Civil Engineering BSCIV

Major: Civil Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCIV)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 189.5
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.0801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2051

About the Program

The civil engineering major prepares students in the fundamental principles necessary to practice this profession in any of its branches, including construction management, water resources, structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical, and public facilities engineering.

Civil engineers are active in the planning, design, construction, research and development, operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of large engineering systems. A particular focus is the reconstruction of the nation’s infrastructure through solutions that minimize the disruption of social and natural environments.

Seven of the required courses in the discipline include integral laboratories or field projects for both educational illustration and professional practice exposure.

Careful selection of the electives specified in the curriculum can lead to a wide variety of career objectives. For instance, students with an interest in water resources engineering may elect advanced courses in hydrology, ecology, and chemistry; select senior professional electives in the geotechnical and water resources areas; and choose appropriate topics for senior design and senior seminar. With the approval of the department head, seniors can elect to take certain graduate courses.

All students participate in senior design, a special feature of the program. A group of students works with a faculty advisor to develop a significant design project selected by the group. Learn more

Mission Statement

The civil and architectural engineering faculty are responsible for delivering an outstanding curriculum that equips our graduates with the broad technical knowledge, design proficiency, professionalism, and communications skills required for them to make substantial contributions to society and to enjoy rewarding careers.

Program Educational Objectives

Civil engineering graduates will become responsible professionals who analyze, design, construct, manage or operate built and natural infrastructure and systems, and/or will have advanced knowledge of the field.

Student Outcomes

The department’s student outcomes reflect the skills and abilities that the curriculum is designed to provide to students by the time they graduate. These are:   

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of the engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Additional Information 

The Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

For more information about this major, contact the program head:
Ivan Bartoli, PhD
Professor
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
ib77@drexel.edu

You can also view webpage for the BS in Civil Engineering and the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering.

Degree Requirements

General Education/Liberal Studies Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV E101The Drexel Experience1.0
General Education Requirements *21.0
Free Electives6.0
Foundation Requirements
BIO 141Essential Biology4.5
Chemistry Requirements **3.5-7.5
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I
OR
General Chemistry I
CHEM 102General Chemistry II4.5
Engineering (ENGR) Requirements
ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Data Analysis3.0
ENGR 113First-Year Engineering Design3.0
ENGR 131Introductory Programming for Engineers3.0
or ENGR 132 Programming for Engineers
MATE 220Fundamentals of Materials4.0
or ENGR 220 Fundamentals of Materials
MEM 210Introduction to Thermodynamics3.0
or ENGR 210 Introduction to Thermodynamics
Mathematics Requirements ***4.0-10.0
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry
and Calculus I
OR
Calculus and Functions I
and Calculus and Functions II
OR
Calculus I
MATH 122Calculus II4.0
MATH 200Multivariate Calculus4.0
CAEE 231Linear Engineering Systems3.0
or ENGR 231 Linear Engineering Systems
CAEE 232Dynamic Engineering Systems3.0
or ENGR 232 Dynamic Engineering Systems
Physics Requirements ***4.0-8.0
Preparation for Engineering Studies
and Fundamentals of Physics I
OR
Fundamentals of Physics I
PHYS 102Fundamentals of Physics II4.0
PHYS 201Fundamentals of Physics III4.0
Major Requirements
CAE 491 [WI] Senior Design Project I3.0
CAE 492 [WI] Senior Design Project II3.0
CAE 493 [WI] Senior Design Project III3.0
CAEE 202Introduction to Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering3.0
CAEE 203System Balances and Design in CAEE3.0
CAEE 212Geologic Principles for Infrastructure & Environmental Engineering4.0
or GEO 101 Physical Geology
CAEE 361Statistical Analysis of Engineering Systems3.0
CIVE 240Engineering Economic Analysis3.0
CIVE 250Construction Materials4.0
CIVE 302Structural Analysis I4.0
CIVE 303Structural Design I3.0
CIVE 312Soil Mechanics I4.0
CIVE 315Soil Mechanics II4.0
CIVE 320Introduction to Fluid Flow3.0
CIVE 330Hydraulics4.0
CIVE 375Structural Material Behavior3.0
CIVE 430Hydrology3.0
CIVE 477 [WI] Seminar I2.0
CIVE 478 [WI] Seminar II1.0
ENVE 300Introduction to Environmental Engineering3.0
MEM 202Statics3.0
MEM 230Mechanics of Materials I4.0
MEM 238Dynamics4.0
Senior Professional Electives
Major Area of Focus 9.0
Other Areas of Focus ^9.0
Total Credits189.5-203.5
*

General Education Requirements.

