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Construction Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Delivery Options

Campus
Online

Program Deadline

Fall admission priority:
January 15th

Apply Now Mission and Vision Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

How to Apply

Leadership

Why Construction Engineering?

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If the idea of designing and delivering the infrastructure of the future (resilient cities, sustainable buildings, and adaptive spaces) that improves human life for generations appeals, you might consider a degree in construction engineering. As a construction engineer, you will act as a liaison, translating architectural vision and engineering precision into functional living environments. Your work enables people to navigate and thrive in the world — from hospitals and schools to transportation systems and manufacturing centers. Your insights will optimize energy use and stimulate the development of newer, more innovative methods and materials.

Program Overview

The BS in construction engineering degree from Colorado School of Mines provides the math, physics, and engineering rigor you expect from an ABET-accredited Mines engineering degree, along with hands-on project experience, and the logistics, business, management and people skills you will need to advance in the profession.

Construction Engineering majors bring a mix of technical aptitude, strong project management and communication skills, and a passion for working in teams. You will graduate ready to translate design concepts into a rapidly evolving built environment and manage construction projects across various sectors, including residential, commercial, health care, industrial, and heavy civil.

Program Focus

Mines recognizes that America’s construction industry is undergoing a major transformation, as AI, advanced materials, next-gen equipment, and process automation promise improvements in safety, speed, sustainability, and precision. You will gain a solid foundation in civil engineering, a core in construction engineering, and exposure to industry innovations.

The Mines BS in construction engineering degree focuses on a set of core skills: construction methods, cost estimating, planning and scheduling, and project control and management, and includes exposure to structural engineering and geotechnical engineering. Review all course descriptions here.

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Program Design/Options

Build

Along with coursework, you will tackle real-world construction engineering problems, such as planning job sites, estimating scopes, and creating constructability plans, thanks to the industry-sponsored BUILD Program. BUILD projects integrate with Mines Field and Capstone requirements, and expose you to real-world challenges faced by construction engineers, including:

  • Project planning and cost estimating/monitoring
  • Safety and quality control
  • Complex contracts and risk management
  • Shifting material and labor costs
  • Workflow scheduling, phasing and site coordination

As a Construction Engineering major, you can pursue minors and areas of special interest such as environmental and structural engineering, water sustainability, additive manufacturing, operations research, and quantum engineering.

BS/MS - Non-Thesis Program

As a Mines undergraduate student, you have the opportunity to begin work on a non-thesis MS degree in several Civil Engineering areas while completing a bachelor’s degree. You can double-count up to six credits of 500-level graduate coursework, allowing you to earn both degrees in approximately five years. Choose a focus from Environmental and Water Engineering, Environmental Engineering Science, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or Hydrology. Your 4+1 application becomes available once you have 60 or more credits on your transcript.

Program Opportunities

kiewit scholars
Industry Opportunities

The Kiewit Scholars Program, a joint venture between Mines and Kiewit Corporation, underscores the industry-designed nature of the construction engineering degree program, and the role that employers want to play in preparing graduates. Selected students receive financial assistance and broad exposure to industry challenges, experts and field opportunities to kickstart their career readiness. Learn more here.

Why Mines Mission and Vision
man farm
Industry Opportunities

America’s largest civil and construction engineering firms recruit Mines students for internships and full-time positions. Those employers include: Jacobs, Hecla Mining Company, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Merrick & Company and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power.

Why Mines Mission and Vision
women lab
Research Opportunities

The Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF) supports research assistants on faculty-led research projects. The First-Year Innovation and Research Scholar Training (FIRST) Fellowship provides up to a $1000 stipend, disbursed hourly, to compensate for your time spent on research. You will develop skills through research and other independent study opportunities in partnership with several research labs across campus, including:

  • Advanced Water Technology Center
  • Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes
  • Re-Inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure
  • Center for Underground Construction and Tunneling
  • ConocoPhillips Center for a Sustainable WE²ST

Salaries and Career Outlook

86k Median starting salary for Mines undergraduates in civil and construction-related engineering fields.
#1 The Colorado School of Mines ranks #1 for return on investment (ROI) among Colorado public universities.
$74k Average salary for project engineers, a common entry-level role for Construction Engineering graduates.
#3 in the nation among public universities at all measured intervals (10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 years).

