传统上，土木工程被定义为在自然界中为社会的使用和便利引导巨大动力源的艺术。更准确地说，土木工程师计划，设计和监督文明生活所依赖的基本设施的建设。由于土木工程师负责塑造人造环境，因此，他们还应对人造环境在自然环境中的影响负责。工程学院为合格的学生提供了一个参加五年制学士/理学硕士学位课程的机会。该课程的结构允许合格的工程专业学生在大学学士学位的高年级期间进入研究生研究或设计课程。在第四年中，该学生可以保留某些课程以获得研究生学分，可以在一个研究项目中积极工作九个月，并且可以考虑以适当的薪水被聘为教学或研究助
The College of Engineering provides an opportunity for qualified students to participate in a five-year bachelor/master of science degree program. The program is structured to allow qualified engineering students to enter a graduate research or design program during the senior year of the bachelor's degree. During this fourth year the student may reserve certain courses for graduate credit, work actively on a research project for nine months, and may be considered for employment as a teaching or research assistant at the appropriate salary. Both the bachelor's and master's degrees can be completed in five academic years.