Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

Academics & Admission

Main content start

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is unique as it resides jointly in the School of Engineering and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, with access to the best of both schools. Civil and environmental engineering students learn and work at the cutting edge intersection of engineering and sustainability.

What Is Civil & Environmental Engineering?

An increasingly multidisciplinary field, civil and environmental engineering (CEE) focuses on protecting and sustaining the natural environment while creating and maintaining a resilient, sustainable built environment that helps society to function. Civil and environmental engineers are essential to providing the necessities of human life, including water, air, shelter, built infrastructure, and energy, in increasingly more efficient and renewable ways.

Undergraduate Degrees

Undergraduate students may pursue a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Systems Engineering (ENVSE-BS) or in Civil Engineering, an ABET-accredited program (CE-BS in Environmental & Water Studies or Structures & Construction). The department is also home to the Sustainable Architecture+Engineering and Atmosphere/Energy majors, each of which leads to a BS in Engineering. Minors programs are available in Civil Engineering and in Environmental Systems Engineering, and Honors programs are offered by Architectural Design, Atmosphere/Energy, Civil Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, and Sustainable Architecture+Engineering.

Coterminal Degrees

Stanford undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree may work concurrently toward a master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering if admitted to one of our four graduate programs. Qualifying bachelor’s degrees are from a variety of disciplines, predominantly (but not exclusively) engineering majors. The degrees may be granted simultaneously or the bachelor’s degree may be awarded first.

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers three graduate degrees: Master’s (MS), Engineer, and Doctorate (PhD). Graduate students in any degree program may concentrate their studies in one of four subject areas: Atmosphere/Energy, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering & Mechanics, and Sustainable Design & Construction.

Online and Professional Education

The Civil and Environmental Engineering department offers credit-bearing courses online including graduate certificates as well as professional and executive education programs for industry practitioners.