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When you hear the term structural engineer, it typically denotes that you are a design engineer. The term engineer has been thrown around so much in today's society that people that never even got a degree in an engineering discipline hold titles of engineer. I take offense to that personally, but maybe I'm just an arrogant a$$.

Just to let you know, you can be a structural engineer in more than just the civil field. That is the most common, and typically the one that comes to people's minds when they hear the title. There are structural engineers who design airplane structures, vehicle chassis and other components, boat structures, giant mechanical components used in machines.... you name it. So you could also get a degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering and focus on the Structural aspect of those disciplines.

But, if you want to design Bridges, Buildings, Offshore Oil Riggs, Shoring Towers, Retaining Walls, etc... Then Yes, get your Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. Pay close attention to your courses in Statics, Dynamics, *Mechanics of Materials*, Reinforced Concrete Design, Steel Design, and Structural Analysis. Then go on and get your Masters in Civil Engineering where you will get an emphasis in Structural Engineering. Here you can take courses in Composite Design, Continuum Mechanics, Finite Element Analysis, Structural Dynamics, etc...

With all this experience, you will be ready to be a Structural Design Engineer. My personal experience is that I would not be able to do my job had I not gotten my Masters Degree. There is so much more theory that you need to learn beyond your Bachelors that takes several more years. Not only that but most design firms nowadays will only look at you if you have your Masters or a lot of experience. Good luck!