**

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.

A sequence of three (3-credit) professional elective courses in a major area of focus is required. Pick a sequence from the list below:

^

An additional three (3-credit) professional elective courses are required. Acceptable courses are as follows:

1. All 400 level CAEE courses; this includes CIVE, AE, and ENVE.
2. All AE, CIVE, and ENVE graduate level (500+) courses (you will need an override for these courses).
3. CMGT 361CMGT 362CMGT 451CMGT 461CMGT 463, and CMGT 467. Only 3 CMGT courses are allowed to count as Professional Electives.
4. Special Topics courses offered by the CAEE department on a case-by-case basis.


Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study 

4 year, 1 co-op, Spring/Summer

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CHEM 1024.5BIO 1414.5VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0 
ENGR 1113.0ENGR 131 or 1323.0ENGR 1133.0 
MATH 121**4.0MATH 1224.0MATH 2004.0 
UNIV E1011.0PHYS 101**4.0PHYS 1024.0 
 14.5 16.5 18.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 2023.0CAEE 2033.0CAEE 212 or GEO 1014.0CIVE 2504.0
CAEE 231 or ENGR 2313.0CAEE 232 or ENGR 2323.0CIVE 3203.0CIVE 3304.0
ENGR 220 or MATE 2204.0CIVE 2403.0ENVE 3003.0COOP 1011.0
MEM 2023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0MEM 2304.0MEM 2384.0
PHYS 2014.0ENGR 210 or MEM 2103.0General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0
   Free elective3.0
 17 15 17 19
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 3613.0CIVE 3033.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CIVE 3024.0CIVE 3154.0  
CIVE 3124.0CIVE 3753.0  
CIVE 4303.0General Education elective3.0  
General Education elective3.0   
 17 13 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CAE 4913.0CAE 4923.0CAE 4933.0 
CIVE 4772.0CIVE 4781.0Professional elective6.0 
Professional elective6.0Professional elective6.0General Education elective3.0 
General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0 
 14 13 15 
Total Credits 189.5
*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

General Education Requirements.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

A sequence of three (3-credit) professional elective courses in a major area of focus is required. Pick a sequence from the list below:

An additional three (3-credit) professional elective courses are required. :Acceptable courses are as follows:

1. All 400 level CAEE courses; this includes CIVE, AE, and ENVE.
2. All AE, CIVE, and ENVE graduate level (500+) courses (you will need an override for these courses).
3. CMGT 361CMGT 362CMGT 451CMGT 461CMGT 463, and CMGT 467Only 3 CMGT courses are allowed to count as Professional Electives.
4. Special Topics courses offered by the CAEE department on a case-by-case basis.

4 year, 1 co-op, Fall/Winter

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CHEM 1024.5BIO 1414.5VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0 
ENGR 1113.0COOP 101***1.0ENGR 1133.0 
MATH 121**4.0ENGR 131 or 1323.0MATH 2004.0 
UNIV E1011.0MATH 1224.0PHYS 1024.0 
 PHYS 101**4.0  
 14.5 17.5 18.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 2023.0CAEE 2033.0CAEE 212 or GEO 1014.0CIVE 2504.0
CAEE 231 or ENGR 2313.0CAEE 232 or ENGR 2323.0CIVE 3203.0CIVE 3304.0
ENGR 220 or MATE 2204.0CIVE 2403.0ENVE 3003.0MEM 2384.0
MEM 2023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0MEM 2304.0General Education elective3.0
PHYS 2014.0ENGR 210 or MEM 2103.0General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0
 17 15 17 18
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCECAEE 3613.0CIVE 3033.0
  CIVE 3024.0CIVE 3154.0
  CIVE 3124.0CIVE 3753.0
  CIVE 4303.0General Education Elective3.0
  General Education Elective3.0 
 0 0 17 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CAE 4913.0CAE 4923.0CAE 4933.0 
CIVE 4772.0CIVE 4781.0Professional elective6.0 
Professional elective6.0Professional elective6.0General Education elective3.0 
General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0 
 14 13 15 
Total Credits 189.5
*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

General Education Requirements.

