Building Science
Building energy use represents about a third of global carbon emissions; therefore, it is critical to dramatically improve the performance of new low-energy buildings and existing ones. Climate change also means our buildings and their occupants will be exposed to more extreme environments.
The Building Science emphasis addresses these growing concerns by teaching students to design durable building enclosures and systems with minimal environmental impact and to analyze building performance related to energy use and occupant comfort. This specialty incorporates knowledge of physics (heat, air and moisture transfer), material science, chemistry, meteorology, human physiology, psychology and construction. Building Science students will also discover energy and indoor environmental modelling approaches to evaluate new building designs as well as field testing and monitoring to diagnose performance issues in existing buildings.
Complete at least 6 courses (3.0 FCE) with a combination of core and elective courses as detailed below. One or two of the optional courses may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project (not listed below).
Concrete
In the words of The Guardian's global environment editor Jonathan Watts, "After water, concrete is the most widely used substance on Earth. If the cement industry were a country, it would be the third largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world."
An emphasis in concrete will not only address technical aspects involving the production, construction applications, and durability of this material, but equally important, address strategies to help mitigate its negative environmental impacts.
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Construction Management
A construction project is highly dynamic and complex in nature: multiple parties having different objectives are to be involved, and a project is bound to face with series of unexpected or unwanted events (e.g., claims, change orders, accidents, etc.). As technological integration and project size increase, so do the construction complexity and potential risk, which makes proactive management more critical. The Construction Management emphasis addresses the core skillsets, tools, and best practices for safety, productivity, quality, claim, and risk management. This specialty also addresses smart construction management (e.g., digital twin) and the potential AI to realize it.
For students who start their programs in Fall 2023 and beyond.
Complete at least 6 courses (3.0 FCE) with a combination of core and elective courses as detailed below. One or two of the courses may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project (not listed below).
For students who started their programs prior to Fall 2023, please refer to the previous emphasis requirements here.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineers work to protect the environment and the public from various forms of pollution. In Civil Engineering, the focus tends to be on municipal or building infrastructure such as water systems, indoor air quality, or environmental remediation. In Mineral Engineering, engineers may focus on pollution abatement systems for activities related to mining. The emphasis in Environmental Engineering offers an opportunity for students to focus their courses in these areas and to participate in extracurricular activities related to different aspects of environmental engineering.
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Geomechanics
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Structural Engineering
Specialists in structural engineering use the most advanced methods of nonlinear analysis and design, learning how to connect one to the other. Students opting for the structural engineering emphasis will learn about the finite element method in detail, and how to use it for conventional and seismic designs. This specialty also covers advanced research methods such as hybrid analysis and methods of dynamic control of structures.
Students will discover several areas where the combination of nonlinear materials and detailed analyses accounting, for areas where conventional linear analyses are insufficient, are combined with modern design methods. Earthquake-resistant design is a good example whereby the combination of nonlinear materials, including timber for tall buildings, and other aspects accommodate the strengths and weaknesses of each other.
The core goal of the emphasis is to provide more first principles background to the challenges that engineers can expect to encounter in the next 25 years.
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Sustainable Urban Systems
Successful design, management and understanding of urban environments require understanding and analysis at a systems level. The SUS emphasis focuses on the development and application of quantitative analysis methods such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as well as techno-economic and decision-making methods to identify opportunities — and pathways — to better align the provision of engineering urban systems with sustainability. This specialization provides the skills to understand and guide policy, design, and decision-making around the built environment, ranging in scale from individual products (automobiles, a house) to large infrastructures such as energy, transportation, and water systems. Highly interdisciplinary, the emphasis combines skills and thinking from civil and mineral engineering with elements of environmental, chemical, and mechanical engineering, architecture, urban planning, economics and public policy.
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Transportation Engineering and Planning
Transportation Engineering and Planning specialists make use of data and theory to understand the movement of people and goods through transportation networks. This specialty includes planning, analysis, design and operations of all travel modes including walking, cycling, public transit, rail, automobile, ride hailing, truck, and air. The emphasis is interdisciplinary, drawing on fields of civil engineering, econometrics, psychology/sociology, computer science, environment, logistics, and geography. It emphasizes finding solutions that respond to the major challenges of our time including sustainability, equity, health and safety, and advances in technology and data science.
Complete six of the following technical courses (3.0 FCE), one or two of which may be a 1-term (CIV1001H) or 2-term (CIV1002Y) project.
Advanced Water Technologies
Through the Emphasis in Advanced Water Technologies, students are able to gain in-depth knowledge of water treatment methods and design of treatment processes.
This specialization is administered by another department in the Faculty, please see this page for course requirements and additional information.
Analytics
Analytics covers a range of methodologies, from descriptive to predictive to prescriptive approaches.
This specialization is administered by another department in the Faculty, please see this page for course requirements and additional information.
Engineering and Globalization (Global)
Every day, people in the developing world struggle to obtain many of the things that most of us in Canada take for granted, like clean water, safe shelter, and basic health care. Engineering students can make a difference. But to tackle these complex challenges effectively often requires a different mindset and a different set of skills. Through the Emphasis in Engineering and Globalization, and other initiatives, the Centre for Global Engineering aims to develop these capabilities in our students. The emphasis offers an innovative curriculum that enables our students to leverage their engineering knowledge and talent for maximal impact on issues of global importance. We develop the wide range of professional skills necessary to address the evolving technological challenges in an increasingly global society.
Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation and Technology in Engineering (ELITE)
Engineering practice today demands a breadth of skills: not only technical, but also an understanding of leadership, finance and business, management, entrepreneurship and innovation. Engineers often appreciate the importance of such skills only after they join the workforce.
The Emphasis in ELITE offers University of Toronto MEng students a broad range of courses in these topics. The first of its kind in Canada, the ELITE Emphasis is targeted at engineers seeking to develop a more well-rounded skill set.
Forensic Engineering
Forensic engineers are trained to logically investigate and analyse data from disasters, accidents and failures, and present an unbiased assessment of what the underlying cause may have been using deductive methodologies.
The Emphasis in Forensic Engineering creates a unique opportunity for students to gain specialized expertise and recognition for a personal and professional commitment to enhanced engineering investigation skills that will compliment design skills learned in other courses. Forensic engineers investigate accidents and failures commonly causing personal injury and/or monetary loss—the consequences of which are normally dealt with in a court of law.
Sustainable Energy
Issues of energy production and consumption, and the associated environmental impacts, top many lists of global challenges for the 21st century. Engineering leadership is key to the development and implementation of sustainable energy technologies to address these challenges.