1. CIVIL ENGINEERING We BUILD Our World
Engineering Honors

2. Who are Civil Engineers?
Engineers who design and build infrastructure and constructed facilities
Buildings
Roads
Water systems
Harbors/Ports
Bridges
Dams
Offshore platforms
Environmental protection

3. Example: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX World’s largest domed stadium
Source: RedWingAerials.com

4. Structural Engineering
A structural engineer’s view of the roof… .
Source: American Society of Civil Engineers
Zachry Department of
CIVIL ENGINEERING

5. Construction Engineering and Management
Building the world’s largest single-span roof structure
Source: American Society of Civil Engineers

6. Example: Southwest Freeway (US 59), Houston, TX Water Resources Engineering
Normal conditions
Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001
Source: Spiceware.org
Source: Houston Chronicle

7. Example: Supply Water to DFW Metroplex Water Resources Engineering
Region C Water Planning Group

8. Example: “Freedom Tower”, NYC Geotechnical Engineering
A 1776 ft tall building supported by a 70 ft deep foundation
Source: WABC-TV
Source: skyscrapercenter.com

9. Example: “Aggie Highway” (aka SH249 Extension) Transportation Engineering
Source: TxDOT

10. Example: East Fork Wetland Project, Dallas, TX Environmental Engineering
Constructed wetlands to recycle North Texas wastewater
Source: John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

11. Example: Porous Pavements Increase Safety Materials Engineering
Permeable friction course paving
>50% decreases in:
All accidents
Wet weather accidents
Injuries
Accident fatalities
Conventional asphalt
Source: Texas A&M Transportation Institute

12. Photo: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, som.com
Example: Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE Construction Engineering & Project Management
– World’s Tallest Structure, (2,722 ft, $1.5B)
Contractor – Samsung Engr & Construction (South Korea), Besix (Belgium), and Arabtec (UAE)
Project Manager – Turner Construction (USA)
Construction Supervisor – Al Ghurair (UAE)
Independent Verification and Testing – GHD Group (Australia)
Supervising Engineer – Hyder Consulting (UK)
Photo: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, som.com

13. What’s different about Civil Engineering?
Projects are one-of-a-kind
Many projects are for public clients
As much or more work with people as with technology (CEM=Construction Engineering and MANAGEMENT)

14. CVEN Job Market – Will I get hired?
Data courtesy TAMU Career Center

15. CVEN Job Market – Will I be poor?
A&M Career Center Starting Salary Survey
May 2015: Avg $59,263 and Max $92,112
National industry average: $87,130
Texas state average: $100,330
Houston regional average: $112,480 (#1 in US)
A&M BS-CVEN Avg Starting Salary
Inflation 5/2011 to 5/2015

16. Building our world Turning dreams into reality Come join us
Civil Engineering
Building our world Turning dreams into reality Come join us

17. Honors Program Coordinator
For more information:
Dr. David Ford
Honors Program Coordinator
(979)

18. Long Tan hydropower plant in Tian, China

19. Entry-to-a-Major for CVEN
CVEN uses “holistic review”
50% Quantitative and 50% Qualitative
Grades are obviously important, but…
Other factors matter a great deal
Engagement with ASCE and student organizations
Early interest shown in the major and profession
Good understanding of the profession and your long-term goals

20. Some ETAM Advice… There is no “broad” major Write good essays
Do your homework
Identify good options
Think about your goals, not what your major should be
Write good essays
Ignore what your HS English teachers taught you, and just answer the questions
Write about your future, not just your past
Be honest