Civil Engineering
Master of Science
Online
Course Delivery
30
Total Credits
$995
Credit Hour
2 Years
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
Michigan State University's online Master of Science in Civil Engineering equips students to find opportunities in the next generation of transportation infrastructure. You'll learn from our faculty of top educators, researchers and professional engineers, receiving the individualized guidance you need to advance your career. MSU online engineering students benefit from the resources of a top research university with extensive connections to government agencies and private businesses. In the civil engineering masters program, you'll learn to analyze emerging needs, developing systems that are durable, safe, sustainable and ready for the future of autonomous and connected vehicles.
Program Outcomes
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a world-class educational experience for graduate students that is enhanced by modern technology and is accessible to all segments of society. As a student in this program, you'll prepare to solve complex problems by drawing on robust real-world civil engineering data and applying state-of-the-art software tools. You have the option to choose from three focus areas in Transportation Engineering, Pavement Engineering, and Structural Engineering as you explore topics like:
- Statistical and econometric analysis
- Network modeling
- Traffic safety
- Pavement preservation
- Pavement analysis and design
- Theoretical models for pavement systems
- Smart infrastructure
By completing the program, students will gain expertise in a contemporary area of interest to them as well as engineering leadership skills to help them push their own knowledge and their discipline forward. Students will also have the opportunity to:
- Gain expertise in a focus area of contemporary interest
- Develop engineering leadership with the advanced knowledge in a concentration of interest
- Use the civil engineering graduate education as an impetus for personal and professional growth
- Achieve a noteworthy level of workplace responsibility
- Think independently and take ownership in identifying problems and determining effective solution strategies
Career Outlook
Civil engineers commonly work for consultancies or for government agencies at the local, state or federal level. Many find career opportunities in improving or replacing obsolete transportation systems and meeting the growing demand for updated, sustainable infrastructure. Professionals may specialize in areas like transportation or pavement engineering, taking on positions where they develop and maintain streets, highways, airports, harbors and public transit.
Licensure as a professional engineer (PE) is crucial for many roles in the field. Regulations vary by state, but you generally must be a licensed PE to sign, seal and submit engineering work for official approval. Graduate education can help you earn your license by preparing for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam and meeting work experience requirements. Graduates will also be prepared for a variety of careers across the field of civil and transportation engineering. MSU College of Engineering alumni earn highly competitive salaries, with the average salary for masters-level engineering student exceeding $109,000, according to PayScale. Common career options for graduates include engineering manager, senior transportation/pavement engineer, project engineer and more.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 32nd among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- A Top 100 Global University — Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report, 2021
Dr. Peter Savolainen
MSU Foundation Professor and Interim Department Chair
Dr. Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of road user behavior, particularly how traffic safety and operations are influenced by behavior in consideration of roadway and traffic characteristics. His work in this area has provided important information as to how road user behavior changes in response to such roadway features as maximum speed limits, centerline/shoulder rumble strips, and red-light-running cameras at signalized intersections. His research has also advanced fundamental knowledge as to how roadway design, environmental factors, and in-vehicle distractions affect the risk of traffic crashes.
Course Information
General
FOR/STT 875 - R Programming for Data Sciences (3 Credits)
Transportation
CE 444 - Principles of Traffic Engineering (3 Credits)
CE 449 - Highway Design (3 Credits)
CE 844 - Highway and Traffic Safety (3 Credits)
CE 849 - Transportation Research Methods (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Advanced Highway Design and Traffic Control (3 Credits)
Pavement
CE 432 - Pavement Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
CE 831 - Advanced Concrete Pavement Analysis and Design (3 Credits)
CE 832 - Advanced Asphalt Pavement Analysis (3 Credits)
CE 835 - Engineering Management of Pavement Networks (3 Credits)
CE 838 - Bituminous Materials (3 Credits)
Structural
Design:
CE 805 - Advanced Steel Design (3 Credits)
CE 806 - Advanced Concrete Design (3 Credits)
CE 808 - Structural Fire Engineering (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Bridge Design (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Sustainability (3 Credits)
Materials:
CE 837 - Advanced Concrete Materials (3 Credits)
CE 839 Smart Materials and Structures (3 Credits)
Analysis:
CE 800 Structural Dynamics (3 Credits)
CE 804 Structural Mechanics or CE 872 FE Analysis (3 Credits)
CE 461 Computational Methods in Civil Engineering
Optional:
CE 892 MS Project (Design or Analysis Focus)
Learning Experiences
Students must complete the core classes, and choose one elective.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
Students who do not have a B.S. in civil engineering are required to complete undergraduate courses that provide appropriate background.
- 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
- Taken the GRE
- Taken the TOEFL (Only required if English is not your native language)
- A written personal statement
Your academic statement should describe your plans for graduate study, career goals, and how the program will help you meet your objectives (2 pages). Your personal statement should concisely describe how your background and life experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree (2 pages).
- 3 letters of recommendation. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- GRE is only required for students who do not have an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- For Master of Science in Civil Engineering program applicants, please mail requested materials to:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Attn: CCE Graduate Application Processing
Michigan State University
428 S. Shaw Lane, Rm. 2120
East Lansing, MI 48824-1226
Key Dates
Rolling Applications
Students can start the program in any semester. We recommend applications are submitted at least one month prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing.
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$995
$995
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible.
Program Overview
Michigan State University's online Master of Science in Civil Engineering equips students to find opportunities in the next generation of transportation infrastructure. You'll learn from our faculty of top educators, researchers and professional engineers, receiving the individualized guidance you need to advance your career. MSU online engineering students benefit from the resources of a top research university with extensive connections to government agencies and private businesses. In the civil engineering masters program, you'll learn to analyze emerging needs, developing systems that are durable, safe, sustainable and ready for the future of autonomous and connected vehicles.
Program Outcomes
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a world-class educational experience for graduate students that is enhanced by modern technology and is accessible to all segments of society. As a student in this program, you'll prepare to solve complex problems by drawing on robust real-world civil engineering data and applying state-of-the-art software tools. You have the option to choose from three focus areas in Transportation Engineering, Pavement Engineering, and Structural Engineering as you explore topics like:
- Statistical and econometric analysis
- Network modeling
- Traffic safety
- Pavement preservation
- Pavement analysis and design
- Theoretical models for pavement systems
- Smart infrastructure
By completing the program, students will gain expertise in a contemporary area of interest to them as well as engineering leadership skills to help them push their own knowledge and their discipline forward. Students will also have the opportunity to:
- Gain expertise in a focus area of contemporary interest
- Develop engineering leadership with the advanced knowledge in a concentration of interest
- Use the civil engineering graduate education as an impetus for personal and professional growth
- Achieve a noteworthy level of workplace responsibility
- Think independently and take ownership in identifying problems and determining effective solution strategies
Career Outlook
Civil engineers commonly work for consultancies or for government agencies at the local, state or federal level. Many find career opportunities in improving or replacing obsolete transportation systems and meeting the growing demand for updated, sustainable infrastructure. Professionals may specialize in areas like transportation or pavement engineering, taking on positions where they develop and maintain streets, highways, airports, harbors and public transit.
Licensure as a professional engineer (PE) is crucial for many roles in the field. Regulations vary by state, but you generally must be a licensed PE to sign, seal and submit engineering work for official approval. Graduate education can help you earn your license by preparing for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam and meeting work experience requirements. Graduates will also be prepared for a variety of careers across the field of civil and transportation engineering. MSU College of Engineering alumni earn highly competitive salaries, with the average salary for masters-level engineering student exceeding $109,000, according to PayScale. Common career options for graduates include engineering manager, senior transportation/pavement engineer, project engineer and more.
A Top-Ranked Education
- 32nd among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2021
- A Top 100 Global University — Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report, 2021
Dr. Peter Savolainen
MSU Foundation Professor and Interim Department Chair
Dr. Savolainen’s research examines the fundamental nature of road user behavior, particularly how traffic safety and operations are influenced by behavior in consideration of roadway and traffic characteristics. His work in this area has provided important information as to how road user behavior changes in response to such roadway features as maximum speed limits, centerline/shoulder rumble strips, and red-light-running cameras at signalized intersections. His research has also advanced fundamental knowledge as to how roadway design, environmental factors, and in-vehicle distractions affect the risk of traffic crashes.
Course Information
General
FOR/STT 875 - R Programming for Data Sciences (3 Credits)
Transportation
CE 444 - Principles of Traffic Engineering (3 Credits)
CE 449 - Highway Design (3 Credits)
CE 844 - Highway and Traffic Safety (3 Credits)
CE 849 - Transportation Research Methods (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Advanced Highway Design and Traffic Control (3 Credits)
Pavement
CE 432 - Pavement Rehabilitation (3 Credits)
CE 831 - Advanced Concrete Pavement Analysis and Design (3 Credits)
CE 832 - Advanced Asphalt Pavement Analysis (3 Credits)
CE 835 - Engineering Management of Pavement Networks (3 Credits)
CE 838 - Bituminous Materials (3 Credits)
Structural
Design:
CE 805 - Advanced Steel Design (3 Credits)
CE 806 - Advanced Concrete Design (3 Credits)
CE 808 - Structural Fire Engineering (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Bridge Design (3 Credits)
CE 891 - Special Topics - Sustainability (3 Credits)
Materials:
CE 837 - Advanced Concrete Materials (3 Credits)
CE 839 Smart Materials and Structures (3 Credits)
Analysis:
CE 800 Structural Dynamics (3 Credits)
CE 804 Structural Mechanics or CE 872 FE Analysis (3 Credits)
CE 461 Computational Methods in Civil Engineering
Optional:
CE 892 MS Project (Design or Analysis Focus)
Learning Experiences
Students must complete the core classes, and choose one elective.
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
Students who do not have a B.S. in civil engineering are required to complete undergraduate courses that provide appropriate background.
- 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
- Taken the GRE
- Taken the TOEFL (Only required if English is not your native language)
- A written personal statement
Your academic statement should describe your plans for graduate study, career goals, and how the program will help you meet your objectives (2 pages). Your personal statement should concisely describe how your background and life experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree (2 pages).
- 3 letters of recommendation. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Official transcripts from all previous schools
To apply to this program:
- GRE is only required for students who do not have an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- For Master of Science in Civil Engineering program applicants, please mail requested materials to:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Attn: CCE Graduate Application Processing
Michigan State University
428 S. Shaw Lane, Rm. 2120
East Lansing, MI 48824-1226
Key Dates
Rolling Applications
Students can start the program in any semester. We recommend applications are submitted at least one month prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing.
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$995
$995
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.