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Learn Civil Engineering

The engineering of bridges, buildings, roads, water and the ground beneath them.

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Civil engineering designs and maintains the built environment: bridges, buildings, roads, dams, water supply and wastewater systems. Its main branches are structural, geotechnical, transportation, water resources, environmental and construction engineering, and they share a foundation in statics, mechanics of materials and fluid mechanics. Beginners learn how loads travel through a structure into the ground, how beams bend, and how soil behaves under weight. Learnr builds a civil engineering course for you and teaches it in short, interactive lessons that turn load paths and beam diagrams into practice problems.

How to learn Civil Engineering, step by step

Start with statics and load paths. Learn equilibrium and free-body diagrams, then follow loads from a floor slab through beams, columns and foundations into the soil. Spotting the load path in your own house or a nearby bridge makes the abstract diagrams concrete.
Analyze beams and trusses. Solve truss forces by the method of joints and sections, then draw shear and moment diagrams for beams under point and distributed loads. These diagrams tell designers where a member is working hardest and where to add material.
Learn how common materials behave. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension, which is why steel reinforcement sits where beams are pulled apart. Compare steel, timber and reinforced concrete, and see why building codes specify safety factors for each.
Study soil and foundations. Learn soil classification, effective stress, consolidation and bearing capacity. Soil behaves very differently from steel, and many structural failures start in the ground, so geotechnical basics matter even if you lean toward structures.
Cover water and transportation systems. Learn open channel flow, pipe networks, stormwater runoff and the stages of drinking water and wastewater treatment. Then look at road geometry, traffic flow and pavement design, the other half of public infrastructure.
Practice problems and understand the profession. Work problems daily, for instance with short Learnr sets that keep statics sharp. Know that designing real structures legally requires an accredited degree and a Professional Engineer license, and that codes govern every decision.

What you'll learn

Identify dead, live, wind, snow and seismic loads and trace the load path
Draw shear and bending moment diagrams for simply supported beams
Explain how soil properties affect foundations and slopes
Describe how water is supplied, treated and drained in a city
Explain the role of building codes and professional licensing in public safety

What's inside your Civil Engineering course

A sample path Learnr builds for Civil Engineering. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. Statics and loads on structures
2. Mechanics of materials and structural analysis
3. Concrete, steel and timber
4. Soil mechanics and foundations
5. Water resources and environmental engineering
6. Transportation, surveying and construction

How long does it take to learn Civil Engineering?

A foundation in statics, beam analysis and the main branches takes about 4 to 8 months at 5 hours a week. Practicing as a civil engineer requires an accredited four-year degree, and in the US sealing designs requires a PE license after the FE exam, supervised experience and the PE exam.

What you need before you start

Algebra, trigonometry and introductory physics. Calculus becomes necessary for structural analysis and fluid mechanics, and basic chemistry helps with materials and water treatment.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a structure that looks sturdy is safe. Every design must be checked against code loads, load combinations and safety factors by a qualified engineer.
Ignoring the soil. A strong structure on a poor foundation can settle unevenly, crack or fail.
Designing or altering load-bearing parts of a building yourself. Structural changes require a licensed engineer and building permits.

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Civil Engineering questions, answered

Do civil engineers need a license?

In the US, an engineer must hold a Professional Engineer license to seal and approve designs for public projects. Licensing typically requires an accredited degree, passing the FE exam, about four years of supervised experience and passing the PE exam.

What is the difference between civil engineering and architecture?

Architects focus on a building's design, use and appearance. Civil and structural engineers make sure it stands up and that its foundations, water systems and site work function safely. The two work closely together.

What math does civil engineering use?

Algebra, trigonometry, calculus, differential equations, statistics and linear algebra. Statics and structural analysis lean heavily on algebra and trigonometry, while hydraulics and dynamics require calculus.