Capitol Building- Monrovia, Liberia

Environment that needs to be sustained

Title of Program
Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering (B.Sc. Civil Engineering)
Major areas of study are: Structural Engineering, Water Resources and Environmental
Engineering and Transportation Engineering.

Vision
Civil Engineers provide the basic needs of the society such as: economical and efficient shelters,
infrastructures for supplying clean water, environmental facilities, transportation structures for all
modes of transport, and general infrastructures such as office buildings and hospitals, needed for
everyday living and national economic growth. The professional engineers will be trained using
the international standards to undertake these crucial responsibilities.

Mission
The mission of civil engineering program is to prepare highly - skilled engineers who can
contribute significantly to national reconstruction with particular emphasis in infrastructures and
development utilizing global technological advancement.

Program Educational Objectives

The objective of the civil engineering program is to provide students with a broad and thorough
education in civil engineering fundamentals, applications, and design so as to prepare graduates
for the practice of civil and environmental engineering at the professional level with the confidence
and skills necessary to meet the technical and social challenges of the future and for continuing
their studies at the graduate level.
 To provide a broadly based educational experience in which the essential scientific and
technical elements of the engineering curricula are integrated with the humanities and
social sciences to prepare students with competencies needed for personal enrichments,
career development, and lifelong learning.

 To ensure that the graduates have the highest standards of personal and professional
integrity, and ethical responsibility in the practice of civil and environmental engineering.

 To ensure that the graduates are well versed in several areas of civil and environmental
engineering, such as structural, geotechnical, transportation, construction, water resources
and environmental engineering, and are able to identify, formulate, and solve a wide range
of civil and environmental engineering problems using modern engineering tools and
techniques.

 To provide students with a comprehensive design experience involving a team approach,

alternate solutions, and realistic constraints that include economic, environmental, ethical,
social, and political considerations.

 To encourage students to continue post-baccalaureate professional development including,

but not limited to, graduate school, professional registration and continuing education.

Courses Distribution
The 137 Credit Hours along with 29 credit hours (overall 166 credit hours) required for Bachelor
of Science in Civil Engineering are distributed as follow:
No. Course Distribution Credit hours
1 Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry 45
2 Computer Skills 6
3 Language, Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics 18
4 Related Engineering disciplines 37
5 Technical Electives 3
6 Civil Engineering 57
Total Minimum Credit Hours Requires for Graduation 166 (137 +
29)
Civil Engineering Curriculum

FIRST YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
ENGL 201 Sophomore English I 3(3, 0)
PHYS 205 General Physics I 3(3, 0)
PHYS 211 General Physics I Laboratory 1(0, 3)
MATH 202 Calculus II 4(4, 0)
GENG 115 Engineering Orientation 1(0, 3)
GENG 117 Introduction to Computers 3(2, 3)
Non-Technical Electives 3(3, 0)
TOTAL 18 (15, 9)

SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
GENG 212 Engineering Graphics 3(2, 3)
PHYS 206 General Physics II 3(3, 0)
PHYS 212 General Physics II Laboratory 1(0. 3)
MATH 304 Differential Equations 3(3, 0)
GENG 118 Computer Applications for Engineers 3(2, 3)
HIST 205 Liberian History to 1822 3(3, 0)
TOTAL 16(13, 9)

SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
GENG 211 Technical Report Writing 3 (3, 0)
MATH 301 Calculus III 4 (4, 0)
ECON 203 Principles of Microeconomics 3 (3, 0)
GENG 217 Mechanics I (Statics) 3 (3, 0)
GENG 213 Surveying and Mapping I 4 (2, 6)
TOTAL` 17(15, 6)
SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
GENG 214 Surveying and Mapping II 4 (2, 6)
GENG 218 Mechanics II (Dynamics) 3(3, 0)
GENG 224 Mechanics of Solids 3(3, 0)
GENG 226 Mechanics of Solids Laboratory 1(0, 3)
GENG 220 Engineering Economics 3(3, 0)
MATH 204 Linear Algebra 3(3, 0)
TOTAL 17(14, 9)

THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
CENG 301 Construction Materials 3(3, 0)
GEOL 203 Introduction to Geology 3(3, 3)
GENG 301 Fluid Mechanics 3(3, 0)
GENG 303 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory 1(0, 3)
CENG 305 Structural Analysis I 3(3, 0)
Technical Elective 4(3, 3)
TOTAL 17(15, 9)

SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
CENG 318 Soil Mechanics 3(3, 0)
CENG 320 Soil Mechanics Laboratory 1(0, 3)
CENG 306 Structural Analysis II 3(3, 0)
CENG 340 Hydrology 3(3, 0)
CENG 322 Transportation Engineering I 3(3, 0)
CENG 400 Internship for Civil Engineering Students 4
TOTAL 17(12, 3)

NOTE: Students will undergo practical training through Internships. They will register for this
program using CENG 400 for as much as 4 credit hours any time during the third year as a
departmental elective.
 FOURTH YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
CENG 401 Foundation Engineering 3(3, 0)
CENG 413 Reinforced Concrete Design 3(3, 0)
CENG 413L Reinforced Concrete Design Laboratory 1(0, 3)
CENG 407 Transportation II Engineering 3(3, 0)
CENG 407L Transportation II Engineering Laboratory 1(0, 3)
CENG 415 Water supply and Environmental Engineering I 3(3, 0)
CENG 415L Water supply and Environmental Engineering I Lab 1(0, 3)
TOTAL 15(15, 9)

SECOND SEMESTER
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
CENG 403 Structural Design 3(3, 0)
CENG 403L Structural Design Laboratory 1(0, 3)
CENG 416 Water Supply and Environmental Engineering II 3(3, 0)
CENG 416L Water Supply and Environmental Engineering II Lab 1(0, 3)
CENG 408 Transportation III 3(3, 0)
CENG 408L Transportation III Laboratory 1(0, 3)
Departmental Elective 3(3, 0)
Departmental Elective 3(3, 0)
TOTAL 18(15,9)

Electives
Non-Technical Electives
Humanities, Social Sciences and Business (Non-Technical) Electives have to be chosen from the
course offering of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities with the permission of the
Department. The following are some of the recommended courses.

COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS

SOSC 102 Introduction to Social Sciences 3(3, 0)
SOSC 201 Liberian Society (Gender Topics may be included) 3(3, 0)
PHIL 301 Introduction to Philosophy 3(3, 0)
PSYC 102 Introduction to Psychology 3(3, 0)
MANG201 Principles of Management 3(3, 0)
HIST 206 Liberia History Since 1822 3(3, 0)
Languages (2 courses) 6( 6, 0)
Technical Electives
Technical Electives to be chosen from the following Courses
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
EENG 306 Principles of Electrical Engineering 4(3, 3)
GENG 320 Thermodynamics 3(3, 0)
EENG 128 MATLAB 3(2, 2)

Departmental Electives
Departmental Electives to be chosen from the following Courses
COURSE DESCRIPTION CR/HRS
CENG 406 High Tech Entrepreneurship 3(3, 0)
CENG 430 Construction Engineering 3(3, 0)
CENG 431 Construction Engineering Management 3(3, 0)
CENG 432 Transportation Planning 3(3, 0)
CENG 433 Finite Element Methods in Civil Engineering 3(3, 0)
CENG 434 Pre-Stressed Concrete 3(3, 0)
CENG 435 Bridge Design 3(3, 0)

Civil Engineering Course Description

Materials Testing Laboratory

CENG 301 Construction Materials; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Prerequisite: GENG 224
Basic principles underlying the structure and properties of engineering and building materials.
Properties of inorganic and organic materials related to atomic, molecular, and crystalline
structure. Metals, cements, ceramics, roofing materials and timber as used in construction.
CENG 305 Structural Analysis I; Credit: 3(3, 0) Pre-
requisite: GENG 224; GENG 218
Structural Analysis of statically determinate trusses, frames, cables, and arches. Computation of
deflections in trusses and plane frames. Influence lines for beams and trusses. Introduction to
indeterminate structures.
CENG 306 Structural Analysis II; Credit: 3(3, 0) Pre-
requisite: CENG 305
Force method for solving simple indeterminate structures. Classical methods of slope-deflection and
moment distribution. Formulation and algorithms for matrix method. Application of computers for
analyzing indeterminate trusses and frames.
CENG 318 Soil Mechanics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 224
Elements of engineering geology; mechanical and hydraulic properties of soils; soil-water systems and
fluid flow; stresses in soils; compressibility, consolidation, and settlement; shearing resistance; lateral
earth-pressures; slope stability; bearing capacity; numerical methods and computer applications.

