Civil and environmental engineering covers very diverse engineering fields ranging from constructing structures to maintaining and rehabilitating those structures. Civil engineers work on various projects such as harbors, dams, reservoirs, pipelines, water and wastewater treatment plants, waste resource management, environmental energy, excavations, roads, bridges, highways, airports, buildings, tunnels, industrial facilities, etc. To successfully accomplish these projects, civil and environmental engineers also state-of-the-art technology, including use of computer modeling in structural design and analysis, use of high-tech management systems for water resources, use of high-tech engineering materials, biotechnology and microbiology, satellite imaging systems, and global positioning systems. To meet the changing demands on continuous development and application of new approaches, civil and environmental engineering embodies new concepts and state-of-the-art technology in the design and construction of facilities, environment management, harmonizing with civil environments.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Yonsei University was founded in 1960. Since then, our efforts in education and research have been directed toward assuring the fundamental knowledge in the areas stated in the above and the early development of new technology. Currently, the department consists of seven major laboratories, including structural and bridge engineering laboratory, water engineering laboratory, concrete engineering laboratory, surveying & geo-spatial information system laboratory, geo-technical laboratory, environmental engineering laboratory, and applied mechanics laboratory. Each laboratory has a strong relationship with other research groups to achieve the synergetic effect of interdisciplinary cooperations.

A strong integration of research with the educational process has been a decisive factor in our distinguished reputation. Many graduates are now playing active roles in a variety of fields, such as educational and research institutes, design firms, the government sector, private construction industries, and many other related fields.