In the era of AI+, engineering education faces an imperative to keep abreast with technological advancements, fostering seamless integration with the rapid pace of technological development. This necessitates the promotion of a smart transformation within engineering education, aimed at nurturing a cadre of socially responsible professionals equipped with both practical skills and an innovative mindset. Using civil engineering as an example, the perpetual emergence of novel technologies has not only rejuvenated traditional civil engineering disciplines but also underscored the need for a profound reassessment of their integration and utilization alongside AI technology. This article undertakes an examination of the progression and implementation of AI in civil engineering from two perspectives: the embedment of AI within the confines of traditional civil engineering disciplines and interdisciplinary application of AI at the juncture of civil engineering and other fields. This not only illuminates avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration between civil engineering and AI but also serves as a guidepost for the pragmatic endeavor of collaborative education and science-education integration within civil engineering in the new era. Furthermore, this article engages in a rigorous exploration and reflective analysis of the present landscape of collaborative education and the integration of science and education within civil engineering. It meticulously scrutinizes existing challenges and, in response, formulates pertinent countermeasures and recommendations. The research furnishes decision-making frameworks for policymakers, university administrators, and frontline educators in the realm of civil engineering education. Concurrently, the experiences and insights serve as crucial benchmarks for the implementation of collaborative education and science-education integration in other engineering disciplines navigating the AI+ era.