UAA Alert! Anchorage Campus Inclement Weather Notice for Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

Due to unsafe road conditions for Anchorage and surrounding areas, UAA’s Anchorage campus will be on a delayed start today, Thursday, Dec. 4. Campus will open at 10 a.m. to allow for safer travel.

Civil Engineering Capstone at UAA

Civil Engineering Capstone at UAA

This unique and comprehensive program is composed of a two-class sequence, CE A437 - Project Planning (1 credit) in the Fall and CE A438 - Design of Civil Engineering Systems (3 credits) in the Spring

Students work in groups to solve real-world problems. Each group functions as a design firm to solve a complex Civil Engineering challenge, which is put forth by the project's Client. Each group is provided a Faculty Advisor and a Professional Mentor from the CE industry to guide them in creating design solutions and finished products. Projects addressed serve local and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and community councils.

  • Projects 

    Since 2011, UAA Civil Engineering students have completed more than 70 non-profit civil engineering projects with public and private organizations. This program represents the ultimate integration of applying engineering coursework to real engineering problems and providing for the community through non-profit projects. Some clients that have participated in the program:

    • Alaska Department of Transportation and Public FacilitiesStudents presenting capstone project.
    • Alaska Department of Natural Resources
    • Municipality of Anchorage
    • Alaska Railroad Corporation
    • US Forest Service
    • 673d Civil Engineering Squadron, JBER
    • Alaska Department of Fish and Game
    • Alaska Water and Wastewater
    • Anchorage Solid Waste Services
    • UAA Ski Team
    • Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church

     

    Full List of Civil Engineering Capstone Projects

  • Sequence & Deliverables 

    Capstone presentation

    Students will experience a compressed version of the project process. This includes responding to an RFP (Request for Proposal) with a Proposal, negotiating and signing a Contract and then executing the work and providing progress reports.

    Most projects attempt to reach the 35% design level. Final deliverables vary by project, but often included a mid-semester Alternatives Analysis, a Final Design Report, a Poster, and an Oral Presentation. Examples of all these deliverables can be found on our UAA College of Engineering Innovation Website.

  • Class Topics

    In addition to their design projects, students are introduced to a variety of projects and planning-related topics to assist in their early careers, including:

    Career Topics  Students listening to CE mentor

      • Types of Employers and Career Development
      • Ethics in Civil Engineering
      • Graduate School and Early Career
      • Resumes and Job Searching
      • Interviewing and Hiring Process
      • Professional Communication
      • PE Licensure and Public Services

     

    Project Progression Topics

      • Solicitations and Proposals
      • Project Stages and Critical Path
      • Project Planning and Gantt Charts
      • Students at capstone siteProposal, Design Report, and Technical Writing
      • Good (and Bad) Presentations

     

    Industry Topics                                                                                                                                      

      • The Business of Engineering
      • Cost Estimating
      • Contractor's Perspective
      • Plans and Specifications
      • Environmental Issues and Permitting for CE Projects

 

How can I be a Client?

Do you have a Civil Engineering project that you'd like us to consider? Email the lead instructor, Scott Hamel at sehamel@alaska.edu. Projects are collected in September and October and executed in the Spring Semester.