John Brown University to Offer Civil Engineering Degree

(John Brown University)

John Brown University in Siloam Springs will offer a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering starting in the fall of 2025, aiming to prepare students to meet the growing demand for infrastructure development and improvement.

A press release from the university stated that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% job growth in civil engineering from 2023 to 2033, outpacing the average for all occupations. And in northwest Arkansas, rapid population growth is driving new development, which makes the need for skilled civil engineers is even greater.

JBU’s civil engineering program will provide students with a technical foundation while emphasizing ethical leadership and sustainable design. The program will cover areas such as structural engineering, transportation networks, geotechnical engineering and environmental sustainability.

Students will also collaborate with JBU’s construction management and mechanical engineering programs, leveraging shared resources like the university’s high bay lab.

“Civil engineering plays a critical role in shaping the infrastructure that supports modern life, from safe transportation systems to sustainable water management,” John Lee, department chair of engineering, said in the release. “JBU’s Christ-centered education will prepare students to approach their work with both technical excellence and a heart for serving their communities.”

Graduates from JBU’s civil engineering program will be prepared for careers in structural, transportation, environmental, geotechnical and water resource engineering.

“This new major won’t just benefit engineering students—it’s also going to be great for the CM program. Many of the areas in civil engineering, like soil mechanics, environmental engineering and geotechnical engineering, are closely related to construction management,” Rick Faust, department head of construction management department, said in the release. “The addition of this major will promote collaboration across disciplines, enrich the student experience and better prepare our graduates for the complexities of the industry.”