LM085 - Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering
Course Details Course Code: LM085 Level: Honours Bachelor Degree Length: 4 Years CAO Minimum Points Entry 2011: 400 Course Leader: Dr Declan Phillips Phone: 00 353 61 202683 Email: declan.phillips@ul.ie Share	The Student Experience		Course Description

About You

This course will be particularly attractive to you if you are interested in the application of scientific and technical knowledge to the solution of real world problems. The Civil Engineering programme at UL uses a student-centered approach to teaching, using techniques such as problem based learning and active learning. From year one of the programme, you will develop your ability to work on a team, to plan and present, to undertake research and to apply your knowledge.

Why Study Civil Engineering at UL?

Civil engineering is a broad field of engineering dealing with the design, planning, construction and maintenance of fixed structures or public works as they are related to earth, water, or civilization and their processes. Most civil engineering today deals with structures, roads, bridges, railways, water supply, transportation and traffic, waste water, protection of the environment, flood control and power plants.

Engineering has developed from observations of the ways natural and constructed systems react and from the development of empirical equations that provide basis for design. Civil engineering is the broadest of the engineering fields, partly because it is the oldest of all engineering fields. Civil engineering is still an umbrella term, comprised of many related specialties such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, fire engineering, water resource & hydraulic engineering, traffic & transportation engineering and general civil engineering.

To find out more, go to www.ul.ie/civileng

Course Structure

Consistent with current 21st Century Vision documentation for civil engineering, civil engineering at UL is clearly built around a ‘learning-by-doing’ process and focuses on three areas:

• Water and the Environment,
• Energy in Civil Engineering and
• Buildings & Infrastructure.

As a student of civil engineering, you will study subjects similar to all professional engineering programmes in the first year of study. Second year introduces further modules in mathematics, mechanics, and materials. Core civil engineering modules on fluid mechanics, modelling and analysis of fluid systems, structural analysis, structural design, hydrology and water engineering, geology and soil mechanics are also introduced in year 2 while a module on building energy systems introduces the importance of energy in successful design and rehabilitation of buildings.

Some selected course activities are shared with related disciplines (e.g. Architecture) to develop team working skills. This approach applies whether the problem relates to building, infrastructure or environmental engineering or a combination of these. A central concern is to encourage individual creativity by including some open ended elements in each assignment. Examples of the approach can be found at www.ul.ie/civileng

In year 3 further study in structural theory, structural design and soil mechanics are undertaken along with a module on waste management and effluent control. In advance of cooperative education in semester 6, a module on professional practice will cover material such as CAD, land surveying, planning, and health and safety. This module prepares you for duties during an eight month work placement with a leading national/international company.

In the final year of the programme, core modules covered include Water Management Systems, Energy efficient Buildings: Modelling & Design, Forensic Engineering & Ethics, Geotechnical Engineering Design and Transport Planning & Design. This final year will also allow you to tailor your knowledge towards specialist subjects, for example; Wind, Ocean and Hydro Energy may be chosen by students interested in pursuing careers in energy infrastructure. Finite Element Theory and advanced structures are available for those interested in structural engineering. Specialist electives are also available in niche areas such as Failure, Damage and Life Prediction, Project Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment and Pollution Control.

You will be involved in a final year project that runs over the last two semesters. The project will encourage you to demonstrate skills in researching and solving problems related to the civil engineering profession. Ideally the initiative for this project should arise during your cooperative education period.

To find out more, visit www.ul.ie/civileng

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established leaving certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two higher level subjects and a Grade D3 in four ordinary or higher level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language and English).

In addition applicants are required to hold at least the following in the leaving Certificate (or approved equivalent) Grade C3 in higher level mathematics and a Grade D3 in a higher or ordinary level paper in any one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering,Technical Drawing/Design & Communication Graphics,Technology, Biology,Agricultural Science.

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

For Further information and sample exam papers, click here

Career Prospects

The details of a career path can vary depending on market forces and the preference of the graduate. In some fields and in some firms, entry-level engineers work primarily monitoring construction in the field, serving as the “eyes and ears” of more senior design engineers; while in other areas, entry-level engineers perform routine analysis or design tasks. More senior engineers can move into doing more complex analysis or design work, or management of more complex design projects, or management of other engineers, or into specialised consulting e.g., offshore engineering, high-rise design and forensic engineering.

The flexibility offered by the breadth and structure of the course will produce graduates with the diverse skills necessary to adapt to the demands and challenges of civil engineering practice in the 21st century. Career opportunities exist in areas of infrastructure, building, water resources, environmental and government agencies.

Graduates may elect to pursue further studies by undertaking master or doctoral degrees at the University of Limerick. The recent establishment of BRE (Ireland) (Building Research Establishment) in Limerick provides graduates of this programme with unparalleled opportunities to pursue construction research particularly in the area of sustainable construction. The University of Limerick will seek accreditation for the degree with Engineers Ireland so as to optimise employment opportunities for graduates and to establish them as members of a professional association.

Want to find out more about possible careers with this degree? Click Here

Student Profile

James Long As a child I was fascinated by buildings and bridges and I loved Engineering, Maths and Physics in school so Civil Engineering seemed like a perfect choice for me. For anyone studying Engineering UL is a great place to be and the campus is home to some amazing works of engineering, including the award winning “Living Bridge” – the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland. The course itself is fantastic; like anything worth doing its hard work sometimes, but we’re constantly starting new and different projects. For instance we recently completed a design and build of a 6m tall timber siege tower.  We used the siege platforms to re-inact The Siege of Limerick at King John’s castle. What better way of learning about timber design can there be?