civil & environmental Engineering


Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable, Resilient World

Undergraduate
Graduate
Research
Faculty

Preparing students with the skills and knowledge to solve complex infrastructure challenges. Through a blend of hands-on learning and cutting-edge research, students specialize in areas like environmental, structural, and transportation engineering, preparing them to lead in their careers.

Internships

Programs

Starting Salary

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PROTECTING MAINE’S COASTS

Lauren Ross, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Eliminating FOrEVER CHEMICALS

Onur Apul, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Program Offerings

Undergraduate Level:

Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Concentrations

  • Environmental Engineering:
  • Water Resources Engineering:
  • Structural Engineering:
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Graduate Degrees

Graduate Level:

  • Accelerated 4+1 Master of Engineering (ME) Mechanical Engineering. “Water and Environment”
  • Master of Science (MS) (thesis & non-thesis)
  • PhD Civil & Environmental Engineering

BIOMEDICAL Engineering Overview

As one of the oldest departments at the University of Maine, the Civil Engineering program has a rich legacy, dating back to 1872. The program prepares students to become leaders in the planning, design, and construction of essential infrastructure—such as roadways, bridges, dams, and pollution control facilities—that serves society’s needs. At UMaine, civil engineering students engage in diverse research areas including environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, water resources, and coastal engineering.

Our curriculum balances foundational engineering principles with specialized research, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests. Students collaborate on projects like composite beams and timber bridges, gaining hands-on experience and developing essential skills in problem-solving, technical writing, and communication. Our faculty are committed to helping students grow into engineers who are prepared to meet the challenges of the modern world, making a lasting impact through innovative, sustainable solutions.

Program Objectives

The Educational Objectives of the University of Maine Engineering Physics Programare to have our graduates:

A. use the versatility afforded by the engineering physics degree to collaborate with a dynamic, diverse, and technically sophisticated workforce by successfully employing engineering/scientific skills, developed at UMaine, in a wide range of fields;

B. continuously improve and expand their technical and professional skills through informal self-study, coursework, pursuit of licensure, or the attainment of advanced degrees in science, engineering, business, or other professional fields;

C. advance the profession and themselves through ethical behavior, communication, teamwork, and leadership;

D. recognize the importance of civic engagement and support the significant roles that engineering and science play in the betterment of society.

In support of these objectives, preparation also includes an introduction to the humanities, social sciences, communications and raising sensitivity to issues of ethics and professional practice.

Furthermore, the program encourages majors to participate in student professional organizations, including the Society of Physics Students, the Society of Women Engineers and the various student societies within the student’s chosen engineering field. In addition, majors frequently qualify for membership in the honor societies Sigma Pi Sigma and Tau Beta Pi, among others.

The EPS Learning Outcomes are based on the ABET-developed learning goals for all engineering students.

Student Outcomes

The Student Outcomes of the University of Maine Engineering Physics Program are that, by the end of their undergraduate program in engineering physics, students will have:

  • an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  • an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  • an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  • an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  • an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  • an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  • an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Department Information

Department Chair: Shaleen Jain
Department Administrator: Brenda Collamore

Civil and Environmental Engineering
5711 Boardman Hall
Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.2171
Fax: 207.581.3888

Research

The University of Maine is a prestigious research institution with world-class research facilities such as the Advanced Structures and Composites Center . Maine is an EPSCoR state and Umaine leads the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded SEANET project which mainly focuses on sustainable aquaculture. 

Env. & Water Resources

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Research opportunities including biological and chemical aspects of water quality and remediation; water resources engineering including surface and groundwater hydrology, hydroclimatology and adaptive environmental management; and coastal engineering, river and estuarine mixing and transport processes.

Onur G Apul– Assistant Professor
Kimberly Huguenard – Associate Professor
Shaleen Jain – Department Chair and Professor, PE
Jean D. MacRae – Associate Professor
Lauren Ross – Associate Professor

