Career in Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is one of the broadest of the engineering disciplines, extending across many technical specialties. Civil engineers plan, design, and supervise the construction of facilities essential to modern life. These facilities vary widely in nature, size, and scope and include space satellites and launching facilities, offshore structures, bridges, buildings, tunnels, highways, transit systems, dams, airports, harbors, water supply system and wastewater treatment plants. A civil engineer is responsible for planning and designing a project, constructing the project to the required scale, and maintenance of the product. A civil engineer requires not only a high standard of engineering knowledge but also supervisory and administrative skills.

Course Details
The basic eligibility criteria to get admitted into BE/B.Tech in Civil Engineering is 10+2 or equivalent examination, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. BE / B.Tech in Civil Engineering courses are of 4 years' duration. Selection into this course is made on the basis of marks secured in 10+2 exam and marks secured in Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) conducted by IITs or All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) or other state and national level exams. There are both degree as well as diploma courses. One can go for the 3 year diploma course after the 10th standard (SSC). For M.E or M.Tech in Civil Engineering one must complete the BE / B.Tech program successfully. Further studies up to Ph.D. level are also an option for anyone interested in Research or Academics.

Career Prospects
Civil engineers are employed in all the major construction projects carried out by the state or central government the public works departments, the railways and military. Civil Engineers are mostly required in private construction and real estate companies as project engineers. Civil Engineers also employed in various industries to design the structures related to these industries. Those who are down to earth people may join various NGOs working in water shade management and other areas. Civil engineering graduates can also go in for research and take up teaching or they can open their own independent consultancy services. They also can join the lucrative Indian Engineering Services conducted by Union Public Service Commission.

Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Several institutes in India offer Civil Engineering as a subject. Prominent among them are seven IITs at Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Mumbai, Bangalore and Roorkee. Besides these eighteen National Institutes of Technology located all over the country also provide this course.

There are other institutes like Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad; Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi; Anna University, Chennai; Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani; Haldia Institute of Technology Haldia; Lingaya's Institute of Management & Technology, Faridabad; IEC College of Engg. and Technology, Greater NOIDA. Moreover there are regional engineering colleges in many states who offer Civil Engineering courses.

Remuneration
Civil Engineers employed in government departments get starting salary of Rs 8000 to Rs12000 while seniors may get up to Rs 20000. Professors in engineering collages have salaries as fixed by UGC. Those civil engineers working in private sector particularly in construction and designing field are getting more than Rs 30000 per month. With some experience they may go up to Rs 50000 to Rs 60000 per month. Consultancy in civil engineering is also highly remunerative depending upon number and nature of the clients.