Many community colleges offer online associate's degree program in civil engineering, which provides background to students in material specifications, cost analysis and construction techniques. An associate's degree program includes introductory civil engineering courses and general education courses. The curriculum usually entails estimating, topography, surveying, computer aided drafting, soil testing, physics, material statics and cartography.
Many colleges offer online bachelor's degrees in civil engineering, which allow students to attend pre-recorded lectures and includes courses such as infrastructure planning, computer applications, mathematical methods, engineering management, fluid mechanics, hydraulic engineering, design and engineering economy. Online- based assignments, exams and discussions are conducted for students. The bachelor's degree program features transportation, structural, environmental and water resource engineering.
Many universities offer an online master's program for students and professionals who want to earn an advanced degree in civil engineering. The online program involves pre-recorded lectures and DVDs sent from the university. The typical program coursework includes traffic engineering, biological principles of environmental engineering, open channel hydraulics and water and waste water operations. To achieve the master's degree, students are required to complete 25 to 30 credit hours, submit an independent study report and pass a comprehensive final exam.
According to Online Education website, the Penn Foster College, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, North Virginia Community College and Tidewater Community College are among the top civil engineering colleges and universities in Virginia. These colleges offer online associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs in civil engineering. To enroll in an associate's and bachelor's degree programs a prospective student needs a high school diploma or GED. To get into a master's degree program a student must first complete a bachelor's degree.