Program overview
The B.S. in Civil Engineering (130 credits, ABET-accredited, ~160 undergraduates) in the College of Engineering & Technology is the oldest engineering major at UW–Porter Falls (founded 1898 as Manual Training in Roads & Bridges). Core (78 credits): Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Structural Analysis, Concrete Design, Steel Design, Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Hydraulics & Hydrology, Construction Materials, Surveying & GIS, Construction Management, Professional Practice (WEPA/NEPA, contracts, ethics). FE Exam: 94% first-time pass (national ~70%); review course embedded senior fall. Field labs: Weekly labs at Prototyping Lab (concrete cylinder breaks, soil triaxial, asphalt mix design) and on the Porter River (stream gauging, scour monitoring).
Tracks (18 credits each)
Structural Engineering: Advanced Concrete (prestressed, post-tensioned), Advanced Steel (seismic, connections), Timber & Masonry, Bridge Design (AASHTO LRFD), Structural Dynamics. Capstone partners: Ayres Associates, Strand Associates, Porter County Schools (gymnasium). Transportation Engineering: Highway Design (Horizontal/Vertical Alignment), Traffic Operations (Synchro, VISSIM), Pavement Design (Mechanistic-Empirical), Public Transit Planning, Complete Streets. Capstone partners: City Public Works, WisDOT Southwest Region, Porter Loop planning. Geotechnical Engineering: Advanced Soil Mechanics, Slope Stability, Retaining Walls, Deep Foundations, Ground Improvement, Earthquake Geotech. Capstone partners: Fehr Graham, DNR Porter District (dam safety), USACE. Water Resources & Environmental: Stormwater Design (SWMM, green infra), River Restoration (fluvial geomorphology), Floodplain Modeling (HEC-RAS), Water/Wastewater Treatment. Capstone partners: Millrace Fish Passage team, Riverkeepers, City Stormwater.
Co-op program
Optional, 5-year degree: 70% participation. Apply sophomore fall → first term spring junior year. Anchor employers: Wesconsin DNR (water structures, dam inspection), WisDOT Southwest Region (highway design, construction inspection), Strand Associates (municipal, structural), Ayres Associates (transportation, aviation), Fehr Graham (geotech, environmental), Ramboll (water, climate resilience). Average wage: $21–$27/hr. Academic credit: CE 3900 Co-op Reflection (1 credit/term). Summer-only option: 2 summers (8 months exp) for students who want 4-year graduation.
Capstone: infrastructure that gets built
CE 4100/4200 (2 semesters, teams of 4) delivers a 30% design package for a real client. 2025 projects: Cedar Bluff Bridge Replacement (County Highway Dept): 120-ft prestressed girder, hydraulic analysis, detour plan. Depot District Streetscape Phase 2 (City): complete streets, stormwater, utility coordination, cost estimate. Porter County Landfill Cell 4 Liner (County): composite liner, leachate collection, stability analysis. Riverfront Trail Boardwalk Extension (City + Riverkeepers): helical piles, timber deck, ADA compliance. Founders Hall Seismic Retrofit (Facilities): FRP wrap, shear wall addition, phasing for occupied building. Deliverables: Engineering report, 30% drawings (AutoCAD Civil 3D), geotech report, hydraulic report, AACE Class 3 cost estimate, construction schedule (Primavera P6), public presentation at Civil Engineering Expo. PE Mentorship: Licensed PE (faculty or volunteer) reviews each submittal.
Admission requirements
Direct admission: 3.5+ GPA, 4 years math (calc preferred), 4 years science (chem + physics), 600+ math SAT / 26+ math ACT. Test-optional (portfolio: bridge contest, surveying, construction internship, Eagle Scout/Gold Award building). Transfer: Statics, Mechanics of Materials, Calculus I–II, Chemistry, Physics I — all B, 3.0+ GPA. Bridge Week (late August): concrete cylinder lab, total station surveying, Civil 3D intro, Makerspace (formwork, rebar tying) — 85% place into CE 2100 by add/drop. Construction Trades Legacy Scholarship (full tuition, 4 years, 3/year). Full admission details.
Career outcomes
Class of 2025 (42 graduates): 81% employed within 6 months (median $70K), 10% grad school (M.S. Civil, M.B.A., M.Arch), 5% service/fellowships, 4% still seeking. Top roles: Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, Project Engineer, Field Engineer. Top employers: Strand Associates (8), WisDOT (7), Ayres Associates (6), Fehr Graham (5), Wesconsin DNR (4), USACE (3), City/County (6). PE trajectory: 70% sit for PE within 4 years; program hosts PE Review Course (free for alumni). The Career Services Civil Career Fair (February) brings 25+ civil-specific employers.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. The program, tracks, employers, and outcomes described here are invented for this fictional university. No real academic programs or career data are depicted.