CENG 320 Soil Mechanics Laboratory; Credit: 1(0, 3)

Co-requisite: CENG 318
Engineering classification of soils and rocks. Laboratory studies of physical properties and shear
strength of soils such as Atterberg limits, compaction, permeability, unconfined compression, and
direct shear tests.

CENG 322 Transportation Engineering I; Credit: 3(3, 0)

Pre-requisite: GENG 214, Co-requisite: CENG 318
Principles of transportation engineering with application to various modes of travel; planning,
selection, formulation administration of transportation systems, traffic & safety, economic,
environmental and political constraints; land-use studies, and applications. Semester project to
include proposal and analysis to meet a specific transportation requirement.
CENG 340 Hydrology; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 301
Basic principles relating to the concepts in the hydrologic cycle: precipitation, water losses, flood,
runoff and groundwater flow including hydraulic computations for sizing drainage structures from
drainage or catchment areas.
CENG 400 Internship in Civil and Environmental Engineering; Credit: 4 Credit hrs.
Pre-requisite: Senior Standing and permission of department.
Intended to provide a capstone experience to the student's undergraduate studies by integrating
prior course work into a working civil and environmental engineering professional environment.
Credits earned for the educational benefits of the practical experience and granted for a total period
of about a year upon completion of all course requirements of his/her department.

CENG 401 Foundation Engineering Credit 3 (3, 0)

Pre-requisite: CENG 318
Subsurface exploration; bearing capacity, settlement, and design of shallow foundations; design
of rigid and flexible retaining structures; bearing capacity, settlement, and design of deep
foundations.
CENG 403 Structural Design Credit 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 306
Design of bolted and welded connections; design of components of structural systems in tension,
compression, bending, and combined axial and bending loads. Use of computers for design and
detailing.
CENG 403L Structural Design Credit 1(0, 3)
Co-requisite: CENG 403
Apply what has been thought from lectures using structural software to design members, bolts and
welded connections. Use of computers to determine structural members in tension, compression,
bending, and combined axial and bending loads, and detailing.
CENG 406 High Technology Entrepreneurship Credit: 3 (3, 0)
Pre-requisite: Senior Standing
Discussion of links between academics, industry, government agencies, research and
entrepreneurship. Leadership skills. International trade. Intellectual property rights. Discussion of
methods for using research results to solve practical problems
CENG 407 Transportation Engineering II; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 322
The course is intended to provide students with knowledge to create standard alignments for
highways, railroads and transmission lines. Students learn to compute curve data for circular and
vertical alignments, spirals, slope staking, typical highway cross sections and etc.

CENG 407L Transportation Engineering II laboratory; Credit: 1(0, 3)

