Is Civil Engineering Hard? A Look at Difficulty and Demands (2024)

Is it time for you to head off to college? Are you considering civil engineering as a choice for your graduation, but do you need clarification about whether it will be a good decision for you? Being a civil engineer and having served the industry for many years, I suggest that you are on the right track if you are fond of mathematics, physics, and creativity. Now, the question is “is civil engineering hard?” Whether you will be able to do it or not? I will clear all your queries in detail. Are you ready to learn about the profession of civil engineering, which is the foundation of a civilized society? So, let’s shed light on civil engineering from start to end.

Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific roles and theories for solving society’s problems. Its history is interlinked with the advances in understanding the studies of physics and mathematics. Many people ask is civil engineering a hard degree? However, many of them still need to gain essential knowledge of civil engineering. This article will explain the main fields of civil engineering and their objectives. Also we will build a road map to choose the major for a civil engineering degree.

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that designs, constructs and maintains the physical and natural environment. Civil engineers build roads. Bridges, canals. Damas, airports, seaports, sewage systems, railways, and buildings.

What is Civil Engineering?

Do you even imagine living in the caves? Let’s imagine today’s life without the buildings. Living in the forests or the caves, traveling on the broken and muddy roads, and having no bridges and flyovers to connect places. How does it sound to you? The people of modern life, having sophisticated houses and good roads for traveling, feel scared to imagine such scenarios. The credit for this evolving landscape goes to the civil engineers. So, civil engineering is a construction, management, and architecture design field. It is a versatile field that opens the doors for diverse careers, e.g., architecture, construction, and project management. You can serve in both Government and private organizations.

Evolution of Civil Engineering

It was the time between 2000 BC and 4000 BC when humans realized they had an aesthetic living place for themselves. Ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley civilization, and Mesopotamia were some of the initial civil engineering projects in the history of humanity. Civil engineering evolved with time, and in the Middle Ages, churches, cathedrals, and roads were constructed. In this period, the first railway track was also built. In the 20th century, more advancements and tools were invented, and now various tools, equipment, software, and even 3D technology make the construction process very interesting and easy.

Civil engineering was recognized as a separate discipline in 1716 in France. John Smeaton was the first person declared a professional “Civil Engineer.”

Is Civil Engineering Hard or Easy?

The most asked question from civil engineering aspirants is, “Is civil engineering hard to study?”. My answer to this question is that it depends upon the country’s curriculum for civil engineers. Various countries have various courses for the students. There is a vast difference in the curriculum and classes in different countries. If we talk about the USA, the universities offer a wide range of subjects to study. You must read all those courses, such as environment engineering, transportation, construction analysis, etc. However, some universities offer students the opportunity to choose a particular field to study, such as transportation, environment, architecture, or building, according to their interests.

Canadian universities teach the concepts of mechanics, geotechnical engineering, and hydraulics, while England allows students to specialize in civil engineering. Asian universities mainly focus on construction knowledge in this field.

What are the requirements to get admission in civil engineering?

Our one focus is civil engineering hard to study. But that is a common problem: people don’t think about the future and choose subjects they find easy at school. But this thing bound their future in a few fields. If you want to become a civil engineer, you want to choose science subjects, secure above 60% in the school, and need physics, chemistry, and maths in the intermediate degree.

Different universities and colleges also apply some special categories and conditions for admission. You need to be updated about them. You can check these terms and conditions by regularly visiting their websites. Sometimes, these policies update and change suddenly under some particular circ*mstances. Many universities changed their admission process during COVID-19 days.

Also, get in touch with the field. And keep searching about your desired fields and fields of the trend. Sometimes, students find interest in such fields, which have no future scope or already have a lot of traffic, and then they fail and blame others. So, don’t focus only on your interests and never only search for this one question. Is civil engineering hard or easy? But also focuses on is it has a scope and which sub-field of this has more scope in the industry.

Key Takeaways

• Civil engineering is a challenging degree that requires extensive knowledge of subjects such as Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer science, and technical skills.
• Civil engineering assignments and lab work consists of real projects. It is a time demanding task and one has to give extra time to study and complete the real life projects.
• Once you get the degree, you have to work as an intern in known firms for a long time.
  Once you complete all the above steps, you will get a high paid job in the US. The average salary of a civil engineer in the US is 91,034$ annually.
• In short, civil engineering is a hard degree, requiring more time and effort from a student but once you complete the degree and internship, you can get a high paid job.

Is civil engineering less stressful?

