Students may specialize in:
- Environmental engineering
- Geotechnical and materials engineering
- Structural engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Water resources engineering
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions.
Candidates should possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Students in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics with a 3.00 grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale) may be considered for admission. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Students without a baccalaureate degree in engineering would be admitted on a provisional basis pending successful completion of entrance requirements (completed concurrently with degree requirements).
U.S. applicants will upload official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, a statement of objectives, and three references for letters of recommendation when applying to the program. In addition, all applicants must submit scores from the General Graduate Record Examinations Aptitude Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). For the M.Eng. degree, the GRE requirement will be waived for students who have graduated with a degree from the College of Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University with a cumulative grade-point average of greater than 3.30.
The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.
Application Deadlines
M.Eng.: Complete applications including required supplementary materials (e.g., official transcripts, reference letters) should be submitted by March 15th of the calendar year for admission in Fall semester. International students are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications early to allow sufficient time for visa processing.
M.S. and Ph.D.: Complete applications including required supplementary materials (e.g., official transcripts, reference letters) should be submitted by September 15th for admission in Spring semester and by December 15th for admission in Fall semester. International students are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications early to allow sufficient time for visa processing.
Degree Requirements
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Requirements.
The M.Eng. degree is a non-thesis professional master's degree. The program provides training for advanced professional practice. A minimum of 31 credits (400, 500, or 800) of course work are required. At least 18 credits must be earned in graduate courses (500 level). At least 12 credits must be earned in courses with the CE prefix. At least 20 credits must be earned at an established graduate campus of the University. All students are required to take CE 835 to fulfill the requirement for a culminating experience. All students are required to take the 1-credit CE 590 and complete all requirements for Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training. The M.Eng. degree is designed as a one-year master’s degree program and students are required to start their degree in the Fall semester. The preferred plan of study is as follows:
- Fall semester: Fifteen credits of course work plus one credit of CE 590
- Spring semester: Fifteen credits of course work, including CE 835
Students entering the M.Eng. degree must select and declare an area of specialization, where each area has specific core course requirements. The three areas of specialization are:
- Infrastructure
- Transportation Systems
- Water and Environment
Continuous registration is required for all M.Eng. students until the course requirements have been satisfied.
Master of Science (M.S.)
Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Requirements.
The M.S. degree program is strongly oriented toward research. A thesis is required, and at least 6 credits of thesis research (CE 600 or CE 610) must be included in the candidate's academic course plan. A minimum of 31 credits at the 400, 500, 600, or 800 level are required, of which 20 must be earned at an established graduate campus of the University. A minimum of 24 credits of course work are required. A minimum of 12 credits of course work (400 and 500 level) must be completed in the major (courses prefixed CE). At least 18 credits in the 500 and 600 levels, combined, must be included in the program. Specific core courses are required depending on the specialization within the department. Students are not permitted to count audited credits toward the minimum credits required for the degree. All students are required to take the 1-credit CE 590 and complete all requirements for Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training.
Continuous registration is required for all M.S. students until the thesis has been approved.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Requirements.
Dual-Titles
Dual-Title M.Eng., M.S., and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Operations Research
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in Civil Civil Engineering, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Operations Research, listed on the Operations Research Bulletin page.
The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from Civil Engineering and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Operations Research program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both Civil a Civil Civil.
International applicants who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship must present an acceptable score (250-300 or 55-60) on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The TSE can be taken in many countries, or at Penn State after arrival. The Department offers a number of graduate fellows.
Civil Engineering (CE) Course List