Co-requisite: CENG 407
Students will use highway software to create plan and profile views of alignments from digital
terrain data from surveying data, develop exist ground cross sections, typical cross sections and
other detail design for the project. The course is intended to provide students with knowledge to
create standard alignments for highways, railroads and transmission lines. Students will learn to
compute curve data for circular and vertical alignments, spirals, slope stakes and quantities and
etc.
CENG 408 Transportation Engineering III; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 407
Principles of transportation engineering with respect to the study of gravel or laterite roads. The
course also teaches students in the design of culverts, rigid and asphalt pavements. A project is
required utilizing tools learn to from transportation courses.
CENG 408L Transportation Engineering III Laboratory; Credit: 1(0, 3)
Co-requisite: CENG 408
This course requires students to develop a transportation project utilizing tools learned from
transportation engineering courses completed.
CENG 413 Reinforced Concrete; Credit: 3 (3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 306
Strength theories for the analysis and design of beams, slabs, columns, and floor systems in flexure,
diagonal tension, torsion, serviceability, and load factors, including computer applications.
CENG 413L Reinforced Concrete Lab; Credit: 1(0, 3)
Co-requisite: CENG 413
Students will have hands on learning processes in our materials laboratory applying the theories
of proportioning concrete. Students will perform different mix designs for analysis and
determination of strength of beams, slabs, columns, and floor systems using computer.
CENG 415 Water Supply and Environmental Engineering I; Credit 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 301
Design principles for water and wastewater engineering systems, water supply and distribution,
wastewater collection and disposal, water treatment, and wastewater treatment
CENG 415L Water Supply and Environmental Engineering I; Credit 1(0, 3)
Co-requisite: CENG 415
Student will test for biological, physical, and chemical properties of the water; its contaminant
concentration in soils and sediments can also be tested. Design principles for water and wastewater
engineering systems, water supply and distribution, wastewater collection and disposal, water
treatment, and wastewater treatment. Comprehensive Project Report.
CENG 416 Water Supply and Environmental Engineering II; Credit: 3 (3, 0),
Pre- requisite: CENG 415
Analysis and design considerations for environmental engineering facilities, such as water supply
and wastewater treatment plants; physical engineering management of solid and hazardous wastes;
resource recovery; economic and ethical considerations. Comprehensive report.
CENG 416L Water Supply and Environmental Engineering II Laboratory; Credit: 1(0, 3)
Co- requisite: CENG 416
Composition of wastewater, estimation of wastewater quantities, Analysis and design
considerations for environmental engineering facilities, such as water supply and wastewater
treatment plants; solid and hazardous wastes; Comprehensive Project Report.
CENG 430 Construction Engineering; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 224
Construction planning and practices. Utilization of heavy construction equipment. Economic and
operational considerations in selection of construction equipment. Use of computer spreadsheets
for cost recording and economic decisions. Formwork design. Introduction to CPM and Bar Chart
project scheduling techniques.
CENG 431 Construction Engineering Management; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 430, GENG 220
Advanced Construction planning, scheduling, and control. Use of computer-based information
systems for project management. Value engineering. Critical path method and PERT scheduling
techniques. Computer-drawn scheduling networks. Schedule compression. Resource allocation
leveling and optimization. Project organization and financial control. Decision making.
CENG 432 Transportation Planning Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: Senior Standing.
Various aspects of transportation demand forecasting problems. Solutions using some of the state-
of-the-art transportation planning software packages, such as trans plan, QRS2, and transcend.
Case studies of transportation planning problems.
CENG 433 Finite Element Methods in Civil Engineering; Credit: 3 (3, 0)
Pre-requisite: MATH 204, Junior Standing
Finite element method of analysis for problems in structures and mechanics of solids & fluids, and
soil mechanics. Fundamentals of the finite element method. Variational formulation of boundary
value problems, Galerkin approximations, matrix equations, finite element interpolation, error
estimates, computer program algorithms and codes.
CENG 434 Pre-Stressed Concrete; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: CENG 413, Senior Standing
Theory of pre-stressed concrete; partial losses in pre-stress and long term effects due to creep,
shrinkage, and relaxation; service load and ultimate load evaluation of pre-tensioned and post-
tensioned elements in flexure, shear, and torsion; deflection and flexural cracking hypotheses of
pre-stressed elements; and post-tensioned liquid- and gas-retaining circular tanks; pre-stressed
shells and domes of circular tanks.

CENG 435 Bridge Design; Credit: 3 (3, 0)

Pre-requisite: CENG 434, Senior Standing
History, development, and classification of bridges; use of LRFD-AASHTO specifications for the
design of basic straight-girder type bridges, including composite and non-composite I and box
girders; simple and continuous spans; substructure design; field testing and monitoring; and repair
and rehabilitation.
 Soil Mechanics Lab

General Engineering Course Descriptions

GENG 115 Engineering Orientation Credit: 1(0, 3)

