About the Department
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State University, established in 1881, 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 includes 33 faculty members, 17 staff members, more than 400 juniors and seniors enrolled in the undergraduate program, and more than 100 students enrolled in the graduate programs. Approximately one-half of our graduate students are pursuing Ph.D. degrees. Our faculty members offer a wide variety of courses across the breadth of civil and environmental engineering, including construction, environmental, geotechnical, materials, structures, surveying, transportation, and water resources engineering.
All of our programs are highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The graduate program in civil engineering is ranked No. 20, and the graduate program in environmental engineering is ranked No. 22. Additionally, our civil engineering program is currently ranked No. 23 by the National Science Foundation for total research expenditures in science and engineering.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is to deliver an outstanding education to our students, conduct high-impact research on needed topics for society, engage in meaningful outreach and technology transfer, and provide leadership and service to the civil engineering profession and the public.
Priority Focus Areas
Current focus areas for improvement within the department are:
- Goal 1: Enhance and upgrade the undergraduate civil engineering curriculum.
- Goal 2: Develop closer connections with the Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute.
- Goal 3: Hire four outstanding faculty members during the current academic year.
- Goal 4: Improve department communications through our website, news releases, and annual report.
- Goal 5: Engage with alumni and friends on philanthropy to the department.
