Civil Engineering Career

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I intend to contact the Auckland University about their Civil Engineering Programme and the Entrance Qualifications. I am already expecting these to include Year 13 NCEA Calculus and Physics (NCEA is the National Certificate in Educational Achievement, the current qualification framework in New Zealand High Schools, and Year 13 is the fifth and final year of High School and thus the highest level of such study. All this was introduced long after I left High School). Since I have not passed Year 13 Calculus and haven't used Physics since school I'll have to restudy these.

What parts of Calculus are used in Civil Engineering?

So the physics side is used more than the maths side?

I am an electrical engineer. I find that engineering is an excellent field for Aspies, but can't offer much advice about civil engineering specifically.

I found some civil engineering lectures on YouTube.

After many calls and emails, the admissions person finally gave me the stuff I need to know.

They recommend one semester in science (focusing on maths / physics), and after passing apply for engineering. The first year of Civil Engineering is actually General Engineering, the specialisations come in the second year afterwards.

An alternative entry option is to study 1 semester of science (maths, physics, one science course and one general education course), and then study general engineering over the second semester and summer school.

Or I could study science for a year then begin civil engineering.


I'll be in auckland for a fortnight, So I'll enrol then and speak to someone about what's best for me.

The 2010 programme structure was as follows:



Course Code Course Name Points

Part I General Engineering (Compulsory)
ENGSCI 111 Mathematical Modelling 1 15
ENGGEN 121 Engineering Mechanics 15
ELECTENG101 Electrical and Digital Systems 15
General Education 1 15
CHEMMAT 121 Materials Science 15
ENGGEN 115 Introduction to Engineering Design 15
ENGGEN 140 Biology and Chemistry for Engineers 15
ENGGEN 131 Intro. To Engineering Computation and Software Development 15


Part II Civil Engineering (Compulsory)
ENGSCI 211 Mathematical Modelling 2 15
CIVIL 210 Introduction to Structures 15
CIVIL 220 Introductory Eng Geology 10
CIVIL 201 Land Inform Systems 10
CIVIL 230 Fluid Mechanics 1 10
ENGGEN 299 Workshop practice 0
General Education 2 15
CIVIL 211 Structures and Design 1 10
ENVENG 244 Environmental Engineering 1 15
CIVIL 221 Geomechanics 1 10
CIVIL 250 Civil Engineering Materials and Design 10


Part III (Compulsory)
CIVIL 312 Structures and Design 2 Or ENVENG 341 Environmental Engineering 2 15
CIVIL 331 Hydraulic Eng. 10
CIVIL 360 Transportation Engineering 1 10
CIVIL 322 Geomechanics 2 10
ENGGEN 303 Management for Engineers 15
CIVIL 313 Structures & Design 3 Or ENVENG 342 Environmental Engineering Design 15
ENVENG 333 Engineering Hydrology 10
CIVIL 361 Transportation Engineering 2 10
ENGSCI 311 Mathematical Modelling 3 15

Part III Electives: (Choose only 1 from the following)
CIVIL 314 Structural Dynamics 10
CIVIL 324 Geomechanics 3 10
CIVIL 332 Environmental Fluid Mechanics 10


Part IV
CIVIL 490 Civil Engineering Administration 15
ENVENG 499 Practical work 0
ENGEN 403 Professional and Stustainability Issues 15

Final Year Electives - Civil Engineering.
90 points selected from the following and/or Environmental Engineering Part IV
CIVIL 403 Special Topic in Civil Engineering 1 15
CIVIL 404 Special Topic in Civil Engineering 2 15
CIVIL 408 Research project 15
CIVIL 409 Construction Management 15
CIVIL 411 Design of Steel and Concrete Structures 15
CIVIL 416 Matrix Structural Analysis 15
CIVIL 420 Geomechanics 3 15
CIVIL 421 Foundation Engineering 15
CIVIL 422 Slope Engineering 15
CIVIL 451 Design in Structural Timber and Reinforced Masonry Engineering 15
CIVIL 460 Traffic Systems Planning & Design 15
CIVIL 461 Highway and Transportation Design 15
CIVIL 482 Water Resources Engineering 15
ENVENG 402 Special Topic in Environmental Engineering 1 15
ENVENG 403 Special Topic in Environmental Engineering 2 15
ENVENG 407 Special Topic in Environmental Engineering 3 15
ENVENG 406 Research project 15
ENVENG 419 Design Project 15
ENVENG 441 Water and Wastewater Engineering 15
GEOLOGY 372 Case Histories in Engineering Geology 15
Other approved course(s) 15


I have thought about specialisations, Earthquake safety is foremost, I'm unsure about others. But it seems it won't be an issue until the 3rd year.

mjs82, did your course assume any prior studies in general engineering?

That first year is total different to ours. Half your second years projects are first year ones hear. We don't do electrical systems, some of that is covered in physics course though. And the footwork for bio and chem is covered in a course here called Environmental Engineering. Engineering software is a 2nd year subject here. Intro to structures is a 1st year subject followed by 3 theory of structures units.

I am quite surprised that Geomechanics 3, Steel and Concrete, Foundations, Timber etc are electives. They're compulsory here. I notice though there's an emphases on Environmental Engineering. Here, that's a seperate degree.

I chose to specialise in Technological Risk, which covered earthquakes, bombs, disasters etc.

High School pre-requisites:

Math
Physics or Chemistry or Engineering Science (2 of each)