BS in Civil Engineering in the
Philippines
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) program is a five-year
program that educates students with basic principles of Science in
conjunction with mathematical and computational tools used in engineering.
The BSCE program provides technical skills and knowledge in planning,
design, construction, supervision, and maintenance of civil engineering
works. Examples of civil engineering works include infrastructures for
transportation (roads, railroads, bridges, ports, airports), commerce
(shopping malls), education (schools, universities), human settlements (large
scale housing projects, water supply, sewage disposal), energy development
(power stations, power lines) and agriculture (irrigation, farm drainage).
Civil engineers collaborate with architects with regards to the design of
infrastructures; they also coordinate and supervise construction, working
with other engineers and contractors. They make decisions on the best
materials and methods, review and approve project drawings, manage
budgets, schedule equipment and materials purchases and delivery, and
make necessary changes when the situation warrants or when clients change
their minds about something.
The program covers the five essential fields of civil engineering: structural
engineering, transportation engineering, water resources engineering,
Geotechnical engineering and construction engineering and management.
Is Civil Engineering a profession?
Civil Engineering is a profession.
A graduate of BSCE who passes the board exam obtains a license to be a
professional Civil Engineer.
What are the admission requirements for
BSCE?
Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common
requirements:
o Must be a high school graduate.
o Must have a college entrance examination of above average or depending
on the specified rating set by the school.
o Aside from the college entrance examination, some schools will require
you to take an aptitude test or a pre engineering test (PET).
o Must pass the interview conducted by the college admission officer.
o Some schools require an 85% grade or higher in Mathematics and Science
as well as a QPA of the same rating.
o There are schools who require students to have an 85% or higher average
rating in the National Secondary Assessment Test (NSAT).
o Some schools require the result of the National Career Assessment
Examination (NCAE).
o Admission for Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) passers mainly
depends on the school's discretion since some colleges and universities only
offer selected courses.
What skills are required to succeed in this
course?
There are many skills that will help you succeed in this course. The following
are the most important ones:
o Mathematical skills the ability to compute and use different
computational methods to solve a problem
o Critical thinking skills the use of logic and reasoning to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions
o Analytical skills the identification and analysis of product requirements
to create a design
o Complex problem solving skills identification of complex problems
and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and
implement solutions
o Graphical skills the ability to transform a design into an image
o Judgement and decision making skills considering the relative costs
and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
o Communication skills the ability to effectively relay information both
orally and in written form
How difficult is BS in Civil Engineering?
BSCE is one of the most difficult courses. Many students end up shifting to
other programs or they are advised to transfer because of the inability to
meet cut off grades. Because of this, only a few students graduate every
year. BSCE is even made more difficult because of the board examination.
How long does it take to complete BS in
Civil Engineering?
Normally, the BSCE program takes 5 years to complete. Some schools who
apply the trimesteral system do the program in 4 years.
A combination of classroom instruction and on the job trainings make up the
duration. The estimated total number of hours for on the job trainings is 480
hours.
Review classes in preparation for the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination
can take an additional 6 to 12 months, depending whether or not you pass
the exam on your first try.
Fields of Specialization
o Structural Engineering:
scope of practice includes the calculation of loads and stresses on
structures , strength of foundations and beams and determining whether or
not a structure can function safely
o Construction Engineering and Management:
field of civil engineering that deals with the effective planning and
implementation of construction projects
o Transportation Engineering:
the design and maintenance of transportation facilities such as highways
and streets, ports and harbors, airfields, railroads and mass transit systems
o Water Resources Engineering:
the design of water treatment plants, pump systems and stations,
distribution systems for drinking and non-drinking water, pipelines for
collecting waste water and analysis of the floodplain or storm water drain
systems to prevent and control water damage
o Geotechnical Engineering:
a specialized field of civil engineering that involves soil evaluation to
determine the suitability of a particular area for construction
o Civil Environmental Engineering:
the design of systems and solutions to protect the environment
The Board Exam
A graduate of BS in Civil Engineering needs to take the Civil Engineering
Licensure Examination before he/she can practice the profession.
The Board of Civil Engineering facilitates the exam under the supervision of
the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). It is scheduled twice a year in
the months of May and November.
The three main subjects included are Mathematics, Surveying and
Transportation which comprises 35% of the exam, Hydraulics and
Geotechnical Engineering with 30% and Structural Engineering and
Construction with 35%. To pass the examination you should obtain a general
weighted average of 75% with no rating belong 60% in all the subjects.
Those who passed the Civil Engineering Licensure examination are exempted
from taking the Civil Service Examination. They can work in government
offices without a civil service eligibility.
You can view the passing rates for the Civil Engineering Licensure Exam here
Career Opportunities for BSCE graduates
o Jobs for licensed Civil Engineers (board passers)
o Structural Engineer design and supervise the construction of
many structures, including buildings, bridges and railways
o Project Engineer performs work that crosses the boundaries
between engineering and project management, leading the technical
workers who contribute to the building of structures or products
o Staff Engineer build or set up equipment, conduct experiments,
assist in prototype development, and design work that utilizes
computer-aided design and drafting equipment
o Inspectors employed by the city or government to ensure
structures are safely constructed
o Associate Engineer works under the supervising or senior
engineer; these professionals can work in a variety of engineering
industries and provide assistance to engineers working on large-scale
projects that require a large team of engineers to complete a project
o Engineering Educator a civil engineer who teaches at a
University or College
o Owner/Partner in an engineering firm a civil engineer who
engages in private practice/teaming up with fellow civil engineers in
managing a personally owned engineering firm
o Environmental Engineer assess the impact of engineering
projects on water, soil, air and noise levels, and advise and design ways
to minimize this impact. They also plan and design systems to treat and
remove waste, such as waste water systems
o City Planner helps determine the best use of geographical areas
for the placement of homes, parks and commercial areas, as well as
relieving traffic congestion and solving pollution problems
o Traffic Engineer hired by governmental transportation boards or
by city governments, they analyze traffic situations, taking into account
roads, exits, highways, the number of vehicles traveling all times of the
day and those vehicles' destinations
o Jobs for non board passers
o Surveyors measures and maps land, collect data on precise land
boundaries; their land descriptions are used in leases and deeds
o Drafters engineers hand their notes and other information to
drafters so they can make visual guidelines for the engineers or
construction crews
o Technicians assist engineers or researchers with the
development and handling of the technical aspects of civil engineering;
they set up equipment, perform experiments and collect information for
scientists and engineers
o Jobs not related to the BSCE program
o Call center agent answers phone calls and inquiries of clients
and provides customer support, usually to people from other countries
o Administrative Staff personnel responsible for the organization
and management of office duties and tasks; positions that include office
secretary, personal assistant and office clerk
o Freelancer working online doing online jobs for clients abroad,
such as data entry, article writing, SEO, customer support ,
administrative support etc., which mainly depends on your skills
