Civil Engineering
General Planning Tips For Civil Engineering
- Start planning for your study abroad experience early. You can take Mathematics, Basic Sciences, or Civil Engineering courses abroad and still stay on track for graduation.
- Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your KU Core requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of your KU Core classes to take abroad.
- Scholarships are available for study abroad both through KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement and national organizations. Connect with your School of Engineering advisor to learn more about scholarship opportunities for engineering students pursuing international study.
- Courses to take at KU: Some of your upper division, engineering analysis & design courses include key information about U.S. construction standards. You should plan to take these courses at KU.
When To Go
Freshman
- Schedule a meeting with your engineering advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your four year plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
- After you’ve met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the KU Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it’s good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
- There are a few summer programs that offer engineering courses abroad. The best time to pursue these summer programs is the summer before your sophomore year. These programs typically offer courses such as statics, thermodynamics and/or upper level calculus. Otherwise, summer is a great time to take some of your KU Core courses abroad.
Sophomore
- One of the ideal times for Civil Engineering students to study abroad is the second semester of their sophomore year. Application deadlines for spring programs are typically on October 1st.
- Because many civil engineering courses at KU are taught both during the fall and spring semesters, there is some degree of flexibility with your sequencing during this time.
- You can take a combination of mathematics, basic sciences, KU Core, basic engineering sciences, and civil engineering sciences abroad. We recommend you take no more than two engineering courses abroad.
- Sophomore level civil engineering courses that are commonly offered abroad include: CE 201, CE 240, CE 310
Junior
- The fall or spring of your junior year may also be other good timing options for civil engineering students to go abroad. Similar to sophomore year options, look for mathematics, basic sciences, KU Core, basic engineering sciences, and civil engineering sciences abroad.
- Junior level civil engineering courses that are commonly offered abroad include: CE 330, CE 412, CE 477, CE 461, CE 455, CE 480, and CE 487
Senior
- Although you may be able to find some of your civil engineering design electives abroad, such as CMGT 500, your engineering analysis and design courses include key information about U.S. construction standards, so you should plan to take these courses at KU.
Courses and Credit
- Civil engineering faculty have already pre-approved a number of civil engineering courses abroad. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalencies Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
Recommended Semester Programs
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: CE 240, CE 310
University College Cork – Ireland
Recommended Timing: Fall semester – sophomore or junior year
Sample courses: CE 201, CE 240, CE 330, CE 455, CE 461, CE 487
University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong
Recommended Timing: Spring or fall semester – sophomore or junior year
Sample courses: CE 201, CE 240, CE 330, CE 455, CE 487, CMGT 500
University of Newcastle – Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year OR fall semester – junior year
Sample courses: CE 201, CE 240, CE 310, CE 330, CE 455, CE 461, CE 480, CE 484
Universidad Pontificia Comillas – Spain
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: CE 300, upper level math
Recommended Short-Term Programs
CIMBA Italy Program
Recommended Timing: Summer after Freshmen year
Sample courses: Thermodynamics, statics, multiple business courses.
Optimization and the Cold War: Logistics in Berlin
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman year
Course: C&PE 601
Universidad Pontificia Comillas SAPIENS Summer – Spain
Recommended Timing: Spring semester – sophomore year
Sample courses: Research courses, upper-level math
CEA Engineering in Rome-Student Initiated Programs in Italy and Greece
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Match courses, Engineering Electives
CEA Engineering in Paris-Student Initiated Programs in France and Belgium
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: CE 201, Engineering Electives.
CEA Engineering in Prague-Student Initiated Programs in Central Europe
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: CE 201, Engineering Electives.
CEA Engineering in Buenos Aires-Student Initiated Programs in Spain, Portugal and Latin America
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman year
Sample courses: Dynamics, Circuits, Differential equations and Linear Algebra.
Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman or sophomore year
Sample courses: varies by location