There have been many arguments about which is better between, civil and construction engineering. Although there has been visible evidence that should convince people of which is better, some still turn a suspicious eye towards this.
This is what this article is aimed to achieve: to help you understand the difference between civil engineering vs. construction engineering.
Regardless of all the debates, the point is, in many ways than one, both careers have been very instrumental in the rapid advancement of our society. In this post, you’ll find us compare the two careers for better understanding.
But meanwhile, here below is the table of contents to help you have a quick look into our discussion.
Table of contents
- What is Civil Engineering?
- What is Construction Engineering?
- Are there any similarities between Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering?
- What are the differences between Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering?
- What are the career requirements to become a Civil engineer?
- What are the career requirements to become a Construction engineer?
- Which of these two careers is in more demand?
- Who earns better between a Construction Engineer and a Civil Engineer?
- Civil Engineering VS Construction Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- References
- We Also Recommend
What is Civil Engineering?
According to Wikipedia, civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with designing, constructing, and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment. This includes public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways.
Generally, it is simply everything we see that’s been built around us. The field of Civil engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering.
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What is Construction Engineering?
Construction Engineering is a career that has to do with applying technical and scientific knowledge to the construction of infrastructures. Infrastructures could be bridges, buildings, roads, and more.
Civil Engineers that are educated in the field of construction management are classified as Construction Engineers. Part of what is required of them is to plan construction activities, supervise the installation of structural elements, and inspect the building from start to finish.
Construction Engineers work with architects and Engineering technicians on building design and on-site problem-solving. Construction Engineers also compile reports detailing the project’s cost feasibility and estimation.
Are there any similarities between Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering?
The only known similarity between civil and construction engineering is that both are engineering careers. Also, civil and construction engineering are similar to the degree that both deal with the construction industry.
Civil engineering deals more with the design, planning, and analysis of a construction project, while construction engineering primarily involves on-site construction management.
Ultimately, construction engineering is a specialty under the parent career of civil engineering.
What are the differences between Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering?
Having seen some similarities between these two careers, I know the two jobs are very different. While a construction site might see both a construction engineer and a civil engineer, they will be separate people.
The two professionals require different levels of education, other areas of expertise, and the career paths are different.
There are many differences between construction engineering and civil engineering. This part will explore some of the differences between these two careers.
The main difference between civil and construction engineers is that civil engineers are more like in the designing of infrastructure, while construction engineers specialize in the on-site implementation of the plans done by the civil engineer.
The academics and curriculum of these two engineering branches are somewhat similar and are sometimes used in the same context. One needs to have real talents to succeed in a civil and construction engineer career. Some universities offer construction engineering courses as a part of civil engineering.
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What are the career requirements to become a Civil engineer?
Budding civil engineers generally begin their college careers by enrolling in chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics courses in high school. Additionally, students may take courses in engineering statistics in order to develop their computational skills.
Generally, a civil engineering career begins with need a bachelor’s degree. It could be in any one of its specialties, or civil engineering technology. Students will be exposed to coursework like maths, statistics, engineering mechanics and systems, and fluid dynamics, among other courses, depending on the area of specialization. Courses include a mix of traditional classroom learning, work in laboratories, and fieldwork.
After the undergraduate course work, a civil engineering student may need also to acquire his master’s degree. Though this is not compulsory, it is important.
A degree from a program accredited by the ABET is needed in order to earn a professional engineer (PE) license. In many states, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology also will suffice as an academic requirement for obtaining a license.
What are the career requirements to become a Construction engineer?
Construction engineers need at least a bachelor’s degree to obtain entry-level positions. A bachelor’s degree in construction engineering is best for starting this career.
During the program, students will take courses that will prepare them for a swell-time career in construction engineering.
Those who wish to specialize in a specific type of construction engineering or work in an upper-level position may need a master’s degree.
Some courses you’ll do include engineering, physics, mathematics, and other STEM-related classes.
Which of these two careers is in more demand?
The employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 6 percent over the next ten years. As infrastructure continues to age, civil engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild, repair, and upgrade bridges, roads, levees, dams, airports, buildings, and structures of all types.
According to the BLS, civil engineering career is expected to increase by 11% between 2016 and 2026.
Construction Engineering, an arm of civil engineering, is also expected to grow on the same pedestal as civil engineering.
Who earns better between a Construction Engineer and a Civil Engineer?
Construction engineers and civil engineers earn salaries almost within the same range. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average salary for civil engineers is $87,060 per year, while the average salary for construction engineers is $95,260.
From this report, we can deduce that construction engineers earn higher salaries than civil engineers. This is because they do the bulk of the work on site.
Civil Engineering VS Construction Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions
Civil engineering basically has to do with designing, planning, and implementing projects, whereas construction engineering mainly focuses on on-site construction methods and procedures.
Construction engineers and civil engineers earn salaries almost within the same range. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average salary for civil engineers is $87,060 per year, while the average salary for construction engineers is $95,260.
The main difference between civil and construction engineers is that civil engineers are more like in designing infrastructure. In contrast, construction engineers specialize in the on-site implementation of the plans done by the civil engineer.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career either in construction or civil engineering is usually very rewarding. However, from the article, we can deduce that working as a construction engineer will take you more time and commitment and will, at the same time, pay you more.
We hope this article on civil engineering vs construction engineering helps you make an informed choice on the next step to take in your career pursuit.
References
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