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Undergraduate

Civil Engineering

Ready to tackle real-world issues, help solve problems in your community and examine what it means to be an ethical engineer in the 21st century? Civil engineering may be the right major for you.

Why Âé¶¹ÉäÇø?

Saint Martin’s is dedicated to developing well-rounded citizens who are ready to care for their communities and the environment. Our civil engineering program will prepare you with the education necessary to be successful in the fields of industry, government and academia. Because of Saint Martin's liberal arts foundation, the BSCE program is designed to meet the needs of this growing industry and equip students with practical skills that are utilized and valued in the job market.

Civil engineering program highlights

  • Accredited by the .
  • The civil engineering program at Saint Martin's is the third oldest ABET-accredited institution within the state of Washington; only the University of Washington and Washington State University have older established programs in the state.
  • State-of-the-art industrial building considered most environmentally friendly and energy efficient with LEED Platinum Certification in the Western Hemisphere.
  • Facility includes labs for fluids, soils and materials testing, and environmental engineering.
  • 4+1 dual degree program: qualified students earn bachelor's and master's in five years.
  • Connection with local engineers and alumni through advising board for education and internships.
  • In Thurston county alone, 12 private civil engineering consulting firms were founded by Saint Martin's alumni.
  • Many alumni serve as leaders in public service organizations such as city and county public works departments, as well as state departments.
  • The Olympia-Tumwater, WA metropolitan area, where Saint Martin's is located, is the fifth highest ranked metropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for civil engineers in the United State. ()

Internships

Proximity to the Washington state capital allows for access to quality internships opportunities, and STEM internships and career fairs offered each semester. Students have had internships or gone on to work with:

  • State and federal government agencies, such as the Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Local consulting and engineering firms (e.g. Parametrix, SCJ Alliance, Skillings Inc., JSA Civil, KPFF, MC-Squared Inc., and other firms)

 

Civil Engineering Requirements

Details on courses, including university core requirements, can be found in the academic catalog.

  • University core requirements
  • 32 credit hours of math and science requirements
  • 16 credit hours of general engineering courses
  • 47-48 credit hours of civil engineering courses

Civil Engineering at a Glance

Degree
Bachelor of Science
Program Type
4+1 Accelerated
Major
Campus
Main (Lacey)
Type of Instruction
In Person
School
Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering
Resources
Civil Engineering Mission & Outcomes
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4+1 program

Qualified students earn bachelor's and MSCE, MSME, MEM or MSCS in five years. Undergraduate students in civil engineering can start their master’s degree in either civil engineering or engineering management. Undergraduate students in mechanical engineering can start their master’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Academic Excellence

Engineering College of Distinction 2025-26 badge

Engineering College of Distinction

Saint Martin's was named an Engineering College of Distinction for 2025-26.

"Bring concepts to life"

Civil engineering senior produces award-winning video

"In our classes and our labs we’re taught to communicate our ideas every day: through our calculations, through our graphs, through diagrams and through our words."

Cleo Pineda '18
Civil engineering

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Interested in transferring to Saint Martin's?

Contact our transfer admissions counselor today at acarranza@stmartin.edu. Scholarships are available.

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Transformative Outcomes

Saints Stories

Saints Spotlight: Women in Engineering
The women in this story continue to elevate the representation of women in STEM. Representation is important not only for those being represented but for members of systems that are becoming more inclusive. Saint Martin’s is so proud to have played even a small role in the lives of these incredible ladies.
Read story
Dr. Jill Walsh
Civil Engineering Professor
Read story
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Dr. Jill Walsh
Civil Engineering Professor
Unsinkable Saints
“They may not remember a lot of the assignments they did in class, but 20 years from now, they’ll remember the concrete canoe competition and the other students they worked with.â€
Read story
John Sladek
Retired Professor of Engineering
Read story
Unsinkable Saints
John Sladek
Retired Professor of Engineering

Career paths

On average, 88% of BSCE graduates from cohorts 2020 to 2025 either gained employment in civil engineering and/or construction engineering or attended graduate school within five years of graduating from Saint Martin's (based on First Destination Surveys and LinkedIn Profile Reviews from graduating classes between 2020 and 2025).

 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Civil Engineering has a faster than average job lookout (2024-2034).

  • Structural engineer
  • Geotechnical engineer
  • Transportation engineer
  • Public works director
  • Construction engineer
  • Project manager
  • Water resources engineer
  • Environmental engineer
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Supportive Community

Faculty

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Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering

Housed under the College of Business, Engineering and Technology, The Hal and Inge Marcus School of Engineering seeks to provide our graduates with an education that will prepare them for successful careers in engineering practice and serve as preparation for advanced graduate studies, all while keeping with our Benedictine tradition as the guiding principle.

Next Steps

Explore a Related Undergraduate Program

Explore a Related Civil Engineering Program

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