Pre-requisite: First Year Engineering Students
A course designed to provide University of Liberia first-year students decision making tools to
achieve academic success while making a smooth transition from high school to the university life.
It is designed to provide a small group setting to have open communication among themselves
under the supervision of an academic coordinators/advisors, alumni and industry professionals.
The course presents information and activities to support success among first year students. It
introduces freehand sketching/visualization and lettering
GENG 117 Introduction to Computer; Credit: 3(2, 3)
Pre-requisite: GENG 115
An introduction to basic computer through intermediate concepts with an emphasis on the personal
computer and its practical use, including hardware, application and system software, the Internet
and World Wide Web, communications, database management, e-commerce, computer career
opportunities, certification in the computer field, and computers in society. Lab Fee Required.
GENG 118 Computer Applications for Engineers; Credit: 3(2, 3)
Pre-requisite: GENG 117
Introduction to the fundamentals of computer programming with an emphasis on mathematical,
scientific and engineering applications. This course also introduces the principles of object-
oriented programming using a modern programming language, principles of algorithmic problem
solving and procedural programming language, data types, elementary data structures,
input/output, and control structures. Lab Fee Required.
GENG 211 Technical Report Writing; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: ENGL 201
Presents various types of technical information formats used for engineering products or services.
Provides communication skills needed to advance in a professional career, to facilitating effective
oral and written communication of technical material, as well as training in the use of audiovisual
presentation with confidence to a variety of audiences. Emphasizes students working together as
teams.

GENG 212 Engineering Graphics; Credit: 3(2, 3)

Pre-requisite: GENG 118
Principles of computer-aided design and drafting (CADD): graphic entities, hatch patterns,
layering, part file creation, and information extraction. Two-dimensional drafting and pictorial
drawings using a CADD system. Introduction to three-dimensional modeling and surface
revolution. Descriptive geometry and CADD applications in engineering. Lab Fee Required.

GENG 213 Surveying and Mapping I; Credit: 2(2, 0)

Pre-requisite: GENG 212
Study of the fundamentals of plane surveying. Use of surveyors tape, engineer’s level and transit.
Emphasis is given to note keeping, differential leveling, distance measuring, traverses and their
calculations, the use of calculators and contour mapping. Lab Fee Required.
GENG 214 Surveying and Mapping II; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 213
Topics include topography, surveying and mapping, land surveying, deed descriptions, stadia
instrument adjustments, construction surveys profile leveling. Lab Fee Required.
GENG 217 Mechanics I: Statics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: PHYS 205; MATH 202
The classification of systems of forces and their resultants; geometrical and analytical conditions
for the equilibrium of force systems; frames and trusses; friction; centers of gravity.
GENG 218 Mechanics II: Dynamics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 217
Kinematics of particles and rigid bodies; rectangular (Cartesian), path, and polar descriptions.
Relative motion. Kinetics of particles, particle systems, and rigid bodies; equations of motion,
principles of work and energy, linear and angular impulse and momentum. Impact.
GENG 220 Engineering Economics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: ENGL 201
Economic decisions involving engineering alternatives; annual cost, present worth, rate of return,
and cost benefit analysis; before and after tax replacement economy; organizational financing;
break-even analysis; depreciation and taxes.
GENG 224 Mechanics of Solids; Credit: 3(3, 0) Pre-
requisite: GENG 217
Axial force, shear, moment, and torque in structural members; stress, strain, and stress-strain
relations; principal stresses and strains; torsion of circular shafts; bending of singly symmetric
beams; compound loading; buckling of columns; statically indeterminate systems.
GENG 226 Mechanics of Solid Laboratory; Credit: 1(0, 3) Co-
requisite: GENG 224
Mechanical properties and behavior of structural elements under a variety of load conditions in the
laboratory.
GENG 301 Fluid Mechanics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Pre-requisite: GENG 224, GENG 218, MATH 304
Fluid properties, statics and kinematics; concepts of system and control volume; mass, momentum,
and energy conservation principles; laminar and turbulent flows in conduits and channels;
boundary layer theory; drag and lift; ideal flow.

GENG 303 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory; Credit: 1 (0, 3)

Co-requisite: GENG 301
Experimental applications and demonstrations; measurement of fluid properties; applications of
mass, energy, and momentum principles; energy losses; forces on immersed bodies; flow
measurement devices.
GENG 320 Thermodynamics; Credit: 3(3, 0)
Co-requisite: GENG 224, GENG 218, MATH 304
Definitions and properties of thermodynamics fluids, phase diagrams, use of steam and gas
tables, concept of heat, work and energy, first and second laws of thermodynamics, entropy, ideal
gas, gas mixtures, psychometrics charts, phase changes, reciprocating engines,
air standard cycles and vapor cycles.

Fig 3: Mount Coffee Run-of-River Hydroelectric Plant, Liberia