A sequence of three (3-credit) professional elective courses in a major area of focus is required. Pick a sequence from the list below:

An additional three (3-credit) professional elective courses are required. :Acceptable courses are as follows:

1. All 400 level CAEE courses; this includes CIVE, AE, and ENVE.
2. All AE, CIVE, and ENVE graduate level (500+) courses (you will need an override for these courses).
3. CMGT 361CMGT 362CMGT 451CMGT 461CMGT 463, and CMGT 467Only 3 CMGT courses are allowed to count as Professional Electives.
4. Special Topics courses offered by the CAEE department on a case-by-case basis.

5 year, 3 co-op, Spring/Summer

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CHEM 1024.5BIO 1414.5VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 101***1.0 
ENGR 1113.0ENGR 131 or 1323.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0 
MATH 121**4.0MATH 1224.0ENGR 1133.0 
UNIV E1011.0PHYS 101**4.0MATH 2004.0 
  PHYS 1024.0 
 14.5 16.5 19.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 2023.0CAEE 2033.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CAEE 231 or ENGR 2313.0CAEE 232 or ENGR 2323.0  
ENGR 220 or MATE 2204.0CIVE 2403.0  
MEM 2023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0  
PHYS 2014.0ENGR 210 or MEM 2103.0  
 17 15 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 212 or GEO 1014.0CIVE 2504.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CIVE 3203.0CIVE 3304.0  
ENVE 3003.0MEM 2384.0  
MEM 2304.0General Education elective3.0  
General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0  
 17 18 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CAEE 3613.0CIVE 3033.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
CIVE 3024.0CIVE 3154.0  
CIVE 3124.0CIVE 3753.0  
CIVE 4303.0General Education elective3.0  
General Education elective3.0   
 17 13 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CAE 4913.0CAE 4923.0CAE 4933.0 
CIVE 4772.0CIVE 4781.0Professional elective6.0 
Professional elective6.0Professional elective6.0General Education elective3.0 
General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0 
 14 13 15 
Total Credits 189.5
*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

General Education Requirements.

A sequence of three (3-credit) professional elective courses in a major area of focus is required. Pick a sequence from the list below:

An additional three (3-credit) professional elective courses are required. :Acceptable courses are as follows:

1. All 400 level CAEE courses; this includes CIVE, AE, and ENVE.
2. All AE, CIVE, and ENVE graduate level (500+) courses (you will need an override for these courses).
3. CMGT 361CMGT 362CMGT 451CMGT 461CMGT 463, and CMGT 467Only 3 CMGT courses are allowed to count as Professional Electives.
4. Special Topics courses offered by the CAEE department on a case-by-case basis.

 5 year, 3 co-op, Fall/Winter

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CHEM 101*3.5CHEM 1024.5BIO 1414.5VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0 
ENGR 1113.0COOP 101***1.0ENGR 1133.0 
MATH 121**4.0ENGR 131 or 1323.0MATH 2004.0 
UNIV E1011.0MATH 1224.0PHYS 1024.0 
 PHYS 101**4.0  
 14.5 17.5 18.5 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCECAEE 2023.0CAEE 2033.0
  CAEE 231 or ENGR 2313.0CAEE 232 or ENGR 2323.0
  MATE 220 or ENGR 2204.0CIVE 2403.0
  MEM 2023.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0
  PHYS 2014.0MEM 210 or ENGR 2103.0
 0 0 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCECAEE 212 or GEO 1014.0CIVE 2504.0
  CIVE 3203.0CIVE 3304.0
  ENVE 3003.0MEM 2384.0
  MEM 2304.0General Education Elective3.0
  General Education3.0Free Elective3.0
 0 0 17 18
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCECAEE 3613.0CIVE 3033.0
  CIVE 3024.0CIVE 3154.0
  CIVE 3124.0CIVE 3753.0
  CIVE 4303.0General Education Elective3.0
  General Education Elective3.0 
 0 0 17 13
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CAE 4913.0CAE 4923.0CAE 4933.0 
CIVE 4772.0CIVE 4781.0Professional elective6.0 
Professional elective6.0Professional elective6.0General Education elective3.0 
General Education elective3.0General Education elective3.0Free elective3.0 
 14 13 15 
Total Credits 189.5
*

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

***

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

General Education Requirements.

