Areas of Specialization

Considerable freedom exists for students to influence the nature of their program of study in the civil engineering program. All principal subjects of civil engineering are taught at McGill University but students may choose to concentrate in any one of the following areas through the selection of suitable complementary courses below.

Students normally choose an area of specialization once they begin to select their technical complementary courses. This usually occurs in the last three semesters of their studies and should be done in consultation with a departmental advisor. Please note that not all technical complementary courses are offered each year. Please consult the Class Schedule section of Minerva to establish which courses are offered in a particular semester.

In addition to the areas of specialization listed below, a student may opt to complete one or more of the Minor Programs offered to Engineering students. Following the completion of their undergraduate degrees, students may also choose to pursue Graduate Studies in their preferred area of specialization.

The goal of environmental engineering is to ensure that societal development and the use of water, land and air resources are sustainable.

Geotechnical engineering is the study of the behaviour of soils under the influence of loading forces and soil-water interactions.

Water resources engineering is the quantitative study of the hydrologic cycle -- the distribution and circulation of water linking the earth's atmosphere, land and oceans.

Structural engineers are concerned with the conception, analysis, design and construction of components or assemblies to resist loads arising from internal and external forces

It is the transportation engineer's responsibility to plan, design, build, operate and maintain these systems of transport, in such a way as to provide for the safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods.

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