From the inside of our homes to massive skyscrapers and from small public parks to national space programs, civil engineers work to create the built environment while also shaping the natural environment. Integrating both the hard sciences and esthetics, civil engineers work at the leading edge of engineering to make our lives more efficient, more convenient, and more enjoyable. Civil engineering (\u2018civil\u2019 as in \u2018not military\u2019, not \u2018civil\u2019 as in \u2018polite\u2019!) has a considerably long history, second only to military engineering, and we encounter the work of civil engineers in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Without civil engineers, our cities would develop in chaos; we would have to drive on make-shift roads; and no person would have ever walked on the moon.<\/p>\n
Due to the broad range of work that civil engineers do, they often choose to specialize within the field. Some specialties include Control Engineering (for space flight), Environmental Engineering, and Forensic Engineering. There are many others \u2013 far too many to list here. However, if you have a love of science and the desire to apply that knowledge to make the world a better place, you will likely find your skills in high demand. Unlike other fields such as medicine where students need to complete a terminal degree before they begin working, civil engineers progress up a career ladder that starts right after finishing their bachelor\u2019s degree. After that, civil engineers begin working in order to gain their licensure. In addition, licensing bodies typically recognize certifications from one another, allowing civil engineers to work across borders.<\/p>\n