Both Civil engineering and Structural engineering are the engineering disciplines which deal in the same area, design, analysis and construction of structures. Even though the two engineering disciplines are in same field, there exist a lot of differences between the two. Civil engineering is a traditional engineering field which deals with the overall issues related to different types of structures. Structural engineering is a sub-field of civil engineering which involves the design, analysis, construction and maintenance of load resisting structures.

Civil Engineering Course and Career opportunities

Civil engineering is one of the conventional disciplines in the field of engineering. The field involves with design, construction and maintenance of physically built structures such as dams, bridges, tunnels, canals, roads, airport runways, skyscrapers, etc. A professional specialized in this field is called Civil engineer. They perform various tasks which includes planning, designing and construction of many different structures to the desired scale and maintenance of those structures. Civil engineering field is further sub divided into several other engineering disciplines such as environmental engineering, transportation engineering, materials engineering, etc. A number of universities and colleges in the country offer civil engineering as a degree programme of four year duration. Some of the universities also offer higher graduation level and doctorate levels course in civil engineering. Students can pursue higher graduation in their desired sub-specialization in civil engineering. On completing the graduation, one can find employment as civil engineer in various government as well as private organizations or companies.

Structural Engineering Course and Career opportunities

Structural engineering is also an engineering field which is said to be the sub-division of civil engineering field. The field involves mainly the design, analysis, construction and maintenance of load bearing structures or load resisting structures like bridges, dams, etc. Depending on the load resisting mechanism, the structures are divided into small elements in structural engineering field. By load bearing mechanism the structures are considered in small elements as shells, beams, plates, catenaries, columns and arches. Different sized or shaped structures can be classified into these small elements and examined. Structural engineering is usually offered as a separate discipline in the universities or colleges at the postgraduate level. PhD programmes are also offered in this branch of study in some universities. Those who have completed their graduation in structural engineering can definitely get into a lucrative career in this field.

Key differentiators between Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering

• Civil engineering is one of the traditional and reputed disciplines in the field of engineering whereas Structural engineering is one of the sub-fields in civil engineering.
• Civil engineering deals with the planning, designing, construction and maintenance of many different types of structures whereas Structural engineering deals with the design, construction and maintenance of load bearing or resisting structures.

Although Civil engineering and Structural engineering are the two disciplines in the engineering field and deals in the same area, there are lots of dissimilarities between them.