Civil Engineering, MS
for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (on campus & non-thesis online)
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, consistently ranked as having one of the best graduate programs in the country, offers graduate work leading to master's and doctoral degrees. These are in a variety of specialized areas through departmental and joint programs which are described on this page.
Opportunity exists for specializing in computational science and engineering via the Computational Science & Engineering optional graduate concentration.
Department Research
Areas of study and research pursued by our world-renowned faculty are focused in the following ten specializations:
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More information about these specialized areas may be found at the department's research website.
Through the research centers based in the department, CEE students participate in a wide range of groundbreaking research projects with immediate relevance to real-world engineering applications. For more information, see the department's research centers website.
CEE at Illinois is one of the nation’s best-equipped programs, with a broad range of facilities for civil and environmental engineering education and research. For more information, see the department's research facilities website.
for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (on campus & non-thesis online)
The degree requirements for the online programs are the same as for the on-campus non-thesis M.S. program—36 hours of course work—and the degree awarded to online students is the same degree awarded to resident students. Online students have five years to complete the program.
The M.S. degree in Civil Engineering offered online is currently available for specialization in Construction Management, Infrastructure, Structural Engineering, and Transportation Engineering. Students can also develop cross-disciplinary programs in consultation with their advisers. Additional courses are available online in the following areas of concentration to complement the student’s area of specialty above: Construction Materials, Environmental Engineering and Science, Environmental Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, and Geotechnical Engineering.
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
This degree program can be completed either on campus or online; with or without a thesis, the requirements are listed below:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Thesis Option | ||
Elective courses | 36 hours subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below | |
| Total Hours | Non-Thesis Option | 36 |
| Thesis Option | ||
| Thesis Research (4 to 12 hours) | ||
Elective courses | 20-28 hours subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below | |
| Total Hours | Thesis Option | 32 |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other Requirements may overlap | |
| Individual programs are developed by the students in consultation with their academic advisors. | |
| A minimum of 16 hours of credit within the major field with 8 graded and at the 500 level. | |
| A minimum of 12 hours at the 500-level overall. | |
| A maximum of 8 hours of CEE 597 (or other independent study) may be applied toward the elective course work requirement. | |
| At least half of the minimum hours required for the degree must be in Illinois courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign campus or in courses meeting in other locations approved by the Graduate College for residency credit for the degree. | |
| Minimum program GPA | 2.75 |
for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (on campus & non-thesis online)
- Ability to identify and utilize advanced mathematical, computational, design and/or experimental skills to solve complex problems in civil and environmental engineering.
- Demonstrate technical knowledge and depth in at least one or more CEE subject areas and breadth of knowledge in at least one additional area.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively (written, oral presentation, and other media) technical ideas, design concepts, or research results.
- Understanding of the student’s professional and scientific ethical responsibilities.
- Propose, plan, and execute original research idea that target current or future societal challenges related to civil and environmental engineering.
- Demonstrate skills to teach technical subjects in CEE at the university level.
for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (on campus & non-thesis online)
Admission Requirements
The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering accepts applications for admission to the graduate program for both fall and spring semesters.
A prerequisite for graduate study in civil engineering is the equivalent of the BS in Civil Engineering from an accredited institution whose requirements for the bachelor's degree are substantially equivalent to those of the University of Illinois and his or her cumulative grade point average is at least 3.00 (A = 4.00). The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is currently optional. CEE recommends the GRE test for MS applications, particularly for students applying from international universities, MS applicants looking for potential funding support, or MS applicants whose GPA falls below the average GPA of admitted students. If GRE scores are submitted, CEE does not have minimum scores for admission. GRE scores are only valid for five years prior to the proposed term of entry.
All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores as evidence of English proficiency. Minimum admission requirements are set by the Graduate College. Students applying to the online program must satisfy the full status admissions requirement.
Applicants to the joint programs with Architecture or Urban Planning must meet the admissions standards for both degree programs and be accepted by both programs. For more information on the joint degree program, please see Civil Engineering, MS & Architecture, MARCH or Urban Planning, MUP & Related majors, MS
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. All applicants, regardless of US citizenship, whose native language is not English and who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships must demonstrate spoken English language proficiency by achieving a minimum score of 50 or 24 on the speaking subsection of the TOEFL iBT or 8 on the speaking subsection of the IELTS. For students who are unable to take the iBT or IELTS, a minimum score of 4CP is required on the EPI test, offered on campus. All new teaching assistants are required to participate in the Graduate Academy for College Teaching conducted prior to the start of the semester.
for the degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering (on campus & non-thesis online)
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Department Head: Ana Barros
Director of Graduate Studies: Scott Olson
Department website
Program website
Department faculty
1108 Newmark Civil Engineering Lab, 205 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 265-4496
Department email
Grainger College of Engineering
Grainger College of Engineering website
Admissions
Graduate Contact: Joan Christian
Departmental Admissions & Requirements
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements