Civil Engineering: What Do You Really Study?
Buildings, transportation and infrastructure - to plan the built environment so that it is safe, efficient and durable.
What Do You Study in Civil Engineering? Core Subjects, Year by Year
What do the degree courses cover?
Open a course to learn about its main topics and see what the work looks like in practice.
What do you learn in the course?Hadova for civil engineering?
Learn to describe change and accumulation using derivatives, integrals and differential equations. The tools are used to calculate loads, subsidence, flow, movement and processes that change in time and space.
Main topics
- Limits and derivatives
- integrals
- functions in several variables
- Differential equations
What does it look like in practice?
For example, integrating a distributed load on a beam to find the total force and its location.
What do you learn in the course?Linear algebra for civil engineering?
Learn to work with vectors, matrices and systems of equations that represent forces, copies and networks. They also deal with self-values, which are important for the stability and fluctuations of buildings.
Main topics
- Vectors and matrices
- systems of equations
- Copies and coordinates
- Eigenvalues and decompositions
What does it look like in practice?
For example, a large set of equilibrium equations is solved to calculate displacements and forces in the skeleton.
What do you learn in the course?Physics for civil engineering?
The course builds a foundation in forces, movement, energy, vibrations and heat. You learn to turn an actual situation into a model and check the result using units and orders of magnitude, in preparation for mechanics and building materials.
Main topics
- forces and motion
- Work, energy and momentum
- rotation and balance
- Oscillations, waves and heat
What does it look like in practice?
For example, calculate the forces acting on a load lifted by a crane and the effect of acceleration and wind.
What do you learn in the course?Engineering drawing?
Learn to read and produce documents that define shape, dimensions and location for execution. Plans, sections, details, coordinates and marking standards are practiced in manual work and in CAD or BIM.
Main topics
- Throws, plans and cuts
- Dimensions, levels and markings
- Details and drawing standards
- Basic CAD and BIM
What does it look like in practice?
For example, a plan and section of a structural component is produced so that a contractor can understand dimensions, heights and connections without guesswork.
What do you learn in the course?Statics and strength of materials?
Learn to calculate reaction forces and efforts in bodies and structures and check how a component deforms or fails. dealing with stretching, shearing, bending, twisting and collapse.
Main topics
- Equilibrium and free body diagrams
- effort and transition
- Bending and shearing
- Deformation, torsion and collapse
What does it look like in practice?
For example, torque and bending efforts are calculated in the beam and check if a given section meets the strength and settlement requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Civil Engineering
Is a degree in Civil Engineering difficult?
There is no single answer — difficulty depends on your background, the institution, and your chosen study pace. According to this site's estimate, The degree is highly quantitative — mathematics and formal reasoning appear in nearly every course, and this is the part most students describe as challenging, and a large share of the reading material is in English. A good way to assess fit is to review the course map on this page: if most of the subjects interest you, the effort will usually feel worthwhile.
How long does a degree in Civil Engineering take?
Usually 4 years (Engineering degree with laboratories, design and final project). Exact duration varies by institution and depends on course load and the track you choose.
Civil Engineering or Chemical Engineering — which is right for me?
The degrees most closely related to Civil Engineering are Chemical Engineering, Architecture, and Mechanical Engineering. Their differences are usually in emphasis rather than the overall subject, so the fastest way to decide is to compare their course maps — what you actually study in each program, year by year. You can also open the degree comparison tool to view the differences side by side.
What does a civil engineer do?
Plans and executes buildings and infrastructure: bridges, roads, towers, water and drainage. Specializations include structural design, on-site construction management, transportation and geotechnics.
Is there demand for civil engineers?
High and stable: the construction boom, the metro project and national infrastructure plans create a persistent shortage. The field is less exposed to high-tech cycles — and pay climbs accordingly.
What does it take to sign off on plans?
After the degree you register as an engineer, and after three years' experience you can obtain the license that allows signing structural plans — a step that significantly raises pay and responsibility.
Where can you study this?
Civil engineering is taught at the Technion, Ben-Gurion and Ariel and at engineering colleges such as SCE and Braude.