Your degree in Civil Engineering

Skills you’ll develop

While studying Civil Engineering, you’re learning to solve real-world challenges, support sustainable communities, and build complex infrastructures like transportation networks and clean water systems. Through hands-on courses and lab work in areas like structural design, transportation engineering, construction management, building materials, and coastal and environmental systems, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to help shape the world around us.

These skills may include:

• Analysis, design, and assessment of built structures and their foundations, including buildings, roads, bridges, and dams
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams to plan, design, and construct municipal infrastructure for long-term growth and resilience, including transportation, water, and other utility systems
• Development of construction plans and schedules that meet building codes and regulations as well as efficiency and sustainability objectives
• Feasibility testing, capacity assessment, and environmental impact studies to determine project requirements and identify potential technical risks and public safety issues
• Technical skills to perform air, water, and soil quality audits, analyze topographic, soil and hydrological field data, and carry out geotechnical investigations relating to slope stability, liquefaction, settlement, and seepage
• Proficiency in industry-relevant tools and software, including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, S-Frame, EPANET, HEC-RAS, MATLAB, Python, and GIS, for design, analysis, modeling, and sustainable infrastructure planning

Explore career possibilities

Civil Engineering opens the door to a wide range of exciting and impactful careers. Whether you’re interested in designing smarter cities, improving transportation systems, protecting the environment, or building sustainable infrastructure, there’s a path for you. Civil engineers work in fields like construction and project management, urban and transportation planning, water resources, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, environmental restoration, and more.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas.

Visit the Job Bank Canada website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field. Some career options may require further education or training.

Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and clarify your values and interests.

• UBC Civil Engineering Clubs and Chapters
  Check out networking events and professional development opportunities organized by the Civil Club, ITE, CSCE, and ASCE.
• UBC Civil Design Teams
  Apply your civil engineering skills to real-world projects, collaborate with peers, and gain hands-on experience through the UBC Civil Design Team.
• Common Energy UBC
  Join a community of students dedicated to making real positive impacts at UBC to achieve a sustainable future.
• Departmental research opportunities
  Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• UBC Engineering Co-op
  Gain work experience in civil engineering between study terms.
• UBC Sustainability research opportunities
  Participate in research and project-based roles to advance sustainability at UBC and in the region.
• AMS Sustainability
  Access resources and funding of up to $15,000 to support your sustainability-related initiative or project.
• Engineering job board
  Check out engineering employment opportunities.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC
• Architectural Institute of BC
• Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada
• BC Construction Association
• BC Environment Industry Association
• BC Land Surveyors
• Canada Green Building Council
• Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology
• Canadian Dam Association
• Canadian Institute of Geomatics
• Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
• Canadian Institute of Transportation Engineers
• Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
• Canadian Land Reclamation Association
• Canadian Society for Civil Engineering
• Canadian Society for Professional Engineers
• Canadian Water Resources Association
• Engineering Institute of Canada
• Engineers & Geoscientists BC
• Engineers Canada
• Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
• Institute of Transportation Engineers
• Planning Institute of BC
• Structural Engineers Association of BC
• Technology Registrations Canada
• Tunnelling Association of Canada, BC Chapter
• Urban Development Institute
• Vancouver Geotechnical Society
• Vancouver Regional Construction Association

Connect with alumni

Find UBC Civil Engineering graduates on LinkedIn to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

As you read, take note of interesting job titles, organizations, and experiences you may want to explore. If a particular story or profile aligns with your goals, consider reaching out for an informational interview.

More information

From your Applied Science degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Engineering degree.