A sequence of three (3-credit) professional elective courses in a major area of focus is required. Pick a sequence from the list below:

An additional three (3-credit) professional elective courses are required. :Acceptable courses are as follows:

1. All 400 level CAEE courses; this includes CIVE, AE, and ENVE.
2. All AE, CIVE, and ENVE graduate level (500+) courses (you will need an override for these courses).
3. CMGT 361CMGT 362CMGT 451CMGT 461CMGT 463, and CMGT 467Only 3 CMGT courses are allowed to count as Professional Electives.
4. Special Topics courses offered by the CAEE department on a case-by-case basis.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

When students complete their co-op jobs, they are asked to write an overview of their experiences. These brief quotes are taken from some recent student reports:

Engineering construction inspector, state department of transportation: Supervised daily activities involved in the roadway construction of the [interstate] bypass. Recorded daily visual inspection reports for soil sub-base and materials placed on site. Aided senior roadway engineers in approving grade prior to asphalt placement. Used various instruments to check temperature and depths for asphalt placement. Took part in on-site discussions with contractor to clear up any daily construction problems that would hinder quality of construction. ”

Construction inspector, municipal department of public property: “Inspected work performed by private contractors on city public works construction and rehabilitation projects for adherence to contract plans and specifications. Projects included health centers, police and fire stations, libraries, city hall, transit concourses, and prisons. Responsible for daily inspection reports and overall coordination for each respective project. Also responsible for reviewing bills and writing contract modifications and amendments...the variety of work was excellent. ”

Environmental co-op, chemicals manufacturer: “Compiled data and wrote monthly regulatory reports, in charge of hazardous waste management and small projects as needed...I had my own responsibilities that had an impact on the entire company. Employer was really interested in my opinion and gave me a chance to demonstrate my abilities, but also knew when to step in. Everybody was willing to answer any questions I may have had."

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Facilities

The Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department laboratories provide students with fully equipped space for education and research opportunities. 

Structural and Geotechnical Research Laboratory Facilities and Equipment

The geotechnical and structural engineering research labs at Drexel University provide a forum to perform large-scale experimentation across a broad range of areas including infrastructure preservation and renewal, structural health monitoring, geosynthetics, nondestructive evaluation, earthquake engineering, and novel ground modification approaches among others.

The laboratory is equipped with different data acquisition systems (MTS, Campbell Scientific, and National Instruments) capable of recording strain, displacement, tilt, load and acceleration time histories. An array of sensors including LVDTs, wire potentiometers, linear and rotational accelerometers, and load cells are also available. Structural testing capabilities include two 220kips capacity loading frames (MTS 311 and Tinius Olsen), in addition to several medium capacity testing frames (Instron 1331 and 567 and MTS 370 testing frames), two 5-kips MTS actuators for dynamic testing and one degree of freedom 22kips ANCO shake table. The laboratory also features a phenomenological physical model which resembles the dynamic features of common highway bridges and is used for field testing preparation and for testing different measurement devices.  

The Woodring Laboratory hosts a wide variety of geotechnical, geosynthetics, and materials engineering testing equipment. The geotechnical engineering testing equipment includes Geotac unconfined compression and a triaxial compression testing device, ring shear apparatus, constant rate of strain consolidometer, an automated incremental consolidometer, an automated Geotac direct shear device and a large-scale consolidometer (12” by 12” sample size). Other equipment includes a Fisher pH and conductivity meter as well as a Brookfield rotating viscometer. Electronic and digital equipment include FLIR SC 325 infrared camera for thermal measurements, NI Function generators, acoustic emission sensors and ultrasonic transducers, signal conditioners, and impulse hammers for nondestructive testing.

The geosynthetics testing equipment in the Woodring lab includes pressure cells for incubation and a new differential scanning calorimetry device including the standard-OIT. Materials testing equipment that is available through the materials and chemical engineering departments includes a scanning electron microscope, liquid chromatography, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

The Building Science and Engineering Group (BSEG) research space is also located in the Woodring Laboratory. This is a collaborative research unit working at Drexel University with the objective of achieving more comprehensive and innovative approaches to sustainable building design and operation through the promotion of greater collaboration between diverse sets of research expertise. Much of the BSEG work is simulation or model based.  Researchers in this lab also share some instrumentation with the DARRL lab (see below). 

Environmental Engineering Laboratory Facilities and Equipment

The environmental engineering laboratories at Drexel University allow faculty and student researchers access to state-of-the-art equipment needed to execute a variety of experiments. These facilities are located in the Alumni Engineering Laboratory Building and includes approximately 2000 SF shared laboratory space, and a 400 SF clean room for cell culture and PCR.

