Civil and Construction Engineering involve the application of basic scientific and technological principles to the design and construction of facilities necessary for the welfare of the community.

It is concerned with such projects as railways, harbours and docks, road systems, bridges, water supply and wastewater treatment, dams, tunnels and mining construction, power projects, offshore structures, and domestic, commercial, and industrial buildings. In short, if it is built in or on the ground, Civil engineers built it.

The effective practice of civil engineering and construction engineering necessitates a strong background in the mathematical and physical sciences, an understanding of the properties of construction materials such as steel, concrete, timber and natural aggregates, and an ability to evaluate the performance of structures under variable forms of loading.

Many engineering projects require a close working relationship with other groups - planners, architects, environmental scientists - and an appreciation of the impact of civil works on society in terms of both social obligations and finance. The civil and construction engineer also needs training in management of resources, effects on environment, equipment, materials, finance, and legal matters.

The Department of Civil Engineering offers programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and, in addition, supports a system of continuing education units in conjunction with professional bodies. The Department also offers a Masters course in Engineering Management applicable to all fields of engineering.

Demand for Curtin's civil and construction engineers remains strong. The graduates of the Department find full-time employment as civil and construction engineers mainly with federal, state or municipal authorities, consulting engineers, large contractors and/or specialist subcontractors. Many graduates also find work interstate or overseas. The Department's graduates are held in high regard by employers and the profession.

The Department is located on Level 4 in the Engineering & Surveying Building (Building 204) in the main campus located in Bentley, Western Australia. The extensive laboratory facilities of the Department are located in (Building 206): Civil Engineering Laboratories. Lecturing and computing facilities are generally provided on a faculty basis, with excellent access to PC laboratories.

Should high school student counsellors and/or a group of students wish to visit Curtin's Department of Civil Engineering, a special presentation outlining the Department's courses and other activities could be arranged.

For further details, contact:

Professor David Scott
Professor and Head
Department of Civil Engineering
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U1987, Perth
Western Australia 6845
email: d.scott@curtin.edu.au
Phone: (08) 9266 7573
International: +61 8 9266 7573
Fax: (08) 9266 2681
International: +61 8 9266 2681