Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Civil Engineering
WHAT IS CIVIL ENGINEERING AND WHO IS A CIVIL ENGINEER?
Civil engineering is one of the engineering disciplines that deals with constructed environment and includes planning, budgeting, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, channels, dams, irrigation projects, power plants and water and sewage systems. A civil engineer is therefore, one who practices civil engineering. In this field, there are a number of branches. These include structural engineering, construction engineering, geotechnical engineering, water engineering, transportation engineering and so on.
WHERE DO CIVIL ENGINEERS WORK?
Civil engineers generally work either in consultancy firms (e.g. Africa infrastructure consultants or Bicon Zambia Limited) or with contractors. In either place, consultancy or contractors, you can find structural engineers, construction engineers or transport engineers etc. In the consultancy firms, the engineers provide designs and supervise projects depending on what is needed. Construction engineers, working for contractors, manage the construction of those projects.
It should be noted that the engineers can also be consultants and contractors in the public service. This means they can be consulted over the designs and construction of government buildings and other structures. An example of such is in situations when the Road Development Agency (RDA) requires the construction or maintenance or roads
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
The specific tasks that a civil engineer does are dependent on where they work and the branch of engineering into which they are concerned.
In consultancy (design), civil engineers are designers of structures like buildings, bridges, highways and roads, dams, town water supply systems, railway and airport structures and so on. Additionally, they do a consideration of forces so that what is built is able to withstand various forces and stresses. They also produce working drawings for the designs which are to be used by the contractors. Supervision at the building sites is also carried out by those in consultancy, this is to make sure that there is no compromise in the materials used and that the designs are being followed correctly.
Under construction, civil engineers work for contractors or they themselves can be contractors. They manage the making or constructing of what the consultants and architects have put up in plans. They make sure that the projects are done in the scheduled time, built in accordance with the plans, safe when being done and also within budget.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A CIVIL ENGINEER?
The work schedule of a civil engineer is dependent on where he/she works. In general, those in consultancy will mostly work in the design offices from Monday to Friday from 8:00hrs to 17:00hrs. They may go on site to supervise the project and work over that time if the construction is also being done in the night. On the other hand, those in construction have no definite schedule per say. This is because the buildings or whatever structure may be worked during the day or in the night. In this case, shifts may come in where one works during the day or during the night.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
The job martket for the civil engineers can be described to be fair. They are mostly employed by the construction companies (contractors) or in the engineering consultancy firms. Given that civil engineering has a wide range of branches, the engineers are able to be employed in many sectors. Examples of such sectors are water companies where they are the water engineers, transportation where they help to plan for construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Also, the government is in need of their expertise and employs them in the various fields to plan for government projects, supervise these projects and manage their construction.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
Civil engineers on the general tend to be investigative, inquisitive and curious. The component of designing of the structures to be built requires that someone be creative, able to think abstractly or be imaginative and also be analytical. Additionally, leadership skills and decisiveness are good traits to possess. One also has to love the outdoors and hands-on work as the work is not always spent in a design office with plans of buildings or roads.
Also, one who chooses to pursue civil engineering needs to have had an interest in mathematics, physics and chemistry. A background in geometrical and mechanical drawing or design and technology is an added advantage. These subjects help someone form a good background and makes it easier to learn and understand what civil engineering is all about.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Civil Engineering
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
The range of subjects covered during the program of civil engineering include mathematics, fluid mechanics, civil engineering materials and construction principles, engineering surveying, civil engineering design, environmental engineering, hydraulics, soil mechanics and engineering geology, numerical and statistical analysis, water resources engineering, water and wastewater engineering, construction project management and professional practice, structural design, highway engineering, transportation engineering and geotechnics and site investigations.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
Most universities will not enroll you directly into the civil engineering program at degree level unless you have passed A’ levels or hold a diploma in civil engineering. You will first be enrolled into the school of natural sciences where you will learn A’ level mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in your first year. Depending on how you perform, you can then apply for entrance into the engineering courses in your second year. Other universities do admit grade 12 school leavers directly into civil engineering but even in such cases, the first year subjects will be A’ level natural sciences.
Generally, credits or better in six subjects including mathematics, English and the sciences (physics and chemistry) on the grade 12 certificate allows one to have a chance to enter the natural sciences and later make points to enter the engineering course. But it should be strongly noted that admission into the natural sciences program is very competitive and better results (10 points or better) give you a better chance to enter the university and then also pursue civil engineering in the latter years.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
A civil engineer can advance his/her education by pursing a masters or a doctorate. These advancements are in the branches of engineering such as structural engineering or transportation engineering. The masters or doctorate allows one to work in academics by teaching at universities or to further their knowledge so that they are consulted more or contracted for construction works.
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Programme duration: 5 years (Degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Natural Sciences
Intakes: January
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 292792
E-mail: dean-eng@unza.zm
Website: www.unza.zm/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-of-engineering-b-eng-civil-and-environmental-engineering
COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Intakes: January
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 290816 /+260 212 290817 / +260 212 290815
E-mail: academicoffice@cbu.ac.zm
Website: www.cbu.ac.zm/fees/
MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Science, Engineering and Technology
Intakes: August
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 215 228004
E-mail: academic@mu.ac.zm
Website: www.mu.ac.zm
UNIVERSITY OF EDENBERG
Programme duration: 5 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Engineering
Intakes: January
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 964 292501 / +260 971 874752 / +260 977 867401
E-mail: academic@ue.edu.zm
Website: www.ue.edu.zm/fees-structure.html
GIDEON ROBERT UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Engineering and Biosciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260969899875
E-mail: vc@gideonrobertyuniversity.com
Website: gideonrobert.education