CIVE 100Civil Engineering Concepts
- Units
- 0.75
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Civil Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
An introduction to engineering concepts for first-year Civil Engineering students, including site design, design visualization, and public stakeholder communication. Laboratory sessions expose students to traditional field surveying, modern topographic surveying, engineering graphics, guidelines and regulations, and design visualization. Introduction to the practice and ethics of professional engineering, including licensure and accreditation.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 1A
- Enrolled in H-Civil Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4835 | 129 / 150 | MWF 08:30–09:20 MWF 08:30–09:20 Oct 6 16:30–17:20 Sep 15 16:30–17:20 Sep 22 16:30–17:20 Oct 26 14:30–16:20 |
| LAB 101 | 4836 | 129 / 150 | M 15:30–16:20 M 15:30–16:20 W 12:30–16:20 W 12:30–16:20 |
| TUT 201 | 4837 | 129 / 150 | M 14:30–15:20 M 14:30–15:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
94% liked it77% easy90% useful
From 70 ratings and 11 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This course was basically split into 3 components, CIVIL 3D (the best part), surveying (fairly easy, lots of basic trig), and a report (specifically, on designing a bypass culvert, most time consuming part of the course). Great introduction to civil engineering concepts, Bob also gave a really good lecture near the end on the specifications and paths we can take in civil engineering. This course was one of the highlights of 1A for me.
Nov 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Huge W of a course, Brush and the TAs were super helpful and the exam workload is very much basic common sense. The projects and labs are fun and a really great way to get introduced to engineering software, practices, and reporting.
Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Really fun course. Civil 3D project was very time consuming. In your 1A term you'll spend a couple weeks full sending that project. It will take days and days so make sure you choose a competent group that is willing to split up work.
Sep 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The most hands on experience you get from a course, the survey experience as well as the tools that were used were fun. The quizzes were easy mathematics just addition and subtraction.
The last course project also gives Civil 3D and Infraworks experience which is nice to have. This course is the course that will help you the most in next term's job search.Feb 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
A great class to introduce you to civil eng concepts. Bob and TAs are very helpful and approachable. If you are interested in the field you will find this class enjoyable!
Workload is extremely varied. Most of term the work was limited to lab and lecture time. In the last week the final project was due. We had limited resources/direction so no one in our cohort could work ahead, leading to everyone grinding out the project all night during finals week. Hopefully in future years this project can be more organized.Nov 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
31 posts and comments in 25 threads mention CIVE 100, May 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
Field based courses 3 points, 4 comments
“Hey! I saw that uoft offers field based courses to civil engineering students. These are course where students get introduced to civil engineering works in the environment. …”
u/WillumFromCanada: “Cive100 is a surveying class you take first year”
Spring 2022
What courses are considered easy or difficult in the 1A term for Civil Engineering? 3 points, 5 comments
“Starting 1A this September, so just curious what courses people found easy or difficult in them. How long of times did you spend weekly, outside of class studying for these courses?”
u/CreepyWindows: “… CIVE100 - Your introduction to civil engineering. You'll learn how to survey, how to CAD (computer-aided design) and some ethical principles of our trade. …”
u/UnsquabbledToast: “… cive100 - do not let bob scare you. he really just wants to help you succeed, and it doesn’t always come across this way. just don’t plagiarize any reports. spend a good amount of time on azimuth and bearing calculations. …”
Winter 2022
Below Average 66 points, 18 comments
“Does anyone else feel like they are below average and no matter how hard they try, it still results in mid-high 70s. …”
u/Dummy_Wire: “Any other Civil Engineering students in here probably remember the speech Bob gives on the first day of CIVE 100. …”
Spring 2021
“Note: I played competitive badminton for all of high school, and with covid as well, I didn't really have the chance to get a job. …”
u/colaroga: “… Many introductory skills will be taught in CIVE100 during your 1A term with Prof. Bob. …”
Why is Waterloo mostly online in the fall while other schools are opening up? 138 points, 69 comments
“Looking at the new courses, it seems like most are online of blended. In other schools, most are in person.”
u/pumpkinwavy: “Imo blended should be the model going forward. No more 8:30 in person lecture with clicker questions”
u/colaroga: “ahh yes flashback to CIVE100 in fall 2016”
u/ReplEH: “You had clicker questions in CIVE100?”
A Retrospective on Online First Year Civil Engineering 51 points, 29 comments
u/Intense_Stare: “… Use this time to sleep or something, the only courses that matter in 1A are MATH 116 and CIVE 100. CHE 102 Chemistry for Engineers (Jason Grove) Summary: “The chemical equilibrium of this course is PaIN” This course is just a series of multiple-choice tests on learn. …”
u/Dummy_Wire: “CIVE 100 was a lot more bearable in person when I took it back in 2017, since the survey labs were actually an interesting experience. …”
u/Aloof_Pigeon: “Did you buy a new computer for first year of civil? The CEE website is a bit elitist and recommends students spend $2000 on a new computer, even though most 3D work can be done in the lab remotely”
u/Intense_Stare: “You don't need a $2000 computer, don't worry, even potatoes are fine because we can use a vpn to access engineering software. I would recommend to getting a monitor if you can, having a second screen is great for CIVE 100.”
Winter 2021
What is your favourite/most interesting course? 13 points, 32 comments
u/colaroga: “Transportation engineering CIVE341 Economics and life cycle analysis CIVE392 Civil Engineering Concepts CIVE100”
Spring 2020
Civil Engineering professors? 2 points, 3 comments
“I'm going into Civil Engineering first year. Can someone give me a brief description of the professors, their personalities, or what they like, stuff like that?”
u/MeinGottWasZumTeufel: “Here are the ones we had 1A Bob McKillop (CIVE100) - He seems scary and kind of weird, but he's actually a pretty nice guy. Teaches pretty well, I'd say. Really likes using statistics, especially to scare first years. …”
Engineering first year mandatory courses? 0 points, 4 comments
“I'm going into Civil Engineering at Waterloo this Fall. Are there required courses for all first year students like English? If so, what are they? …”
u/c1v1l: “1A Classes: CHE 102 - Chemistry CIVE 100 - Civil Engineering Concepts CIVE 104 - Mechanics 1 CIVE 115 - Linear Algebra ENGL 191 or SPCOM 191 (same course, you’ll get one of them randomly) - Communication in the Engineering Profession MATH 116 - Calculus 1 Pre-Class: Math …”
Winter 2020
How hard is Civil Engineering first year?? 1 point, 14 comments
“So I heard from my friends that many UT Engineering students get kicked out after first year because of their poor performance. They said it's really hard that some people even cry??? …”
u/ReplEH: “… cive100 pretty easy too, the first half is all surveying and calculations based on that (just adding and subtraction basically) and then the second half is excel/autocad. …”
Has Waterloo ever looked this peaceful and colourful? ♥️♥️ 208 points, 13 comments
u/colaroga: “Trust me it'll be more colourful in the fall, I've got some pics from the CIVE100 surveying site there in October 2016”
Fall 2019
Question 1 point, 1 comment
“I am in section 1 for labs and tutorials for 1a civil engineering courses. While I know others who are in section 2. Does that mean we will always be in those sections for all of undergrad? …”
u/linkluke18: “Sections is merely a way to divide you guys into a smaller group. I suspect this is CivE 100. Section 1 has a higher civil density while section 2 is mainly for enviros and geos. In lther terms you may find yourself split into different sections due to class sizes.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them