Is civil engineering hard for an average student? It may be a complicated degree for those who don’t have an interest in mathematics and do not have good communication and critical thinking skills. But as a job, civil engineering is an exciting but stressful job. However, if you’re passionate about your job, the stress becomes manageable in most instances. Luckily, there are many strategies you can apply to reduce your stress level.

Stress becomes the reason for depression, and it leads to death in some situations. So, during a search for a job, always focus on this and make a strategy to manage it. Stress is automatically generated at the time of workload. We don’t say about any field that this is stressless. Just find the joy moment in the field and don’t panic. Focus on your physical health and enjoy your vacations to relieve job stress.

Is civil engineering hard for an average student?

Civil engineering is a challenging course to study for an average student. It becomes more problematic with the addition of math and science and can be challenging for average students. However, a civil engineer can grow in his field with the right resources. If you are still thinking is civil engineering a hard major?

Remember, nothing is impossible; sometimes, average but energetic and passionate students cover all problems with extra effort. And they become more successful civil engineers than their competitive, sharp students.

Skills Required to Become A Civil Engineer

Many of you must want to know if civil engineering is a hard major. I want to say that no, this is not a hard major if you have the right skills, but if you do not have any interest in the technical skills required for this degree, then you will have a tough time. Let’s explore what skills are a green signal to choose this field.

Educational Skills

Although the course outline varies from country to country and even from university to university, the core skills required in this field remain the same.

• You must have a strong foundation in Math, Physics, and Chemistry.
• Proficiency in reading maps and blueprints is also a fundamental skill.
• You must be interested in complex projects’ construction, design, planning, and maintenance.
• You must have the adaptive skills to learn the latest technology because you have to use various software, such as Civil 3D and AutoCAD. Over time, various technical tools and software replace traditional tools, so you must be open to learning new techniques.
• A sound civil engineer must have the technical writing skills to write easy-to-understand client reports.

Soft Skills

More than an excellent academic background is required. As the civil engineer’s job is to work in the office and on-site, they have to communicate with the clients, subordinate team members, and contractors, so following soft skills should be part of the personality.

• A collaborative nature is the most required attribute to become a successful Civil engineer because you have to work with other engineers, such as electrical and mechanical engineers, to complete a project.
• You must have good communication skills to pursue the contractors and to deliver your ideas to the clients.
• A sound civil engineer has good leadership skills, knows how to lead a project, and knows how to get work from his subordinates on time without burdening them.
• Time management skills are another feature you must learn if you enter this field. Sometimes, you have to work on various projects at the same time.

Famous sub-fields of civil engineering

Selecting a particular area in civil engineering is a challenging task because all fields have their benefits and job volume. Civil engineering is also not a short field. It has numerous sub-fields. But here we will write some famous subfields of civil engineering.

• Surveying
• Structural engineering
• Water Resource engineering
• Transportation engineering
• Environmental engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Coastal engineering
• Forensic engineering
• Hydraulic engineering

There are many other types of civil engineering for getting the answer to a question. Is civil engineering hard or easy? You need to search the core subjects of each field and their job scope. But which one is hard for average students? We will discuss it in upcoming paragraphs, so don’t leave the article.

What is the hardest field in civil engineering?

Some researchers say that geotechnical engineering is complex to study and stressful to work in more than others. It deals with the behavior of soil and rock material and their interaction with the structures and foundations. This requires the knowledge related to soils, rocks, and geology. So sometimes, it looks like this is civil engineering a hard major.

Geotechnical engineers use this knowledge to analyze and design dams, bridges, and tunnels. While the subjects of this field are technical and challenging to study. But for passionate students, this field is exciting and fruitful. This field opens new ways of thinking about things and provides too much experience in different aspects of fields and life.

Like any other engineering field, geotechnical engineering needs attention to detail, critical thinking skills, and a solid understanding of the roles and practices involved. It can be a challenging field, but with dedication, hard work, and a passion for the subject, it can also be an exciting and rewarding career.

Which field pays higher than the other?

Is civil engineering a hard degree? This is not the only issue; scope and salary also matter in the field selection. So, in this paragraph, we will discuss the highly-paying filed of civil engineering.

Structural engineers, also called civil engineers, earn the highest pay in this field. A senior civil engineer earns upto $140000 annually. But it also depends on several conditions, such as experience, skills, projects, and countries. It does not mean that other fields of civil engineering have no scope. Each field has its scope, and earning depends on many factors discussed above for structural engineering.

Salary of A Civil Engineer

If you meet all the challenges and become an efficient civil engineer, then you will get high-paying projects and jobs, or you can freelance your services. The average rate in the US is under

• Per hour: 39.10$
• Per day: 404$
• Per week: 1666$
• Per month: 6,445$
• Annually: 91,034$

Which field of civil engineering has an open scope?

