Expert: Cailler - 1/14/2007

Question
I'm a high school student interested in Civil Engineering, what should I be doing right now to be getting ready? What kind of math and science is involved with this career?

Answer
Hello Larry,

Before you decide to study civil engineering, you need to be very interested in science, i.e. math, geometry, physics, chemistry. To become a civil engineer graduate, you need to be ready to study geology/geotechnics, material properties, structural analysis, concrete technology, steel and wooden structures, foundations, underground structures, roads, hydraulics, dams, bridges, transport/energy systems and management.

Civil engineering is a very broad subject and to give you a better idea of what is awaiting you, you can read the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_engineering#Education_and_Licensure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_engineer

To check out some civil engineering courses, you can do this online at MIT University OpenCourseWare:
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Civil-and-Environmental-Engineering/index.htm

Hope this will help you to make up your decision.

Best regards