Scott Yost, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Civil Engineering
scott.yost@uky.eduCivil engineering emphasizes infrastructure—geotechnical, water resources, environmental, transportation, construction and structural engineering, as well as other related fields. Our program allows students to discover which area (or combination of areas) of civil engineering is right for them. We emphasize more than classroom learning. For example, the Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute and Environmental Research and Training Laboratories are housed within the Department of Civil Engineering, which also offers one of the nation’s few railroad engineering programs. Our graduates are properly equipped to meet the infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow.
Civil engineers design, construct, supervise, operate, and maintain large construction projects and systems, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Students interested in the broad field of civil engineering must have a solid foundation in physics, chemistry and mathematics as well as excellent communication skills. They must be effective members of teams and implement interdisciplinary solutions to technical and socioeconomic problems of an increasingly complex world. All of our students have both a professional and a faculty advisor to help them plan their academic program and career.
"I ended up getting a summer co-op with Messer Construction after my freshman year, which made me realize that I had made the right choice by choosing civil engineering for a major."
2017 Civil Engineering Graduate
The Pigman College of Engineering offers multiple pathways to undergraduate admission -- both as an incoming freshman or transfer student.
Admission requirements for incoming freshmen can be accessed here.
Admission requirements for transfer students can be accessed here.
Engineering Standing
All incoming freshmen and transfer students admitted to the Pigman College of Engineering have their major listed as "Pre-Aerospace Engineering", "Pre-Biomedical Engineering", etc. on their admission letter and in our academic system, myUK. Engineering Standing will be achieved, and the pre- designation will be dropped from the major name, once the student achieves a minimum cumulative GPA and a minimum GPA in select courses. You may view the select courses in the University Bulletin.
The smartest, most talented engineers around the world are devoting themselves to tackling immense global challenges. As a student in the UK Pigman College of Engineering, you get to join them!
In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering identified 14 “Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century”—opportunities to greatly increase humanity’s sustainability, health, security and joy of living. Themes include making solar energy economical, enhancing virtual reality, reverse-engineering the brain, securing cyberspace, providing access to clean water and more.
These ambitious goals demand engineers roll up their sleeves and get to work, which is why we put them front and center during your first year as an engineering student. We have designed the First-Year Engineering (FYE) program to inspire you. We want you to discover your passion. We want you to explore where you might make your unique contribution. We want you to get your hands dirty and make stuff that might, one day, lead to a breakthrough.
Why wait until you’re taking upper-level classes to figure out what interests you? Through real engineering classes taught by top faculty and exposure to engineering’s greatest challenges, the FYE program gets you into the game from day one.
The following curriculum meets the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, provided the student satisfies the graduation requirements of the Pigman College of Engineering.
2023-24 Curriculum 2022-23 Major Sheet 2022-23 Curriculum 2021-22 Curriculum 2020-21 Curriculum 2018-19 Curriculum 2017-18 Curriculum 2016-17 CurriculumIn addition to scholarships from the Office of Admission and the Pigman College of Engineering, current students in the Department of Civil Engineering may apply and compete each year for over 90 civil engineering scholarship awards. These scholarships range in value from $1,000 to $5,000 per year. Applications are due during the spring semester for the following academic year.
In addition, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) offers a Civil Engineering Scholarship Program for Kentucky residents. These scholarships require the recipient to accept employment with the KTC after graduation for one year for each year the scholarship is accepted. More details about the KTC scholarships can be reviewed here.
Student organizations are an outgrowth of student interest and serve the needs of a variety of students. Many provide programs that supplement the classroom experience and extend into areas of service for the community. All provide learning and leadership training for participating students. Student organizations that are typically of interest to civil engineering students include: American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers Without Borders, RailCats, Chi Epsilon, Institute for Transportation Engineers, Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Tau Beta Pi.
The civil engineering program offers numerous opportunities to obtain hands-on experience through summer internships and co-operative education programs with many companies throughout the U.S. These experiences often lead to full-time engineering professional positions upon graduation. For those interested in research, the program offers numerous undergraduate research opportunities in each of the specialized areas of civil engineering.
The Engineering Career and Co-op Center is a valuable resource for assisting you with developing job and co-op search skills; participating in education-abroad programs and participating in research endeavors and career network development so you can secure a rewarding career in your chosen field of study.
From the water in your faucets, to the roads and bridges that you use for transportation, to electric distribution systems that power your home, civil engineers help make modern life possible. What’s more, thanks to the development of technologies like clean water treatment plants, civil engineers help improve the quality of life around the world. Civil engineers are employed by the construction industry, engineering or architectural firms, utility companies, energy companies, telecommunications businesses, manufacturing companies, consulting firms, railroads and state and federal governmental agencies.
Civil engineers design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$88,050
per year in 2021
Number of Jobs
318,300
in 2021
10 Year Job Outlook
22,100
new jobs (average)
Civil engineers generally work in a variety of locations and conditions. It is common for them to split their time between working in an office and working outdoors at construction sites so that they can monitor operations or solve problems onsite. Most work full time.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read MoreEnvironmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$96,820
per year in 2021
Number of Jobs
44,000
in 2021
10 Year Job Outlook
1,800
new jobs (average)
Environmental engineers work in a variety of settings because of the nature of the tasks they do. When they are working with other engineers and urban and regional planners, environmental engineers are likely to be in offices. When they are carrying out solutions through construction projects, they are likely to be at construction sites.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Read More
Scott Yost, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Civil Engineering
scott.yost@uky.eduPigman College of Engineering
161 Raymond Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0281
(859) 257-4856
