Civil & Environmental Engineering
About the Civil & Environmental Engineering Pathway
This pathway is designed to meet Associate in Science Track 2 degree requirements with an emphasis in civil & environmental engineering. This pre-major pathway is designed to prepare you to transfer at the junior-level into an engineering program at a four-year college or university.
The civil engineering profession is concerned with design and construction of the built environment. Civil engineers plan, design, and construct major facilities, including highways, transit systems, airports, dams, water and wastewater treatment systems, tunnels, energy facilities, harbors, canals, buildings, and bridges. Civil Engineers work on projects on many scales from single homes and roads to complex transportation networks and city planning. Environmental engineers manage our air, water, and energy resources and protect society from natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes, and the hazards society itself generates in the form of toxic wastes. The goal of a Civil Engineer is to design a better built environment that will more sustainable, more comfortable and safer for everyone.
Because these functions are often crucial to the day-to-day lives of most people and the facilities involved are physically substantial, civil engineers bear an important responsibility to the public. Their role is often more than just technical, requiring also a high degree of communicative skills and an ability to work cooperatively with other types of engineers, designers, and clients. .
Students completing this pathway receive the foundational knowledge to pursue a bachelor’s or higher degree in this area while also gaining valuable skills in problem-solving, systems design, and data modeling. You’ll also get an opportunity to design, develop and test challenging projects with peers outside of class in our MakerSpace and innovation lab. If you enjoy focusing on solutions to make human activity more sustainable, safer and more efficient, civil and/or environmental engineering may be the right career path for you.
Associate Transfer Degrees
Associate Transfer Degrees: Two-year transfer degrees let you take your freshman and sophomore classes at Seattle Colleges for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer to a four-year university with the skills and confidence to succeed. Be sure to work with a transfer advisor at Seattle Colleges and the four-year institution you plan to attend.
Depending on your program pathway, you can earn either an Associate of Arts (AA-DTA), Associate in Business (AB-DTA), or Associate of Science (AS), Track 1 or Track 2. Learn more.
- Civil Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Water Engineer
- Construction Manager
- Building Control Surveyor
- CAD Technician
- Patent Attorney
- Urban Designer
- Environmental Consultant
A bachelor’s degree or higher degree may be required for some careers listed above. For current employment and wage estimates, please visit the following online resources and search for the relevant occupational term:
- Local Occupational Information from the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County
- National Occupational Information from the O*Net Resource Center (to simply enter a search term, visit O*Net’s keyword search tool).
Future Education Opportunities
Once you complete this Associate degree, additional education opportunities include:
- A bachelor’s degree in civil and/or environmental engineering or a related field at a four-year college or university.
- A Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree at one of the Seattle Colleges.
South Seattle College has direct transfer agreements with four-year institutions throughout Washington state, including University of Washington, Washington State University and Seattle University. Graduates from South have also transferred to out-of-state institutions.
Program and admissions requirements vary from college to college. Contact an advisor to create an educational plan tailored to transfer to the institution of your choice.
Length of Program
110 credits = 8 quarters if you take 10-15 credits* each term.
*Students who take 15 credits each quarter earn their degree faster, saving them time and money. Additionally, full-time students often qualify for more financial aid and earn more money over their lifetime because they complete their schooling faster. Meet with an advisor to build your education plan!
Which Quarter Can I Begin?
Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer.
Class Times/Delivery Modes?
Most courses are offered M-TH, M/W, or T/TH during the daytime (between 8-1:30 p.m.) on-campus, online, or in hybrid (part on-campus, part online) format. We also offer some evening courses twice-a-week and science courses may include afternoon labs (between 1-4 p.m.). For the most recent class times, visit the online class schedule.
Approximate Costs Each Quarter
Books, supplies, and miscellaneous fees……………………………………....$100-300
Tuition based on WA resident rates. Rates for international students and non-residents may vary.
Did you know that the average student at South spends three hours applying for financial aid and gets more than $4000 per year?
To apply for financial aid, including grants and scholarships you don’t have to pay back, visit South’s Financial Aid Department for details.
Where can I go if I have questions about this program pathway?
(206) 934-5387 ⋆ AdvisorSouth@SeattleColleges.edu ⋆ RSB 11