Only pay does not matter in choosing a carrier. The scope in the market currently and in the future is also a considerable factor in career selection. If a field gives high salaries but has no more space for new work. It is not good to choose it.

Here, we will see the most demanding field of civil engineering.

Structural engineering is the most demanding field. They use their knowledge of stresses and strains to design large structures such as buildings and bridges. It is one of the oldest professions and will be in demand as long as we live indoors and walk on bridges. An ordinary day as a structural engineer involves overseeing the design of a structure to ensure that all beams, columns, or tension cables can withstand the expected loads, stresses and strains imposed by the surrounding environment. This can be very stressful, as even the slightest mistake can lead to disaster results that cost lives.

To work as a structural engineer, you must complete general studies as a civil engineer. Most structural engineers also complete graduate studies before they are allowed to work on their own. It is also good to intern with structural engineering firms while still in student life to gain valuable working experience. Our focus question: is civil engineering hard for an average student?

Scope of Civil Engineers

Having your degree in civil engineering or getting a diploma with many years of practical experience opens the doors to various fields for you. You can work in the following fields

• Construction
• Design and Structural Analysis
• Environmental engineering, specifically in geo environment
• Transportation
• Surveying and estimation
• Water resource engineering
• Construction project management

Reasons Why Civil Engineering Can Be Considered Hard

This field is considered complex, and even due to interest, many average students are reluctant to do it. Why Is civil engineering hard for an average student? Let’s discuss it in detail so you can easily decide whether to opt for this field.

1. Diverse Subjects Knowledge

Civil engineers have to deal with various projects, such as the construction of dams, roads, bridges, water and waste management, and design analysis, so they require knowledge of diverse subjects, such as math, physics, chemistry, and computers. You must be an all-rounder to become a successful Engineer in the field.

2. Hard Study

Civil engineers read various subjects during their educational period. For assignments, they have to work on real-world projects. Managing theoretical studies with practical labs and real-world assignments is a challenging and time-consuming job.

3. Rigorous Curriculum

The Civil Engineering bachelor’s degree curriculum consists of complex and dry subjects such as structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, and environmental engineering, which require time to understand deep knowledge and concepts of the field.

4.Internships and Field Work

Theoretical knowledge without practical work is of no use. It would help if you worked with experienced engineers or firms to get on-field experience.

5.Licensing Requirements

A professional engineering license(PE) is required to get a high position in a reputable firm in the US.

6. Long Journey to Get A High Paid Job

After a bachelor’s degree, you have to pass the EF (Engineering of Fundamentals) exam. After passing the exam, you are considered the EI (Engineering Intern), working with the experts or the firms on a low-paying basis, learning the field, and getting a high-paying job after considerable years of experience.

How to get a licence in civil engineering?

After completing the discussion on civil engineering is hard or easy. Now, we are moving to the technical process of civil engineering. If you want to start your work as a civil engineer, you need a licence from the government, and for this process, you need to fulfil some particular rules and regulations. The only question: is civil engineering hard to study? There is another question about the licence process: is how much difficult?

• Graduate from a government-registered university.
• Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
• Pass the Professional Engineering exam.
• 4 years of working experience as an engineer with a registered organization.

Becoming licensed as a professional engineer is a significant achievement that can expand your career prospects. Many engineering jobs require a PE license to work as an engineering consultant or senior engineer, provide expert witness evidence, work peacefully, ensure public safety, or advertise engineering services. Although you may not need to register for legal purposes, having a professional engineering certificate may be necessary to qualify for engineering management positions.

On average, PEs earn significantly more than unlicensed engineers. Even if your first job doesn’t require a PE license, you may need one later in your career. In today’s economic climate, it pays to move into new jobs and be in a position to compete with others who have a PE license or are on a professional engineering track. It is also doubtful that the PE license job will be outsourced abroad.

Check Out our related article: Is mechanical engineering difficult?

Challenges of Becoming A Civil Engineer

Becoming a professional and known civil engineer in the US is challenging. Following are the challenges that a civil engineer has to face.

Work-Life Balance

While studying civil engineering, students face a high workload pressure due to a lot of assignments and practical work. The most important point is that you have to excel in various subjects. If you need to improve in any of the above mentioned subjects (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer), you must spend more time than regular study hours getting good grades.

High Society Expectations

Civil engineering requires strict rules and regulations, and you must fulfill these standards. Any mistake in your profession can stake the integrity of all engineers. So, it is necessary to meet societal expectations for the honor of your profession.

