Civil engineers underpin society, building and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps our world running. They ensure access to clean water, manage waste sustainably, and optimise water resources for urban, agricultural, and recreational use. They design the roads, bridges, and transport systems that drive economies forward and make daily life seamless. From housing solutions to disaster recovery, civil engineers solve critical challenges and form the foundation of modern life.
Today, technological advancements are transforming the field. Cutting-edge developments in computing, materials, sensors, and biotechnology enable civil engineers to create smarter, more resilient infrastructure that balances human needs with environmental sustainability.
If you’re seeking an impactful programme on a friendly, safe, and welcoming campus, look no further than Kansas State University (K-State). Its Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, with over a century of academic excellence, offers a supportive, research-driven environment where students become future leaders. The Department of Civil Engineering builds on this legacy, equipping professionals with advanced knowledge and practical skills to tackle modern challenges.
Kansas State University’s Department of Civil Engineering delivers excellent instruction and prepares students for professional careers in civil engineering. Source: Kansas State University
Pioneering research for a sustainable future
The department’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its research. For instance, a team led by Associate Professor Jeongdae Im has been studying silage — a key agricultural feed — and its role in producing nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. The researchers discovered that N2O emissions from silage largely stem from denitrifying bacteria. To combat this, they tested the addition of chlorate, a compound known to inhibit denitrification.
The results were promising: chlorate significantly reduced N2O emissions across various crops. This breakthrough highlights a practical solution to a pressing environmental challenge.
“Our findings reveal that silage is a notable source of nitrous-oxide emissions, but more importantly, they highlight a practical solution to address this issue,” Im says. “By incorporating chlorate into silage additives, we can target the denitrifying bacteria responsible for these emissions.”
This kind of pioneering research is solving problems, paving the way for a sustainable future, and also informs K-State’s civil engineering graduate programmes, ranked 69th by US News & World Report 2024.
Comprehensive graduate programmes
At K-State, students can pursue master’s and doctoral degrees with specialisations in Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Transportation Engineering. These programmes prepare graduates for leadership roles in industries, academia, and government. More importantly, they equip students with the knowledge and skills to make a real difference.
“Pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering was pivotal in shaping my career and professional development, ultimately leading to my role as an assistant professor,” says Poornima Patil, Class of 2023. “The programme honed my ability to conduct independent research on concrete materials and structures, from formulating research questions to designing experiments, analysing data, and drawing meaningful conclusions.”
Similarly, Fahed H. Salahat (Class of 2023) found the programme’s strong theoretical foundation and exposure to advanced research pivotal to his career. “It equipped me with essential skills that will help me advance in my career, both as a researcher and as a structural designer,” he says. “The combination of a strong theoretical foundation and exposure to cutting-edge research has been pivotal in preparing me for the challenges of the industry and academia.”
The Kansas State University’s Department of Civil Engineering addresses challenges like urban infrastructure vulnerability and access to clean water through research projects. Source: Kansas State University
Hands-on learning and real-world applications
The Department of Civil Engineering at K-State is all about real-world learning and tackling big issues like infrastructure and environmental protection. Students get to work in high-tech labs, join student groups, and take part in impactful research. In fact, the department is driving research projects focused on the 14 grand engineering challenges, especially urban infrastructure improvement and access to clean water.
For Kahao Lim (Class of 2020), this hands-on approach was transformative. Growing up in an area with droughts and water shortages, he became passionate about water management. At K-State, he worked on a PhD in Civil Engineering and researched a new technology called Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors (AnMBR). This technology helps treat wastewater, generate energy, and produce clean water for reuse.
K-State’s flexible curriculum allowed him to learn from different fields, giving him a well-rounded perspective that was useful for his research. “My experiences operating the pilot-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor have been the greatest help to my career thus far,” Lim says. “The system exposed me not only to skills critical to process engineering design, including design calculations and reading process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), but also gave me operating experience.”
This operating experience has helped Lim to consider the end user when designing systems. The opportunity to conduct fieldwork for an extensive period provided him with skills that directly translate into his experience performing startup and commissioning for his current projects at Stantec.
Interested? Learn more about Civil Engineering at K-State.
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