The Johns Hopkins University is regarded as the America's first research university, and the elite education system for undergraduates is adopted in the Department of Civil Engineering. The introduction to the civil engineering training program and its objectives at Johns Hopkins University is presented, which is further compared with the program at Wuhan University. The teaching contents and methods of two professional compulsory theoretical courses-evolution of engineering structures and structural design of Johns Hopkins University are described afterwards. Detailed discussions are provided by referring to the elite education system, the combined study and research mode and the professional practice, which can enable the quality enhancement of talent training. Further suggestions and thoughts are also presented to improve the international influence and recognition of engineering education in China.