Montana State University-Northern's Civil Engineering Technology BS program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.  TAC-ABET is the sole organization authorized by the U.S. Department of Education for accrediting programs of this type. Graduates of the bachelors program are recognized to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination administered by the State Board of Professional Engineers and Surveyors. This examination is the first of two required for registration as a professional engineer in the State of Montana.

Engineering is the application of the physical sciences and mathematics to the design of items that benefit society. Civil Engineering is divided into five broad areas: structures, hydraulics and hydrology, geotechnical engineering (soil mechanics), traffic and transportation, and environmental engineering. The Civil Engineering Technology program at Northern offers course work in each of these areas with the exception of environmental engineering technology.

Engineering technology begins with mathematics at the College Algebra level and moves students through to calculus. This differs from a standard engineering program, which starts with the calculus and includes topics in differential equations. Drafting skills and the use of third party design applications software is heavily emphasized in the Civil Engineering Technology program. The goal is to prepare the student to work with engineers, and if successful with the FE, assume an engineering position.