About the Department

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State University is a welcoming and diverse community that provides excellence in education, innovative research, and impactful service to achieve the highest quality of life for all through sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems that protect and restore the natural and built environment. Established in 1881, CEE is internationally recognized for excellence in learning, discovery, and engagement, and for the preparation of our undergraduate and graduate students to meet the future challenges of society.

Currently our department is home to 37 faculty members, 16 staff members, more than 400 undergraduate students, and more than 130 graduate students. Approximately, 75 percent of our graduate students are pursuing doctoral degrees. The department offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses across the breadth of civil and environmental engineering, including in construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, building and infrastructure materials, structural engineering and mechanics, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. A list of courses can be found here.

Our faculty and graduate students lead cutting-edge research and discovery on a wide spectrum of topics related to sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems. Example research topics include but are not limited to climate change solutions, sustainable development, decarbonization, space construction, automated construction and 3D printing, water-energy-food nexus, renewable energy, water resources and desalination, safe and equitable transportation, autonomous and connected vehicles, and application of artificial intelligence in civil and environmental engineering.

Our programs are highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The undergraduate specialties in civil engineering and environmental engineering are ranked 13 and 15, respectively. The graduate programs in civil engineering and environmental engineering are ranked 17 and 21, respectively. CEE is home to outstanding faculty members including a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and 12 NSF CAREER Award recipients.