Hey guys, I just transferred into the engineering dept. and will be starting in the fall as an unmatriculated sophie. I'm torn between construction engineering and civil engineering. If any of you guys are or know someone that is a const. egr major, let me know how you like or dislike it. Thanks.

[Edited on May 30, 2009 at 4:07 PM. Reason : :]

5/30/2009 4:05:01 PM

IMO do a regular civil. the classes are very similar and you can, potentially, get more mileage out of a civil degree.

i'm sure some cem will come in and tell you otherwise, though.

5/30/2009 4:26:27 PM

yea i am pretty sure civil has more options.

5/30/2009 8:24:15 PM

Right, well that would make since that CE would offer more. Just looked at the 4yr plan for both majors and they're pretty similar.

5/30/2009 10:04:19 PM

They are, but CEM will make you lean towards project management instead of the design side of civil engineering.

You can switch without being much worse for wear before you get too far into the program should you change your mind, but going into CE would be a good idea. Think about what subfield you want to go into as well.

Transportation, Structural, etc each will land you working a different sort of design job (some you might like and some you might hate). Make sure that you have at least one solid "secondary focus" as you pick your civil engineering electives as you may well have to fall back on them when looking for a job. Go to the ASCE meetings as well and watch the presentations on the different companies to see what different folks do at work. You'll see site civil, geotech, structural, environmental, etc at those meetings AND you get free lunch (just pay your membership dues and you get a lot of sweet stuff opened up to you).

I also strongly recommend you go looking for summer internships ASAP (I did one the summer after my freshman year and every summer after that) as the best way to figure out whether you like a field or not is by working on the job. If you're having trouble landing interviews try applying to the NC DOT summer intern program. The pay isn't that great (our field gets paid about $8-10k/yr less than the other fields out of college, on average, which may change) but it's a great job that you only have to worry about 40 hours a week which won't follow you home.

Oh, also, I HIGHLY recommend you consider doing co-op rotations. This is a fantastic way to build experience and establish a solid relationship with a company in the industry. Great way to earn money and to likely land a job out of college. Yes your education will take a bit longer, but the internship route wasn't as useful to me. I've seen people who went the co-op route get their experience treated with more respect because they work there for 6-8 months whereas I worked at my internships for about 3-3.5 months at a time.

Ask lots of questions on here as well and bug your adviser if you're not sure about something.

Also if you want to go to grad school at NCSU make sure your GPA is at least a 3.50 average if you want to be considered for TA/RA positions. You will not be considered if you are below that, though you will likely be accepted into the program.

K, I think that's the best I can offer you as an informational welcome to the CE Dept. Don't be afraid to take hydrology or soils classes!

[Edited on May 31, 2009 at 1:55 AM. Reason : FYI, project management can pay more, but if you like numbers you might like design more.]

5/31/2009 1:54:22 AM

Sweet. Thanks man.

5/31/2009 2:16:02 AM

Quote :

"Also if you want to go to grad school at NCSU make sure your GPA is at least a 3.50 average if you want to be considered for TA/RA positions. You will not be considered if you are below that, though you will likely be accepted into the program."

i'm an RA, graduated w/ a 3.32. just saying.

5/31/2009 8:06:50 AM

K, as of last summer I was told in person multiple times by every adviser I spoke to that I would not be considered for scholarships unless I had a GPA over 3.5.

If you work early on to form a relationship with professors and show an interest in research you could probably work something out. If not, you'll likely be on your own (based on their own rhetoric and based on my experience with the other folks who went to grad school) for at least the first semester.

5/31/2009 1:16:46 PM

short version: depends on what you are interested in.

construction/PM go CEM
structural design go CE w/ structures concentration, etc for other interests.

HOWEVER,

I would recommend you do a double major (CEM & CE/structures) if you want PM/construction. CEMs have to take a few structures courses already and to add a few more for the double doesn't take much effort. you will also open more doors for yourself.

With a CE/CEM double, you can go to either design, construction, and/or PM. You are also a great fit for design/build firms.

[Edited on May 31, 2009 at 2:45 PM. Reason : .]

5/31/2009 2:44:59 PM

^ Twas was I did, only took an extra semester. CEM actually has more hours that we were required to take then CE.

5/31/2009 6:50:58 PM

Yeah, it looks going after the CEM and somewhere along the road take the extras to satisfy a CE major. Easier said than done, but w/e.

5/31/2009 7:44:39 PM

so getting your CEM (CEM + CE) takes a few extra classes, does it really matter? are you really in that big of a hurry to get out of college? if that's your attitude just stop now.

6/1/2009 1:37:42 PM

LOL. what makes you think I'm ready to graduate already? Im just asking you guys about the major. The Sophomore yr really doesn't differ between the two so the extra classes for CE aren't of my concern right now. Thanks again for the info guys.

[Edited on June 1, 2009 at 5:02 PM. Reason : 3lejlk3jde]

6/1/2009 4:43:03 PM

I wasn't referring to your choosing to get or not get a double major, but to your apparent attitude towards the possibility of having to do more work.

^^^sounds like you are whining because getting a CEM or CEM + CE would take a little more effort. And if that's the case, it's a piss poor attitude. I personally don't care which direction you go as far as a major, I'm just saying if you're going to be another apathetic student, bitching and whining the whole way through, complaining about any amount of extra work to better yourself then just go ahead and quit now.

maybe I'm just reading it wrong. anyhow, I truly believe that:

Quote :

"short version: depends on what you are interested in. construction/PM go CEM structural design go CE w/ structures concentration, etc for other interests. HOWEVER, I would recommend you do a double major (CEM & CE/structures) if you want PM/construction. CEMs have to take a few structures courses already and to add a few more for the double doesn't take much effort. you will also open more doors for yourself. With a CE/CEM double, you can go to either design, construction, and/or PM. You are also a great fit for design/build firms. "

is your best option if you go CEM or CE/structures (I didn't do this because I'm a waterboy; I've just been around the department a lot/involved with the department/etc). BUT by all means, follow your interests/heart just be sure not to close doors that are already open to you.

[Edited on June 1, 2009 at 6:13 PM. Reason : .]

6/1/2009 6:12:50 PM

yeah, definitely read it wrong.

6/1/2009 7:06:33 PM

I was construction engineering and then went to civil engineering. With civil you have more course selections and not so many courses that build off one another. Take CE 463 and you will find out if construction is right for you or not.

START TRYING TO GET AN INTERNSHIP OR CO-OP NOW!!!! This is the most important part of our field. I work for a major construction company as a project manager doing estimating. The experience that I have gained while working my internship has been more valuable than most of my course work that I have taken at NCSU. Don't let that discourage you because both are great degrees and both will get you where you want to be. If you want some more info just pm me.

6/7/2009 2:27:45 AM

I did Construction Engineering and I love what I do for a living. I would also advise going the double major route if you can, I personally didnt because I was in a rush to get out of school. Also as others have suggested MAKE SURE YOU DO INTERNSHIPS OR CO-OP. I didnt do either and I had a hell of a time finding a job when I graduated.

Good Luck!

Also dont rush yourself, Construction Market is shitty right now. I got laid off a month ago and have no idea when I will be going back to work.

6/12/2009 3:12:02 PM