The major equipment used in this laboratory space consists of: Roche Applied Science LightCyclerÔ 480 Real-time PCR System, Leica fluorescence microscope with phase contrast and video camera, Spectrophotometer, Zeiss stereo microscope with heavy duty boom stand, fluorescence capability, and a SPOT cooled color camera, BIORAD iCycler thermocycler for PCR, gel readers, transilluminator and electrophoresis setups, temperature controlled circulator with immersion stirrers suitable for inactivation studies at volumes up to 2 L per reactor, BSL level 2 fume hood, laminar hood, soil sampling equipment, Percival Scientific environmental chamber (model 1-35LLVL), custom-built rainfall simulator.

The Drexel Air Resources Research Laboratory (DARRL) is located in the Alumni Engineering Laboratory Building and contains state-of-the-art aerosol measurement instrumentation including a Soot Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (Aerodyne Research Inc.), mini-Aerosol Mass Spectrometer, (Aerodyne Research Inc.), Scanning Electrical Mobility Sizer (Brechtel Manufacturing), Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (TSI Inc.), Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (TSI Inc.), Centrifugal Particle Mass Analyzer (Cambustion Ltd.), GC-FID, ozone monitors, and other instrumentation. These instruments are used for the detailed characterization of the properties of particles less than 1 micrometer in diameter including: chemical composition, size, density, and shape or morphology. 

In addition to the analytical instrumentation in DARRL, the laboratory houses several reaction chambers. These chambers are used for controlled experiments meant to simulate chemical reactions that occur in the indoor and outdoor environments. The reaction chambers vary in size from 15 L to 1 m3, and allow for a range of experimental conditions to be conducted in the laboratory.

Computer Equipment and Software

The Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) Department at Drexel University has hardware and software capabilities for students to conduct research. The CAEE department operates a computer lab that is divided into two sections; one open access room, and a section dedicated to teaching. The current computer lab has 25 desktop computers that are recently updated to handle resource intensive GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and image processing software. There are a sufficient number of B&W and color laser printers that can be utilized for basic printing purposes.

Drexel University has site-licenses for a number of software, such as ESRITM ArcGIS 10, Visual Studio, SAP 2000, STAAD, Abaqus and MathworksTM Matlab. The Information Resources & Technology (IRT) department at Drexel University provides support (e.g., installation, maintenance and troubleshooting) to the above-mentioned software. It is currently supporting the lab by hosting a software image configuration that provides a series of commonly used software packages, such as MS Office and ADOBE Acrobat among others. As a part of ESRI campus license (the primary maker of GIS applications, i.e. ArcGIS) the department has access to a suite of seated licenses for GIS software with necessary extensions (e.g., LIDAR Analyst) required for conducting research.  

Program Level Outcomes

  • Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  • Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty

