Know the course: Civil Engineering

Civil engineering has its roots since the old times that date back centuries. The discipline is instrumental in developing country’s infrastructure as it deals with design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment that improves and increases mobility and convenience for its society.

The thing about Civil Engineering: faculty views

Mariam Shaikh - Assistant Vice President at Amity University Dubai Campus says the number of universities in the world that include civil engineering as a discipline have increased tremendously during the 19th and the 20th centuries, indicating the importance of this technology.

Dr. Elias Saqan, Associate Professor and Chair of the Civil Engineering Department at the American University in Dubai (AUD) says in terms of formal university education, civil engineering was introduced in France about 300 years ago, when the term civil engineering was coined to differentiate such discipline from what was then known as military engineering.

“The traditional side of civil engineering education still focuses on structures, building foundations, waterways, and transportation. In the past 50 years or so, there has been a growing trend to branch into other areas of critical importance to society. For example, environmental engineering has taken front stage in the late 20th century. This was driven by the urgent need to clean up ground and water pollution resulting from centuries of heavy industrialization. Construction management, transportation logistics, sustainable development, infrastructure management, and disaster recovery have also become important components of today’s civil engineering education,” adds Saqan.

Civil Engineering needs in the UAE: in public and private sectors

This discipline is of vital importance since the UAE is developing as a fastest growing country in the world. Shaikh says construction sector in the UAE has marked its potential globally as an ideal example showing the transformation of the city turning to an iconic destination with the big, largest and tallest building across the globe. “It’s the growth in the construction industry for the last 20 years that makes this region as a good platform to learn and experience the highly advanced technology used with time bound project schedules.”

She says civil engineers are problem solvers that meet the challenges of pollution, traffic congestion, drinking water and energy needs, urban redevelopment and community planning. “They have one of the world’s most important jobs as they build the quality of human life. With creativity and technical skill, civil engineers plan, design, construct and operate the facilities essential to modern life, ranging from bridges and highway systems to water treatment plants and energy efficient buildings.”

As the technological revolution expands, and the world’s population increases, with the mounting environmental concerns, civil engineering skills will be needed throughout the world explains Shaikh. “Civil engineering offers a wide range of choices from design, construction, research, planning, teaching or management to anyone choosing the discipline. From a larger perspective, Civil engineering has played a critical role in increasing the health and quality of life in the last 50 years, from developing better water supplies, municipal sewer systems, and waste-water treatment plants to the design of buildings to protecting from natural hazards and provide health care, to improved agriculture through water resource development and distribution projects to rapid and dramatic changes in transportation systems, civil engineers have developed the basic infrastructure on which modern society depends.”

Career options

1. Project engineers

2. Structural designers

3. Transportation planners

4. Technical sales engineers

5. Supervisor at construction site

6. Design researcher

7. Teaching jobs in government services and private companies

Saqan says, “Graduates are highly sought by design firms, engineering consultants, materials manufacturers, and government agencies, in addition to contracting and construction companies. The field remains very popular with a number of industries, not only in construction, but also with government agencies such as Roads and Transport Authorities, Electricity and Water Authorities, and Real Estate Development Authorities.”

Course at the campus

Who should do the course?

1. If you have creative thinking.

2. Would like to be a medium to erect superstructures.

3. Want to improve quality of human life.

4. You dream to build the country’s infrastructure.

5. You want to modernize the society.

6. You envision to lead important and life changing projects.

Do you have the aptitude for Civil Engineering?

“To be able to compete for those jobs, Shaikh says, students have to be:

Creative thinkers.

Researchers.

Have effective communication ability.

Possess physical stamina required for working outdoors.

Have organisational abilities.

Aptitude for drawing and swift problem-solving abilities.

Campus overview

Saqan says, “The program at AUD follows the American education model, which exposes the student to a broad range of general education courses, such as English, public speaking, world cultures, social sciences, and professional ethics. There is also a combination of courses focusing on math and science, along with more advanced engineering science and engineering design courses. The study plan culminates into a comprehensive capstone design experience, which prepares our graduate for practice immediately upon graduation. Another key component is the Field Experience, which allows all students to learn about project management, design, and teamwork before spending three months of practical experience under the direct supervision of a civil engineer at a company.”

