Welcome to the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering (CaSE)!
CaSE has developed a civil engineering curriculum that aspires to prepare you for a career in which you’ll work to address our greatest societal challenges, whether related to making cities more resilient, addressing human safety and security, enabling space exploration and habitation, making informed health-related decisions, or planning / designing our future energy infrastructure. Addressing any of these grand challenges will require you to have a strong foundation in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering fundamentals, as well as the space for meaningful exploration into the breadth of the civil engineering discipline through which you will be able to make connections between that fundamental knowledge and its application to both professional practice and scholarly research.
The Degree Checkout Sheet acts as a checklist as you work your way through the curriculum and is organized in blocks of courses (e.g. Basic Science & Computing, Mathematics, CaSE Fundamentals, etc.). New to the checkout sheet this year is also an organization that we hope will make the Foundational Abilities (FA) requirements easier to follow. You should update your Degree Checkout Sheet prior to every advising meeting; an Excel version is provided below. Another important resource is the sample program, which you will find in the course catalog under the pages related to the BS in Civil Engineering.
Degree Checkout Sheet for the Class of 2029 (xlsx)
The following explains each category in the Degree Checkout Sheet.
First-Year Seminar / Design Cornerstone Course (2-3 credits)
All first-year WSE students are required to take either a First-Year Seminar (3 credits) or the Design Cornerstone course (2 credits).
Writing & Communication (6 credits)
It’s important that engineers can communicate verbally, in writing, and graphically. The Whiting School’s Foundational Ability requirements hit those first two with these required courses. Graphical communication skills will be gained elsewhere in the program.
Basic Science & Computing (16 credits)
To gain fundamental knowledge in natural sciences and basic skills in computing – both of which form the basis of all engineering disciplines – Civil Engineering students take courses in physics, chemistry and one additional area of basic science that aligns with their professional goals / interests. Your options are as follows:
AS.171.102 General Physics: Physical Science Majors II – This is a good option for students interested in energy systems or students who want to dig deeper into physics. Either Physics II or Thermodynamics is required for JHU’s Energy Minor so this is also a good course for students who plan to pursue that minor.
AS.171.108 General Physics for Physical Science Majors II (AL) – This is a good option for students interested in Energy Systems or students who want to dig deeper into physics but prefer an active learning environment. Either Physics II or Thermodynamics is required for JHU’s Energy Minor so this is also a good course for students who plan to pursue that minor.
AS.270.205 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis – This is a good option for students interested in geospatial data analysis related to the study of civil infrastructure systems (e.g. transportation, energy, communications, etc.) or urban planning.
AS.270.220 The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Geology – This is a good option for students interested in gaining a better understanding of the geology on which we build our structures and infrastructure systems, or for students interested in structural engineering or geotechnical engineering.
AS.171.312 Statistical Physics / Thermodynamics or equivalent – This is a good option for students interested in energy, whether that’s building energy use or energy production. Either Physics II or Thermodynamics is required for JHU’s Energy Minor so this is also a good course for students who plan to pursue that minor. Other thermodynamics courses are listed here.
All students must also take Gateway Computing: Python to gain fundamental computing skills.
Mathematics (19 credits)
Like natural sciences, mathematics is fundamental to engineering theory and practice. WSE FA2 requirements include Calculus I, Calculus II, and a Probability & Statistics course (EN.560.240 Uncertainty, Reliability, and Decision-Making is what CaSE requires). In addition, the civil engineering major requires AS.110.202 Calculus III and EN.553.291 Linear Algebra & Differential Equations.
Creative Expression (FA3) & Engagement with Society (FA4) (12 credits)
These Whiting School requirements recognize that human-centered engineering design relies not only on strong technical skills, but on an appreciation for the humanities (i.e. creative expression) and social sciences (i.e. engagement with society) as well. Students must take a minimum of 3 credits in FA3 and a minimum of 3 credits in FA4. The remaining 6 credits can be in either area.
Ethical Reflection (FA5) (3 credits)
The course listed here – EN.660.463 Engineering Management and Leadership – covers several topics related to professional practice – including business, management, and ethics. Because it includes topics related to engineering ethics, WSE allows it to fulfill the FA5 requirement for a foundational course in ethical reflection. An ePortfolio assignment for ethical reflection is built into EN.560.391 CaSE Careers I, another required course for the civil engineering major.
Free Electives (12 credits)
Recognizing that as a student you need opportunities to explore your interests outside of these requirements – whether they be in the humanities, music, or engineering management – we’ve built 12 credits of free electives (no strings attached!) into your curriculum.
CaSE Fundamentals (20 credits)
These foundational courses are taken by both civil and systems engineering majors – primarily in their first three semesters at JHU. These are not only cohort-building courses, they will also cover important foundational engineering topics – from societal impacts of engineered structures and infrastructure systems to how we use mathematics to make engineering-related decisions based on a set of objectives. They will also teach you skills related to graphical communication, engineering design, and data analysis.
Civil Engineering Fundamentals (22 credits + FE Exam)
These technical courses follow CaSE fundamentals and cover the four areas of civil engineering that our program focuses on: structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, smart cities & transportation, and energy systems. We also consider advanced topics in engineering mechanics and materials – a traditional strength of our program – to fit into this space.
After completing these courses, you will be prepared for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam that all civil engineering majors must take in the spring semester of their senior year. More information on the exam may be found here.
CaSE Professional Practice (7 credits)
In preparation for professional practice, you will take two courses in your junior year called CaSE Careers I/II which will introduce you to professional engineers and organizations working in design, construction, operations, and maintenance of the structures and infrastructure systems on which society depends. Note that EN.560.391 CaSE Careers I includes a writing assignment that can be used in your ePortfolio for both FA1 and FA5.
In your senior year, you will complete a capstone design project that stretches over two semesters in EN.560.401 Design Theory and Practice and EN.560.402 CaSE Capstone Design Project. Some past designs may be found on JHU’s Design Day website.
CaSE Technical Electives (6 credits)
Technical electives are designed to provide you with opportunities to explore advanced topics in civil engineering. To that end, these courses may be fulfilled with any 300-level or higher EN.560.XXX course.