Abieyuwa Aghayere, PhD (University of Alberta). Professor. Structural design - concrete, steel and wood; structural failure analysis; retrofitting of existing structures; new structural systems and materials; engineering education.
Ivan Bartoli, PhD (University of California, San Diego) Program Head for Civil Engineering. Professor. Non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring; dynamic identification, stress wave propagation modeling.
Shannon Capps, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology). Associate Professor. Atmospheric chemistry; data assimilation; advanced sensitivity analysis; inverse modeling.
Zhiwei Chen, PhD (University of South Florida). Assistant Professor. Mobility system modeling, simulation, optimization, control, and social impact analysis, with applications to modular, connected, and automated vehicle systems, mobility as a service, public transit systems.
S.C. Jonathan Cheng, PhD (West Virginia University). Associate Professor. Soil mechanics; geosynthetics; geotechnical engineering; probabilistic design; landfill containments; engineering education.
Arvin Ebrahimkhanlou, PhD (University of Texas at Austin). Assistant Professor. Non-destructive evaluation, structural health monitoring, artificial intelligence, robotics.
Yaghoob (Amir) Farnam, PhD (Purdue University). Associate Professor. Advanced and sustainable infrastructure materials; multifunctional, self-responsive and bioinspired construction materials; advanced multiscale manufacturing; characterization, and evaluation of construction materials; durability of cement-based materials.
Patricia Gallagher, PhD (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Professor. Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering; soil improvement; soil improvement; recycled materials in geotechnics.
Patrick Gurian, PhD (Carnegie-Mellon University). Professor. Risk analysis of environmental and infrastructure systems; novel adsorbent materials; environmental standard setting; Bayesian statistical modeling; community outreach and environmental health.
Charles N. Haas, PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) Program Head for Environmental Engineering; L. D. Betz Professor of Environmental Engineering. Water treatment and wastewater resuse; risk analysis; microbial risk assessment; environmental modeling and statistics; microbiology; environmental health.
Simi Hoque, PhD (University of California - Berkeley) Program Head for Architectural Engineering. Professor. Computational methods to reduce building energy and environmental impacts, urban metabolism, thermal comfort, climate resilience.
Y. Grace Hsuan, PhD (Imperial College). Professor. Durability of polymeric construction materials; advanced construction materials; and performance of geosynthetics.
Joseph B. Hughes, PhD (University of Iowa). Distinguished University Professor. Biological processes and applications of nanotechnology in environmental systems.
L. James Lo, PhD (University of Texas at Austin). Associate Professor. Architectural fluid mechanics; building automation and autonomy; implementation of natural and hybrid ventilation in buildings; airflow distribution in buildings; large-scale air movement in an urban built environment; building and urban informatics; data-enhanced sensing and control for optimal building operation and management; novel data gathering methods for building/urban problem solving; interdisciplinary research on occupant behaviors in the built environment.
Franco Montalto, PhD (Cornell University). Professor. Water in the built environment; planning, design, and restoration of natural and nature-based systems, including green stormwater infrastructure; urban ecohydrology; hydrologic and hydraulic modeling; urban flooding; urban sustainability; and climate change and climate resilience.
Mira S. Olson, PhD (University of Virginia). Associate Professor. Peace engineering; source water quality protection and management; contaminant and bacterial fate and transport; community engagement.
Miguel A. Pando, PhD (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Associate Professor. Slope stability and landslides; natural hazards; geotechnical earthquake engineering and liquefaction; laboratory and field measurement of soil and rock properties; soil erosion and scour; soil-structure-interaction; earth-based construction materials.
Matthew Reichenbach, PhD (University of Austin at Texas). Assistant Teaching Professor. Design and behavior of steel structures, bridge engineering, structural stability
Fernanda Cruz Rios, PhD (Arizona State University). Assistant Professor. Circular economy, life cycle assessment, convergence research, sustainable buildings and cities.
Michael Ryan, PhD (Drexel University) Associate Department Head of Graduate Studies. Associate Teaching Professor. Microbial Source Tracking (MST); Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA); dynamic engineering systems modeling; molecular microbial biology; phylogenetics; metagenomics; bioinformatics; environmental statistics; engineering economics; microbiology; potable and wastewater quality; environmental management systems.
Christopher Sales, PhD (University of California, Berkeley). Associate Professor. Environmental microbiology and biotechnology; biodegradation of environmental contaminants; microbial processes for energy and resource recovery from waste; application of molecular biology, analytical chemistry and bioinformatic techniques to study environmental biological systems.
Robert Swan, PhD (Drexel University) Associate Department Head for Undergraduates. Teaching Professor. Geotechnical and geosynthetic engineering; soil/geosynthetic interaction and performance; laboratory and field geotechnical/geosynthetic testing.
Sharon Walker, PhD (Yale University) Dean, College of Engineering. Distinguished Professor. Water quality systems engineering; fate and transport of nanomaterials; pathogen adhesion phenomena.
Michael Waring, PhD (University of Texas at Austin) Department Head, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering. Professor. Indoor air quality, indoor aerosols, indoor air modeling, indoor chemistry, healthy buildings, and building sustainability intelligent ventilation, air cleaning, indoor disease transmission.
Jin Wen, PhD (University of Iowa) Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, College of Engineering. Professor. Architectural engineering; Building Energy Efficiency; Intelligent Building; Building-grid integration; Occupant Centric Control; and Indoor Air Quality.

Emeritus Faculty

A. Emin Aktan, PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). Professor Emeritus. Health monitoring and management of large infrastructures with emphasis on health monitoring.
Eugenia Ellis, PhD, AIA (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). Professor Emerita. Natural and electrical light sources and effects on biological rhythms and health outcomes; ecological strategies for smart, sustainable buildings of the nexus of health, energy, and technology.
Ahmad Hamid, PhD (McMaster University). Professor Emeritus. Engineered masonry; seismic behavior, design and retrofit of masonry structures; development of new materials and building systems.
Harry G. Harris, PhD (Cornell University). Professor Emeritus. Structural models; dynamics of structures, plates and shells; industrialized building construction.
Joseph P. Martin, PhD (Colorado State University). Professor Emeritus. Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering; hydrology; transportation; waste management.
James E. Mitchell, MArch (University of Pennsylvania). Professor Emeritus. Architectural engineering design; building systems; engineering education.
Aspasia Zerva, PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). Professor. Earthquake engineering; mechanics; seismology; structural reliability; system identification; advanced computational methods in structural analysis.