous substances treatment and more.
Another common specialty offered to civil and environmental engineers is geotechnical, or geomechanical, engineering. This discipline looks at how different soils, rocks and solid affect engineering issues. Experts in this field help in identifying prime sites for construction, researching effective foundation solutions, designing site to withstand earthquake forces and even study the relative stability of an earth mass.