Geotechnical

Geotechnical Engineering
The coastal region of Maine is known for Presumpscot Formation clay, a glacial soil deposit that is susceptible to dramatic landslides and that has caused building settlements and challenges to the construction of all types and sizes of structures. The Presumpscot Formation is the focus of two local symposia in 1987 and 2015, and the proceedings for both can be found at the 2015 Symposium website.
Research opportunities are available to study the behavior of soft and stiff clays (such as the Presumpscot Formation); investigation of natural hazards in land, coastal, and near-shore environments; soil structure interaction using full scale installations and/or modeling of scaled systems; onshore and offshore site characterization employing in situ, geophysical, and laboratory methods; thermal behavior of soils related to energy transfer, permafrost vulnerability and cold regions engineering.
Aaron Gallant – Associate Professor, PE
Miltiades Zacas – Adjunct Professor
Luis Zambrano-Cruzatty – Assistant Professor

Structural & Mechanics

Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Research includes the application of innovative materials and structural systems to solve problems of traditional civil infrastructure, marine applications, and other non-traditional applications. Particular areas of strength are composite materials, including wood-based, polymer matrix, and cement-based systems, as well as innovative computational modeling approaches.

Habib Joseph Dagher – Director of ASCC, Bath Iron Works Professor, PE
Bill Davids – John C. Bridge Professor, PE
Eric N. Landis – Frank M. Taylor Professor, PE
Roberto Lopez-Anido – Malcolm G. Long Professor, PE
Edwin Nagy – Senior Lecturer, PE, SE
Xenia Rofes – Senior Lecturer, PE

Transportation

Transportation Engineering
Research includes the application of innovative analytical methods to solve transportation problems involving safety analysis, planning and transportation systems.
Per Erik Garder – Professor, PhD, PE
Ali Shirazi – Assistant Professor, PhD

FaCILITIES

The University of Maine is a prestigious research institution with world-class research facilities such as the Advanced Structures and Composites Center . Maine is an EPSCoR state and Umaine leads the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded SEANET project which mainly focuses on sustainable aquaculture. 

The Kleinschmidt Hydraulics Lab

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
Research opportunities including biological and chemical aspects of water quality and remediation; water resources engineering including surface and groundwater hydrology, hydroclimatology and adaptive environmental management; and coastal engineering, river and estuarine mixing and transport processes.

Onur G Apul– Assistant Professor
Kimberly Huguenard – Associate Professor
Shaleen Jain – Department Chair and Professor, PE
Jean D. MacRae – Associate Professor
Lauren Ross – Associate Professor

Stephen W. Cole Concrete Laboratory

Geotechnical Engineering
The coastal region of Maine is known for Presumpscot Formation clay, a glacial soil deposit that is susceptible to dramatic landslides and that has caused building settlements and challenges to the construction of all types and sizes of structures. The Presumpscot Formation is the focus of two local symposia in 1987 and 2015, and the proceedings for both can be found at the 2015 Symposium website.
Research opportunities are available to study the behavior of soft and stiff clays (such as the Presumpscot Formation); investigation of natural hazards in land, coastal, and near-shore environments; soil structure interaction using full scale installations and/or modeling of scaled systems; onshore and offshore site characterization employing in situ, geophysical, and laboratory methods; thermal behavior of soils related to energy transfer, permafrost vulnerability and cold regions engineering.
Aaron Gallant – Associate Professor, PE
Miltiades Zacas – Adjunct Professor
Luis Zambrano-Cruzatty – Assistant Professor

Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Research includes the application of innovative materials and structural systems to solve problems of traditional civil infrastructure, marine applications, and other non-traditional applications. Particular areas of strength are composite materials, including wood-based, polymer matrix, and cement-based systems, as well as innovative computational modeling approaches.

Habib Joseph Dagher – Director of ASCC, Bath Iron Works Professor, PE
Bill Davids – John C. Bridge Professor, PE
Eric N. Landis – Frank M. Taylor Professor, PE
Roberto Lopez-Anido – Malcolm G. Long Professor, PE
Edwin Nagy – Senior Lecturer, PE, SE
Xenia Rofes – Senior Lecturer, PE

The Franklin Woodard Environmental Engineering Laboratory

Transportation Engineering
Research includes the application of innovative analytical methods to solve transportation problems involving safety analysis, planning and transportation systems.
Per Erik Garder – Professor, PhD, PE
Ali Shirazi – Assistant Professor, PhD

Our Faculty and Staff

At MCEC, our faculty is the heartbeat of our academic community. Dedicated, inspiring, and deeply knowledgeable, our professors go beyond the traditional classroom experience to foster real-world skills and a passion for learning. Whether mentoring, leading innovative research, or providing personalized support, our faculty members are committed to empowering students to achieve their highest potential

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