Recent graduates hold jobs in areas such as energy infrastructure design, finance, consulting, and design engineering.Academics / Undergraduate Study / Civil Engineering Major (BS Degree)Curriculum & Requirements
In the McCormick School of Engineering, we empower our students to become whole-brain engineers by integrating elements of left-brain thinking (analysis, logic, and math) with the high-level right-brain thinking that fosters intuition and creativity.
The curriculum of the civil engineering major is designed to satisfy diverse interests and professional goals. Students develop study plans that are suited to their unique interests, including extensive options for courses outside the McCormick School to address the social, physical, and financial challenges of constructing and managing the nation’s infrastructure.
Degree Requirements
An overview of the curriculum for new students starting in the 2026-27 academic year is displayed below. The new engineering core requirement, Engineering Foundations will replace the Engineering Analysis sequence for all McCormick undergraduate degrees. The full curriculum will be published to the Northwestern University Academic Catalog in September 2026.
Engineering Core Requirements (26 units)
- Mathematics (4 units)
- Basic Sciences (4 units)
- Engineering Foundations (3 units)
- Design, Communication, and Innovation (3 units)
- Social Sciences/Humanities Theme (7 units)
- Unrestricted Electives (5 units)
Major Program Requirements (22 units)
- Civil Engineering foundations (8 units)
- Civil Engineering breadth (4 units)
- Focus Areas (4 units )
- Design (2 units)
- Technical Electives (4 units)
- Professional Sevelopment Seminar (.34 units)
2025-2026 Degree Requirements
View the 2025-26 Academic Catalog
For more information about the civil engineering major and its requirements, please view: