Phase 0 · Week 1

Orientation & Setup

Understand the job, the licensing path, and set up a study system you'll actually stick to.

What civil engineers actually do

Knowing the sub-disciplines helps you choose where to focus later.

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Five main areas (these are also the PE Civil exam areas): Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Water Resources & Environmental, Construction.
Engineer vs technician: engineers design and take legal responsibility (they sign and seal drawings). Technicians draft, test, inspect, and survey.
In the US, the legal title 'Professional Engineer (PE)' is granted by each state board, not by a school.

Read about the job and each of the 5 sub-disciplines; write 2 sentences on which interests you most

learn~2 h

Start here

Look up your state board's PE requirements (degree + experience rules) and save the link

milestone~1 h

Start here

Browse the free MIT and NPTEL civil course catalogs so you know what's available

learn~1 h

Start here

Self-study fails without structure. Consistency beats intensity.

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Target 15–20 hours/week. Two hours on weekdays + one longer weekend block.
Rule: 1/3 watching or reading, 2/3 solving problems. Engineering is learned with a pencil.
Keep one notebook per subject and a 'formula sheet' you rewrite from memory each week.