Civil Engineering (Structural)

Both SAP2000 and ETABS, developed by Computers and Structures Inc. (CSI), are widely used in structural engineering practice. ETABS is specifically tailored for building analysis and is the industry standard for high-rise and multi-story building design, while SAP2000 is more general-purpose and used for bridges, industrial structures, and non-building infrastructure.

Civil engineering is the broader undergraduate degree covering subdisciplines like transportation, geotechnical, water resources, and construction management. Structural engineering is typically a specialization within civil engineering, pursued either through elective coursework during the undergraduate degree or more commonly through a master's degree focused specifically on structural analysis, seismic design, and advanced materials.

In California, structural engineers must design buildings to comply with the California Building Code, which adopts and amends the International Building Code (IBC) with stricter seismic provisions. This involves performing lateral force analysis, detailing ductile concrete and steel connections, and often using performance-based design methods for critical facilities to ensure life safety under maximum credible earthquake events.

In most U.S. states, structural engineers first obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license by passing the NCEES PE Civil exam with a structural depth module. In California and a few other states, there is an additional separate Structural Engineer (SE) licensing exam that focuses specifically on buildings and bridges, which is required for signing and sealing structural plans for certain project types.