About the department

Everywhere you look, you'll see the work of civil and environmental engineers. They are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of our infrastructure, from the roads we travel to the drinking water we get from our taps, from structurally-sound tunnels and airports to stadiums and skyscrapers. With so much ageing infrastructure and restoration and new development, employment growth is such that each of our graduates have found employment in their chosen profession. It's no wonder why, back in 2020, both CNN Money and U.S. News & World Report ranked the civil and environmental engineering profession among the country's best career options. The opportunities have only become better.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is a spirited, urban-serving group and we have an active research program with diverse projects funded by federal, state and local governments, as well as private corporations and philanthropy. Our civil and environmental engineering faculty members are leading urban renewal in Detroit and beyond. Some are developing technology and protocols to ensure a safe, sustainable water supply; equity in transportation network services; identifying and correcting defects in construction projects before they can happen; others are testing the structural integrity of our state's roadways. 

Besides enrolling in our program, our students join our active American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter, invest themselves in our Summer Co-op work program, and opportunities to work on faculty-led research projects.