COURSE CURRICULUM

The BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering at SETU is a four-year honours degree that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience required for professional careers in civil engineering. In Year 1, students are introduced to fundamental engineering principles and core technical subjects including Engineering Drawing, Mathematics and Statistics, Engineering Physics and Chemistry, Material Science and Soil Mechanics, Quantity Surveying, and Civil Engineering Technology. This foundation year develops the analytical, mathematical, and scientific understanding essential for more advanced study. Year 2 builds on this knowledge by focusing on specialized civil engineering topics such as Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Design, Civil Engineering Drawing and BIM, Earthworks Analysis, Structural Analysis, and Engineering Economics and Management. Students also strengthen their technical and surveying skills while integrating mathematics and statistics with engineering applications. In Year 3, the program emphasizes applied civil engineering design and analysis, covering areas including Road Design, Highway and Traffic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydraulics, and Engineering Geology. Advanced structural analysis and design concepts are explored, alongside practical projects that require students to apply theory to real-world engineering challenges. Year 4 consolidates learning and prepares students for professional practice with advanced modules such as Structural Design and Analysis, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Hydraulics, and Highway and Traffic Engineering. Students also complete a dissertation, develop professional awareness in the module Engineer in Society, and undertake an industrial work placement, gaining hands-on experience in a civil engineering environment. Throughout the program, mandatory and elective modules are carefully balanced to ensure students gain both breadth and depth of knowledge. The course emphasizes “learning by doing,” combining lectures, laboratory work, and team-based projects to develop problem-solving, analytical, and design skills. Graduates emerge with a strong technical foundation, practical experience, and professional competencies that prepare them to design, manage, and oversee complex civil engineering projects, making them highly employable in Ireland and internationally across sectors such as construction, transportation, water and environmental engineering, and consultancy.