Earn a high school diploma, complete the High School Equivalency Program or earn a General Equivalency Diploma. All accredited colleges and universities that offer online civil engineering programs require a high school diploma before enrollment.
Identify accredited colleges and universities (such as the University of Florida and the University of North Dakota) that offer online civil engineering training programs. Be sure to consider those schools that have been accredited by a board recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Apply to multiple schools of interest to increase your chances of acceptance.
Enroll in the required general education and civil engineering courses and fulfill all online lecture requirements. Most online programs deliver asynchronous (archived) lectures that students view at their convenience, requiring that students exhibit self-discipline and motivation in setting their own learning schedules.
Complete all assignments in the required major courses, which often include fluid mechanics, surveying, structural mechanics, soil mechanics, hydraulic engineering and environmental engineering. Online programs provide labs and assignments via a centralized learning platform that can be completed and turned in through the online system.
Demonstrate mastery of acquired civil engineering principals on all assessments, including online tests (usually proctored by an independent testing organization or the host university), online labs and engineering papers.
Declare an intent to graduate after completing all civil engineering requirements. This is a necessary step before most universities grant a diploma.