CET Course Descriptions
CET 1100 - Introduction to Civil Engineering Technology 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 1100.pdf (
212 KB)
This course is a cross section of topics in contemporary civil engineering disciplines, with emphasis on the tools of engineering problem solving. Students are taught to work in teams and introduced to the design process and to several tools necessary in a civil engineering career. In this course they develop an appreciation of professional topics to include: ethics, respecting others, and professional societies.
CET 1215 - Engineering Graphics 3 (1+4)
Syllabus: CET 1215.pdf (
This course uses CAD software to perform geometric constructions, multi-view projection, section views, dimensioning, and solid modeling.
CET 2100 - Structural Drawing 3 (1+4)
Syllabus: CET 2100.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 1215 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course introduces drawings of structural members and connections, including engineering layouts and detail drawings.
CET 2150 - Mechanics I–Statics 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 2150.pdf (
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MTH 1410, PHY 2321, and PHY 2311, with grades of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course examines principles of statics, studies of vectors, their resolution and composition, forces and moments, force systems and their resultants. It also covers force systems in equilibrium, static friction, centroids, moments of inertia and radii of gyration of areas, shear and moment diagrams.
CET 2530 - Route Surveying 4 (2+4)
Syllabus: CET 2530.pdf (
Prerequisite: SUR 1520 for CET majors, SUR 2520 and SUR 2620 for SUR majors, all with a grade of “C” or better, or Permission of instructor.
This course is designed to expand the concepts on circular and parabolic curves and earthwork introduced in SUR 1520 and SUR 2520. Included is the mathematics of spirals, unequal tangent vertical curves, mass diagram of earthwork quantities, alignment profile and slope staking, large scale site mapping, alignment and design, and other surveying techniques required for highways, pipelines, tunnels, transmission lines, water lines, sewers and canals, etc. This course will introduce terrain modeling for site development and environmental concerns.
CET 3100 - Construction Methods 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3100.pdf (
Prerequisite: At least junior standing, or permission of instructor.
This course provides a basic understanding of the methods used by a general contractor to determine earthwork costs. The student is introduced to the application of engineering fundamentals for the analysis of heavy earth-moving equipment, as well as to the basic concepts of CPM.
CET 3110 - Construction Estimating 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3110.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3100; or permission of instructor.
This course is a continuation of CET 3100, Construction Methods. It provides a basic understanding of the methods used to prepare a building and/or bridge construction cost estimate. The students learn to do quantity takeoff utilizing plans and specifications.
CET 3120 - Engineering Economy 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3120.pdf (
Prerequisite: At least junior standing, or permission of instructor.
This course examines the “time value of money” as a basis for evaluating economic alternatives required in engineering decision-making.
CET 3135 - Mechanics of Materials with Laboratory 4 (3+2)
Syllabus: CET 3135.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 2150 and COM 2610 with grades of “C” or better; or permission of instructor.
Corequisite: MTH 2410.
This course introduces the theory of strength of materials, stresses and strains in members subjected to tension, compression, torsion, and shear. Flexural and shearing stresses in beams, principal stresses, and deflection of beams, column analysis, and indeterminate structures are also introduced. The laboratory component of the course is structured to give students experience in the use of laboratory equipment for conducting axial loading, shear and bending tests on various materials.
CET 3170 - Introduction to Structural Analysis 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3170.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3130 with a grade of “C” or better, or Permission of instructor.
This course presents and applies the principles of structural analysis to statically determinate and indeterminate structures.
CET 3185 - Fluid Mechanics I for Civil Engineering Technology 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3185.pdf (
Prerequisite: MET 3160 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course covers and studies the engineering applications of physical properties of ideal fluids, real fluids, hydrostatics, kinematics, energy considerations, momentum principle, dimensional analysis, and incompressible flow in pipes and ducts.
CET 3190 - Fluid Mechanics II for Civil Engineering Technology 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3190.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3185 with a grade of “C” or better.
This course is a continuation of the fundamentals introduced in Fluid Mechanics I for Civil Engineering Technology, with emphasis on the analysis of forces on immersed bodies, steady flow in open channels, fluid measurements, and the problems associated with unsteady fluid flow.
CET 3320 - Environmental Impact Statements 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3320.pdf (
Prerequisite: At least junior standing, or permission of instructor.
This course is a study of the physical and legal requirements of the environmental impact assessment process. Students will learn to do information research and prepare a draft environmental impact statement.
CET 3330 - Environmental Technology Processes 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 3330.pdf (
Prerequisite: CHE 1100 or CHE 1800 with a grade of “C” or better, at least junior standing; or permission of instructor.