How Civil Engineers Can Achieve Work-Life Balance

Following are a few tips for civil engineers to achieve work-life balance and meet societal expectations

• The first and most important tip is to eat, drink, and sleep on time. Exercise daily to keep your mind and body healthy.
• Dedicate specific working hours in a day to your tasks.
• If you are working as a freelancer or on projects, then work only four days a week and give two days completely to your personal life. Spend quality time.
• Learn time management skills and prioritize tasks based on deadlines.
• Learn new software and technology because they are good friends, divide workloads, and help you complete tasks in less time.

Civil Engineering Careers

Civil engineering offers a wide range of career paths. Some popular specializations include structural engineering, water resources engineering, and transportation engineering. One important role that leverages civil engineering expertise is Construction Estimator. Construction Estimators utilize their civil engineering knowledge to estimate project costs for materials, labor, and equipment. This plays a vital role in ensuring the financial feasibility of construction projects.

Which country has the highest demand for civil engineers?

Canada is the country that has the highest demand for civil engineers. But many other countries, such as the USA, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Switzerland, and France, have a great scope of civil engineers. Civil engineering is the field of designing public places, and we can not say any country does not need civil engineers. Even developing countries also have opportunities for civil engineers. If you think broadly about this is civil engineering hard or easy, you can find it fruitful instead of a hard and tedious subject. You will see that civil engineering has a bright future and can accept more workers.

Future Predictions For Civil Engineering Aspirants

The US is a developed country. From 2020 to 2030, the concept of green energy and the urge to dispose of the waste materials and water of the industries has increased the demand for civil engineers. According to an estimation, there is a rise of 8% in demand for civil engineers in this decade, which is expected to increase in the coming years. This demand is 5% higher than all other professions in the country. However, only some subfields of civil engineering in the US will be in more demand than others.

I recommend environmental engineering and estimation over construction and transportation. There is massive competition in the construction field because most students choose this. Transportation engineering will offer limited job openings because the US has a sound transportation system, and there will be no need for new talent in the coming years. Estimation is an evergreen field that always remains in demand. As far as environmental engineering is concerned, it will be in high demand because global warming has impacted all countries globally, and it has become a great challenge for the US to manage the disposal of solid waste and water.

Outcomes of the discussion

We study civil engineering and its core aspects in this article. Now, we are at the point where we will close the discussion. To summarize this article, we check the answer to our main focus question. Is civil engineering hard to study? Civil engineering is more complicated than other related fields. It requires good communication, critical thinking, and expertise in field-related skills.

Getting a certificate needs some extra exams, and the work of civil engineers is also very important. Any mistake of a civil engineer can cause a big disaster and death at a high level. However, this field has many internship opportunities for beginners. Senior engineers earn a reasonable income.

I hope you got the answers to your questions: is civil engineering a hard major? Remember to share it with others and keep reading our article. Give us your feedback in the comment section.

FAQ:

Why is civil engineering considered a hard degree?

1. Civil engineering requires knowledge of various subjects. You must have cleared physics, chemistry, math, and computer concepts. Moreover, adaptive technical skills are also needed to master this field. As this field combines various subjects, it is perceived as a demanding degree.

What are the salaries per month for civil engineers in the US?

The average rate in the US for civil engineers is under

• Per hour: 39.10$
• Per day: 404$
• Per week: 1666$
• Per month: 6,445$
• Annually: 91,034$

What technical skills are required to become a good civil engineer?

Following technical skills are required to become an excellent civil engineer

• Strong understanding of Physics, Math, Computer science, and Chemistry
• Ability to read blueprints and maps
• interest in construction, designing, planning, and maintenance of complex construction projects.
• Skills to learn new technology and software.

Which is engineering hard to study?

According to a report, chemical engineering is the hardest part of civil engineering. This field is considered more complex than others because they need to train many extra disciplines such as physics, bio, chemistry, and math.

Is civil engineering hard to find a job?

No, it is not hard to find a job in any field if you have particular knowledge and some practical work experience as an intern. The job scope of civil engineering is increasing with a ratio of 5% in this year and afterwards. It is a viewable increase in the job rate of civil engineers.

What is the salary of a civil engineer?

The average Entry Level Civil Engineer salary in the United States is $75,500 as of the reports of 2024. But the range normally falls between $68,900 and $82,800.

How will AI affect the civil engineers?

AI can facilitate collaboration among civil engineers by automating data analysis, modelling, and simulations. It allows for better communication and coordination across multidisciplinary teams working on complex projects.