Program Curriculum

Courses You May Take
  • Introduction to Construction Engineering
  • Construction Materials and Methods
  • Project Management for Construction
  • Structural Analysis and Design
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Construction Safety and Risk Management
  • Sustainable Construction Practices
  • Construction Equipment and Technology
History and Traditions

Program Faculty

Mines Construction Engineering faculty balance research-active academic and experienced professional engineer perspectives to give you a well-rounded experience. Their combined knowledge and experience provide insights into:

construction materials/methods, materials behavior, structural systems/innovation, sustainable practices, digital construction methods, construction management, infrastructure project delivery, field oversight

Program Faculty

Mines Construction Engineering faculty balance research-active academic and experienced professional engineer perspectives to give you a well-rounded experience. Their combined knowledge and experience provide insights into:

construction materials/methods, materials behavior, structural systems/innovation, sustainable practices, digital construction methods, construction management, infrastructure project delivery, field oversight

Facilities

Heavy Construction Machinery
Heavy Construction Studio

A campus-wide program that connects you with your peers across engineering disciplines. The Studio serves as a hub for student exposure to large-scale projects, new technologies like automation and robotics, and collaboration between disciplines. The Studio also hosts informal events to allow you a chance to interact directly with partner companies in the industry.

Servo-hydraulic Testing System
Research-grade Servo-hydraulic Testing System

You will work alongside faculty and researchers and learn to use the MTS 370 Load Frame for precise, programmable measurement of loads, displacements, and stresses (compression, tension, flexure (bending), fatigue) on various construction materials— concrete cylinders, steel bars, asphalt, wood, and composites—to evaluate their strength, durability, and mechanical behavior.

A large machine that is inside of a building.
Center for Underground Construction and Tunneling

The Center for Underground Construction and Tunneling (UC&T) advances knowledge and state-of-the-art practice in underground construction and tunneling. Led by Professor Mike Mooney, the center’s research includes soil conditioning, tunnel boring machine techniques and cross passage design and construction.

Construction Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Construction Engineering?

Construction Engineering is the branch of civil engineering focused on the planning, design, management, and execution of construction projects. It integrates principles from structural engineering, project management, geotechnical engineering, materials science, and construction technology to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Construction engineers are responsible for translating engineering designs into reality while managing costs, schedules, quality, and environmental compliance. The field spans a wide range of projects, including buildings, bridges, highways, tunnels, airports, and infrastructure systems, and requires expertise in both technical engineering principles and construction management practices.

What are the most interesting advances and technologies shaping the field of Construction Engineering?

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What career options are available with a degree in Construction Engineering?

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What industries hire graduates with a degree in Construction Engineering?

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What industries hire graduates with a degree in Construction Engineering?

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What are the current research directions in Construction Engineering?

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Why Mines

Featured Alumni

Alumni Spotlight Jon Doe
“

Madison Tatinski 2026, Construction Engineering

“I took Intro to Construction Engineering and I really enjoyed the class, the projects we were doing, the teamwork, the topics we were learning, and I really enjoyed the professors that I got to meet and the industry connections we made in that first class.”

Take the Next Step

Tour campus, step inside our labs and maker spaces, and explore Golden — your future base camp in the Rockies. Whether in person or online, we’ll help you build a visit that fits your goals.

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The Mines Experiential Difference

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Field

Sharpen technical skills in immersive environments and apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

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Kick off your Mines journey with an immersive, high-energy Orientation Week designed to help you feel connected from day one. You’ll meet your people, explore campus, and dive into the traditions that make Mines special. It’s the perfect launchpad for your first year.

Research

Work alongside faculty mentors and develop research, writing, and presentation skills that define scientific inquiry.