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

Swansea University – Wales

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. 

 

Summer Global Internships

Recommended Timing: Summer – after freshman or sophomore year

Sample courses: varies by location