B.S.E. Degree Requirements
Duke's Pratt School of Engineering has established a common first-year curriculum for all undergraduates--this means that all engineering students take roughly the same courses, making it possible for students to use their first year to explore different majors of engineering. The first year courses lay the foundation for advanced engineering courses by establishing and reinforcing the principles of mathematics, physics, chemistry, writing, and computation. Core courses for the major start in the second year. Students with advanced placement in Math are advised to take Fluid Mechanics in the spring of the sophomore year, and Soil Mechanics in the Fall of the junior year.One regular course has 2.5 lecture hours per week (3 x 50 min. or 2 x 75 min.). Laboratory courses have one two-hour laboratory or recitation time scheduled per week. Each semester has 13 weeks of class, half a week of reading period, and one week of final exams.
Special Opportunities
General Requirements
Students must complete 16 required general undergraduate courses and 16 department specific courses to earn a baccalaureate degree (minimum 34 semester courses). Sample CEE sequences are provided below. We have included course sequences for required courses in both the structures & mechanics and environmental engineering & water resources emphasis. (Note, the nominal scheduling with the proposed class-time schedule, shown below, allows for a student to complete courses in both tracks (both Structures & Mechanics and Environmental Engineering & Water Resources) and also do a semester abroad with no AP credits.)
All CEE students must take one Engineering & Applied Science elective. This can be satisfied either of two ways: Option 1: take one of the following courses: BME 153L, CE 207, CE 208, CE 245, COMPSCI 100E, ECE 27L, ECE 176, EGR 119L, ME 83L, ME 101L, or PHYS 171L; Option 2: students completing the S/M track may take CE 120L, CE 123L, or CE 124L; students completing the E/W track may take CE 131L, CE 133L, or CE 134L.
All CEE students must take one additional CE course at the 100- or 200-level. Courses meeting this requirement include, but are not limited to:
- Architectural Engineering (CE-161, CE-162)
- Advanced Solid Mechanics (CE-175)
- Independent Study (CE-197, CE-198)
- Pratt Research Fellow (CE-172, CE-173, CE-174)
Sample CEE Sequence - 1st & 2nd year
| Freshman Fall | Freshman Spring |
| Calculus I (Math 31) | Calculus II (Math 32) |
| Chemistry (Chem 31L***) | Mechanics (Phys 61L****) |
| Writing (20) or HSS elective (see general course requirements) | Writing (20) or HSS elective (see general course requirements) |
| Computational Methods (EGR 53L) | Intro. Structural Engineering* (EGR 25L) |
| Sophomore Fall | Sophomore Spring |
| Multivariable Calculus (Math 103) | Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (Math 107) |
| Electricity & Magnetism (Phys 62L****) | Dynamics (EGR 123L) |
| Solid Mechanics (EGR 75L) | Uncertainty, Design & Optimization (CE 130L) |
| Intro. Environmental Engineering** (CE 24L) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| CE Applied Skills (CE 100) (0.5 course) | Engineering Communication (EGR 150) (0.5 course) |
*If EGR 25L is not taken in the first or second year then it must be replaced with an appropriate "S/M" upper-level (100+) course, as approved by the DUS.
**If CE 24L is not taken in the first or second year then it must be replaced with an appropriate "E/W" upper-level (100+) course, as approved by the DUS.
***Chem 31L for Class of 2013 and beyond; Chem 21L otherwise.
****As part of the Physics 61L & 62L requirement at least one of 62L, 63L, or 143 needs to be taken at Duke regardless of AP credit. If AP credit for 61L and 62L then take 63L or 143. If AP credit for 61L and 62L then may waive AP credit for and take 62L but may not waive AP credit for and take 61L while also maintaining AP credit for 62L.
Sample CEE Sequence - 3rd & 4th year – Structures & Mechanics
| Junior Fall | Junior Spring |
| Eng. Systems Optimization (EGR 115) | Statistics (Stat 113) |
| Fluid Mechanics* (CE 122L) | Soil Mechanics** (CE 139L) |
| Matrix Structural Analysis (CE 131L) | Concrete Design (CE 133L) |
| Differential Equations (Math 108) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| Senior Fall | Senior Spring |
| Steel Design (CE 134L) | Integrated Structural Design (CE 192) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| elective (see general course requirements) |
Note: Statistics (Stat 113), Fluid Mechanics (CE 122L) and Soil Mechanics (CE 139L) are offered Spring and Fall.
*Though Math 108 may be taken concurrently it is recommended that Math 108 be completed prior to taking Fluid Mechanics, CE 122L.
**Fluid Mechanics (CE 122L) is a pre-requisite for Soil Mechanics (CE 139L).
Sample CEE Sequence - 3rd & 4th year - Environmental Engineering & Water Resources
| Junior Fall | Junior Spring |
| Eng. Systems Optimization (EGR 115) | Statistics (Stat 113) |
| Fluid Mechanics* (CE 122L) | Soil Mechanics** (CE 139L) |
| Chem. Processes in Env. Eng. (CE 120L) | Water Resources (CE 123L) |
| Differential Equations (Math 108) | Biol. Processes in Env. Eng. (CE 124L) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| Senior Fall | Senior Spring |
| elective (see general course requirements) | Integrated Environmental Design (CE 193) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| elective (see general course requirements) | elective (see general course requirements) |
| elective (see general course requirements) |
Note: Statistics (Stat 113), Fluid Mechanics (CE 122L) and Soil Mechanics (CE 139L) are offered Spring and Fall.
*Though Math 108 may be taken concurrently it is recommended that Math 108 be completed prior to taking Fluid Mechanics, CE 122L.
**Fluid Mechanics (CE 122L) is a pre-requisite for Soil Mechanics (CE 139L).
The CEE curriculum allows for any student to study abroad in the Junior Fall semester, with a little planning. (Students area always able to pusue study abroad during the summer semester.) Many popular institutions for study-abroad offer technical courses that are pre-approved for Duke-CEE requirements. Alternatively, students can re-arrange their course plan and take humanities electives when they are abroad. The sample curricula above may be easily modified for a study abroad semester (Jr. Fall) in which no engineering courses are taken abroad.
- Move Fluid Mechanics (CE 122L) to Sophomore Spring to fit with the 'nominal' Sophomore schedule, CE 122L will need to be offered on Tu-Th mornings in Spring semesters.
- Move Engineering Systems Optimization (EGR 115) to Senior Fall.
- Structures & Mechanics: Move Matrix Structural Analysis (CE 131L) to Senior Fall
- Environmental Engineering & Water Resources: Move Chem. Principles in Environ. Engin. (CE 120L) to Senior Fall.
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Joseph Nadeau, PhD, PE
(919) 660-5216
nadeau@duke.edu
