There are, in Portugal, nine universities with degree programs of civil engineeringaccredited by the Ordem dos Engenheiros (Engineering Professional Body). However,none of them present disciplines expressly dedicated to teach or to learn SD in the studyplan. In the two last years of the five year study plan, generally in the fourth year of degree,most of the courses of civil engineering introduces SD in an implicit way. It is forinstance associated to studies of town planning and of evaluation of environmental impacts.Of the nine degree programs of civil engineering analyzed, in the option of buildingconstruction, only two present disciplines that are optional and are directly associatedwith sustainable construction. Six present disciplines of evaluation of environmentalimpact and of town planning. The importance of SD in a degree program of civil engineeringis unquestionable. Some of the issues like building maintenance and managementrepresent a large impact on energy spending and on pollution of the atmosphere and ofthe earth. Another area of civil engineering that is important for SD is hydraulics and thewater, river and sea management. A very important area is the cycle and recycle of constructionmaterials with the creation of by-products that are one of the main sources ofenvironment contamination. There are many other areas of civil engineering where SD isvery important like transportation, planning and industrial construction. The adaptation ofcivil engineering disciplines of the SD principles and theories will prepare the future civilengineers to address their profession with SD as a major concern and beacon. The continuingeducation and professional development activities and courses will have a quickerimpact on the transformation of the actions of the current civil engineers
