Civil Engineering, M.S.

On Campus

Today’s populations are growing at exponential rates. The pace strains the built environment, with our shared civic infrastructure — our bridges, dams, airports, and highways, among other resources — nearing capacity levels. Civil engineers respond to the issue by improving existing systems and designing projects that answer the new challenges raised by modern society.

Our MS program in Civil Engineering trains you to join their ranks. You can specialize in any of the following concentrations:

construction management and engineering
structural engineering
geotechnical engineering
environmental and water resource engineering
urban infrastructure systems
highway and traffic engineering

Our program is flexible, and you may elect for a more general course of study by taking 2 courses in 3 areas of concentration.

About the Program

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program requires you to hold a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). You also need to have a 3.0 GPA or better. Applicants lacking a BS from an ABET-accredited program in civil engineering (including those possessing undergraduate degrees in other engineering disciplines, engineering science, engineering technology and architecture, or from a foreign university) will have their qualifications reviewed by a graduate adviser. Admission may be granted and may include the requirement for additional undergraduate courses to correct deficiencies. These additional courses are not counted toward the MS degree, nor are undergraduate courses included in computing graduate grade-point averages.

Find out more about Admission Requirements.

Advising

While academic advisers will consult with and advise you, you are responsible for following the departmental rules outlined on these pages and in this catalog, for ensuring that all degree requirements are fulfilled, and for submitting all proper forms and applications. You must meet with an academic adviser when you first enroll and must have a detailed program of study formally approved by an academic adviser before registration.

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

To receive your Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree, you must choose to follow either the Single Area of Concentration or the General Program described below, and fulfill their requirements. Each requires a total of 30 credits. (Read about grade requirements below.)

Single Area of Concentration Requirements

core courses (minimum of 12 credits)
courses within a concentration (minimum of 12 credits)
technical electives (6 credits)

General Program Requirements

core courses (minimum of 12 credits)
2 courses in 3 concentration areas (minimum of 18 credits)

Core Courses (12 Credits)

With either program you choose (Single Area of Concentration or the General Program), you must complete at least 4 of following 6 core courses.

CE-GY 6023 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE-GY 6073 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE-GY 7673 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE-GY 7843 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE-GY 8253 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE-GY 8283 Please refer to the bulletin for more information

Concentration Area Courses (12 to 18 Credits)

If you are following the Single Area of Concentration program, you must complete:

At least 1 core course in your concentration area; and
At least 4 additional concentration area courses.

Technical Electives (0 to 6 Credits)

Depending on which choice of concentration you choose, you may have up to 6 additional credits of coursework, which you can satisfy in the following ways:

Electives: Students normally select courses given by the Department of Civil Engineering. However, you may select electives offered by other departments with written consent of your graduate adviser.
CE-GY 9963 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CE 9976 Thesis for the MS in Civil Engineering, Credits: 6.00

Grade Requirements

To earn an MS degree from the School of Engineering, you must maintain a B average (3.0 GPA) or better in

all graduate courses taken at the School of Engineering,
all graduate courses taken in the Department of Civil Engineering and
all graduate guided studies (readings, project, thesis).

Poor scholastic performance (under 3.0 GPA) may lead to being placed on graduate probation. If your grades do not improve, you may be disqualified from further graduate study in the department. You may repeat a course with your adviser’s approval. When a course is repeated, only the later grade counts toward your GPA. If a course is repeated more than once, only the first grade is dropped from the GPA computation. In the event that you are required to take undergraduate prerequisite courses as a condition of admission, a grade of B- or better is required for every prerequisite course taken, and the cumulative GPA of all required prerequisite courses must be at least 3.0.