This course covers chemistry basics, acid-base reactions, biochemical processes and reactions. Also included is an overview of water and wastewater processes following fieldtrip(s) in this area.
CET 3980 - Internship in Civil Engineering Technology 1-12 (0+3-36) (Variable Credit)
Note! Syllabus exists individually as an signed agreement between each student, student’s employer, and the college.
Prerequisite: Major in civil engineering technology; junior or senior status; permission of instructor.
Supervised by a faculty member within the major department, internships provide practical, hands-on experience in a professional field related to the major. Internship placements must be established prior to enrollment in this course in consultation with The Internship Center.To register with The Internship Center, students must meet the following qualifications:
- Completed at least one semester at Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Sophomore, junior or senior status
- Declared major in an undergraduate program
- 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA at MSU Denver
- Currently enrolled and taking classes at MSU Denver
For information and instructions on finding and enrolling in an internship, contact The Internship Center at 303-556-3290 or mscd-internships@mscd.edu.
Department Note: that only in extremely rare cases does the ET Department award more than an average of three hours under this CET 3980 course title. Under older ABET accreditation rules a max of eight hours was allowed for CET 3980.
CET 4100 - Senior Project I 1 (0+2)
Syllabus: CET 4100.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3120, COM 2610, MTH 2420, and SPE 1010 with grades of “C” or better; completion of all General Studies Level I and II requirements; Senior standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: CET 4120 and CET 4400.
This course requires the planning and designing of a team project in consultation with faculty advisors and industry contacts. (Senior Experience)
CET 4110 - Senior Project II 2 (0+4)
Syllabus: CET 4110.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 4100 with a grade of “C” or better.
In this course, the students will build, test, and demonstrate the project they started in CET 4100. Written technical reports and oral presentations on the project are required. Part of this course involves the student working with a faculty member who acts as a consultant. (Senior Experience)
CET 4120 - Concrete Design I 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4120.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3170 with a grade of “C” or better, or Permission of instructor.
This course is a basic introduction to the fundamental principles of reinforced concrete design according to current ACI Code. The course covers flexural analysis and design of beams and one-way slabs, serviceability, bond and development lengths, and shear and diagonal tension.
CET 4130 - Soil Mechanics 4 (2+2)
Syllabus: CET 4130.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3135 and CET 3185 with grades of “C” or better, and Senior standing.
This course covers the principles of soil mechanics and fundamentals of application in geotechnical engineering. This course covers soil behaviors and mechanical properties of soil, engineering classification of soil, permeability and seepage, consolidation and settlement, shear strength, lateral earth pressures, fundamentals of retaining structures, soil bearing capacity, and slope stability. This course also provides students the opportunity to obtain “hands-on” experience with some of the laboratory tests, techniques used in geotechnical engineering data collection and analysis methods. (Senior Experience)
CET 4135 - Foundation and Geotechnical Engineering 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4135.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 4130 with grade of “C” or better.
The course applies engineering mechanics and soil mechanics principles to the provision of safe designs for foundations of bridges, buildings, towers and other structures. This course covers the analysis and design of shallow foundations, spread footings, mats, deep foundations, earth retaining structures and site exploration and characterization. It is a practical design course in foundation and geotechnical engineering.
CET 4140 - Concrete Design II 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4140.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 4120 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course is a continuation of the fundamentals introduced in Concrete Design I, with emphasis on the analysis and design of columns, footings, retaining walls, two-way slabs, and introduction of principles of prestressed concrete.
CET 4150 - Highway Engineering and Surveying 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4150.pdf (
Prerequisite: At least junior standing; or permission of instructor.
This course is a specialized course in requirements, functional characteristics, and system characteristics of highway design. This course develops design methods, procedures, and analysis for pavement design, roadway alignment, and user information for freeways, city arterials, and rural roadways.
CET 4400 - Steel Design I 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4400.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3170 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course focuses on the analysis and design of structural steel members, based on the latest edition of AISC design requirements and specifications for structural steel.
CET 4410 - Steel Design II 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4410.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 4400 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course is a continuation of the fundamentals introduced in Steel Design I, with emphasis on the analysis and design of structural steel connections, based on the latest AISC design requirements and specifications for structural steel.
CET 4450 - Timber Design 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4450.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3170 with a grade of “C” or better, or permission of instructor.
This course focuses on the analysis and design of wood structures based on the latest edition of the National Design Specifications for Wood Construction and Supplement.
CET 4570 - Engineering Law 3 (3+0)
Syllabus: CET 4570.pdf (
Prerequisite: CET 3120 or permission of instructor.
This course provides the student with a basic understanding of contract laws and regulations, laws that govern the execution of the work being performed under the contract, laws that relate to the settling of differences and disputes, and licensing laws.
