Civil engineering is a branch of engineering that has several disciplines. Its main discipline relates to the design and construction of physical structures as work involving the natural environment. Civil engineering is probably the oldest discipline in engineering. It can be traced back to as early as the third century. Archimedes, a mathematician who lived between 287 and 212 B.C., is often associated with the screw, which enabled structures such as the Pont du Gard in France, a Roman aqueduct. This is an early example of science applied under the discipline of civil engineering. It lay the foundation for how we understand the principle of buoyancy today.
Some of the works that come under the civil engineering umbrella are projects like roads, canals, buildings, bridges or dams. Civil engineering encompasses a whole range of branches such as structural engineering, bio-mechanics, transportation engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, municipal engineering, materials engineering, geophysics and control engineering.
According to the Economic Times, there may be demand for civil engineers in India, which could grow as India upgrades its infrastructure. Civil engineers could be needed particularly in government organizations, and similar opportunities may come up in the private sector and armed forces.
If you are looking to become a civil engineer, the subjects you may have to master could include physics, mathematics, project management, structural engineering and design, as well as specific areas in civil engineering, transport engineering and construction engineering. This branch of engineering relates to the designing, planning, construction and maintenance of large edifices, roads and drainage. Other topics could include drainage and sewer design, road design, environmental engineering, construction engineering, site layouts and surveys. Potential fields of employment after obtaining a civil engineer degree can be vast. Depending on which branch you specialize in, you could be eligible for construction jobs, engineering jobs, as a mechanical engineer, quantity surveyor, site engineer, building surveyor or electrical engineer (among others). There may also be several posts on the managerial front such as asset management, buyer or cost manager.
Some colleges that offer courses such as a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) in Civil Engineering include:
No. | College/Institute |
1 | Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay |
2 | Indian Institute of Technology – Delhi |
3 | Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur |
4 | Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur |
5 | Indian Institute of Technology – Madras |
6 | Birla Institute of Technology & Science |
7 | Indian Institute of Technology – Roorkee |
8 | Indian Institute of Technology – Guwahati |
9 | Delhi Technological University |
10 | Indian Institute of Technology – BHU |
Programs are subject to change, it is advisable to check directly with a school for current program availability.