Shaikh says, “At Amity University, we expose our students to live construction projects helping them understand best practices followed by the industry with universal design standards. Frequent site studies, industrial visits are conducted with professional experts and highly experienced academicians sharing knowledge based on research and on campus studies. Emphasis is laid on participating in International conferences, Expos, Seminars and initiatives are taken in organizing events for students. We also have faculty exchange programs with all our global campuses for higher level of knowledge sharing professional development.”

“Our students are involved in research projects produced as term paper at the end of first year, In-House Practical training at the end of second year and Industrial training at the end of third year and live projects during the semesters, enabling them to gain experience in the areas of Structural Design and analysis, Construction Project Management, Site coordination and management, Quantity Survey and Quality Control, Marketing for construction based equipment’s and products,” says Shaikh.

The course structure

At Amity University B.Tech Civil Engineering Programme there are seven major inter-related branches of Civil Engineering: • Structural Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Geotechnical Engineering • Water Resources Engineering • Transportation Engineering • Construction Engineering • Urban and Community Planning explains Shaikh

The semesters for all B.Tech Civil Engineering Programme include:

Semester 1 - Courses studied are: Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics - Fields & Waves, Applied Chemistry, Elements of Mechanical Engineering, Introduction to Computers & Programming in C, Electrical Science, Applied Physics Lab, Applied Chemistry Lab, Elements of Mechanical Engineering Lab, Programming in C Lab, Electrical Science Lab, Engineering Graphics Lab, English and Behavioral Sciences.

Semester 2 – Courses studied are: Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics - Modern Physics, Object Oriented Programming in C++, Engineering Mechanics, Applied Physics Lab, Object Oriented Programming in C++ Lab, Engineering Mechanics Lab, English and Behavioral Science.

Semester 3 - Courses studied are: Applied Mathematics, Engineering Geology, Mechanics of Solids, Mechanics of Fluids, Building Technology, Surveying, Mechanics of Solids & Fluids Lab, Civil Engineering Drawing Lab, Surveying Practical, Communication Skills and Behavioral Science.

Semester 4 - Courses studied are: Numerical Analysis & Programming, Structural Analysis, Hydro Systems, Geo informatics, Functional Design of Buildings, Transportation Engineering, Numerical Analysis Lab, Material Testing Lab, Surveying Practical, Communication Skills and Behavioral Science.

Semester 5 - Courses studied are: Structural Analysis, Principles of Structural Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Hydraulic Machines, Material Testing Lab, Hydraulic Machines Lab, Communication Skills, Behavioral Science and In-house Practical Training.

Semester 6 - Courses studied are: Environmental Engineering, Structural Concrete Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Computer Application in Civil Engineering, Concrete Technology, Building Design & Drawing, Computer Applications Lab, Geotechnical Engineering Lab, Communication Skills and Behavioral Science.

Semester 7 - Courses studied are: Structural Steel Design, Environmental Engineering, Water Resource Engineering, Environmental Engineering Lab, Structural Detailing Lab, Communication Skills, Behavioral Science, Foreign Language, Project (Dissertation), Industrial Training and Elective Paper.

Semester 8 - Courses studied are: Construction Management & Quantity Surveying, Engineering Economics & Management, Project (Dissertation), Communication Skills, Behavioral Science, Foreign Language and Elective Paper.

Course duration

4 Years (Full time) 8 Semesters

Credential

B.Tech Civil Engineering Programme

Other prerequisites, if any:

Minimum of 50% aggregate in class X & XII

Minimum of 60% in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics

English should meet specific proficiency requirements.

Cost (approx.) at Amity University

Dh40,000 per year.

Courses open for admissions: 28 programs across UG and PG.

1. Admission – two intakes: January and September.

2. Apply online at:- www.amityuniversity.ae

3. In person: Visit Amity University campus

4. Email : admissions@amityuniversity.ae/info@amityuniversity.ae

Other universities in the UAE that offer Civil Engineering courses

Abu Dhabi University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Manipal University Dubai, American University of Sharjah (AUS), to name a few.