The Difference Between Civil Engineering & Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering Vs. Civil Engineering 

Some of you may have confusion between the two, Structural Engineering and Civil Engineering. Although the resemblance between the two is quite distinguishable, they differ in some ways. Here are some ideas that would help to enlighten you about their difference.

Civil Engineering is the discipline in engineering that deals with creating designs and developing buildings and other structures. They are one of the men behind those built structures and infrastructures around you. 

Meanwhile, Structural Engineering is a sub-discipline in Civil Engineering, wherein Structural Engineers are trained to analyze the design of a structural framework of a building or any infrastructure. They are responsible for making sure of the durability of a structure.

Can a Civil Engineer work as a Structural Engineer?

Structural Engineering is a specialization in Civil Engineering. If you are already a Civil Engineer, you may undergo more comprehensive training and experience to become a Structural Engineer.

If not all, then most of the Structural Engineers are Civil Engineers. However, not all Civil Engineers are Structural Engineers.

It is wise to hire a certified Civil Engineer or a Structural Engineer even before constructing your building. You may also hire a Structural Engineer if you have any concerns about the sturdiness of your structure. They are qualified to analyze possible problems in your building and give you reports and doable solutions.

What are the best career options after getting a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering?

Civil Engineering is undoubtedly a good career. It is a flexible career with lots of job opportunities. There are various careers and job opportunities that await a Civil Engineer. 

10 Careers in Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering has various sub-disciplines you can pursue to advance your career in Civil Engineering. These are:

1. Coastal Engineering

Coastal Engineering is a sub-discipline in Civil Engineering that specializes in coastal structures. Coastal Engineers’ concern is to structuralize, develop, and preserve the coastal surroundings.

Coastal Engineers ensure our safety when nature strikes our land. They help in minimizing the risks brought by coming natural disasters or any possible hazards around the shore. 

2.  Earthquake Engineering

Earthquake Engineering is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on making sure that the designed and developed structure can withstand and not collapse easily with a minor ground movement. 

Earthquake Engineers ensure that structures are durable in handling any ground tremor. They use various strategic methods in conceptualizing, planning, designing, and constructing earthquake-resistant structures. 

3. Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering deals with protecting the people and environment from any damaging effects from our environment. It involves the management and sustainability of our natural resources.

Environmental Engineers help ensure the safety of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the safeness of our environment as well. They develop efficient technology to ensure our safety from any danger we can get in our environment. 

4. Forensic Engineering

Forensic Engineering refers to the applicability of engineering principles to the cause of the destruction of a structure. It deals with the investigation of the cause of the damage of a construction.

Forensic Engineers study and analyze the cause of the fall of a building. They conduct a thorough investigation to identify what caused the structure to decline.

5. Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering refers to the branch of engineering that specializes in analyzing the properties of the ground of a structure construction. It mainly focuses on ensuring the stability of the foundation of the building by its surrounding geological features.

Geotechnical Engineers ensure that the location of the construction is safe for a building or any infrastructure. They make sure that the foundations of structures are firmly anchored to the earth. 

6. Transportation Engineering

Transportation Engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering that deals with the application of science and technology to the design, planning, management, and development of any form of transportation. 

Transportation Engineers are specialists in developing and analyzing problems of Transportation Systems. They are professionals in administering and providing an efficient traffic system. 

7. Municipal or Urban Engineering

Municipal or Urban Engineering deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of Municipal infrastructures like streets, sidewalks, drainage facilities, water or sewer lines, and other facilities. 

Municipal Engineers are the ones who develop community infrastructures to give more convenience and safety to their townsmen. They are part of the molding or structuring of a town. 

8. Water resources engineering

Water Resources Engineering is a discipline that involves the study, management, and development of equipment and facilities to preserve water resources. It concerns the collection and management of water. 

Engineers in this field are trained to develop types of equipment and other advanced technology to ensure the cleanliness of our water. They guarantee the safety of the water that we use every day in our homes.

9. Construction Engineering

Construction Engineering is a branch of Civil Engineering that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings and other infrastructures. It concerns the construction of built environments such as roads, subdivisions, tunnels, etc. 

The Construction Engineers are in charge of facilitating construction. They plan and check on the doability of the construction of a project. The Construction Engineer has to analyze and assess a project design and its plan of execution.

10. Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering is a sub-discipline in Civil Engineering in which Structural Engineers specialize in conducting analysis and designing the structural framework of a structure. 

The Structural Engineer ensures the stability of a structure in terms of its sturdy underlying system. They design and give solutions to potential problems of the structure of a building or infrastructure.

All of these sub-disciplines are important to our society. With the contributions of those experts in this field, we ensure our safety from possible risks around us. All of these types of Civil Engineering are great careers to pursue.

What are the roles and responsibilities of a Civil Engineer?

• Site survey and investigation.
• Assess and design a doable and detailed structural plan.
• Identifying potential problems and providing cost-efficient solutions.
• Monitoring project procedure progress.
• Supervision and management of project sites.
• Soil and materials testing.
• Consultation for project design, structural plan, and structural assessment.
• Make calculations and estimations of resources to assess project feasibility.

Related articles:

• Padilla Review Center Enrollment for the April 2024 CE Board Exam is Now Open!
• Important Civil Engineering Software 2023
• The Importance of Professional Licensure for Civil Engineers
• PRC Enrollment for CE Refresher and Final Coaching is Now Open!
• Career Paths in Civil Engineering: Exploring Specializations and Opportunities