civil engineering student surveying land

Civil Engineering Master's

M.S. or M.Eng.

Earn your master's in civil engineering from a nationally ranked and affordable program.

Specialize in environmental, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering. A general track is also available for those looking for a broader curriculum in graduate school.

Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
1-2 years
Credit hours:
M.S: 30 (thesis option) or 32 (non-thesis option) / M.Eng: 30 (Design Report Option)

Why earn a civil engineering master's?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

The University of North Dakota's is one of the top civil engineering schools in the USA. For nearly 40 years, UND has offered a suite of fully accredited engineering programs that are delivered online. Most can complete this master's program in under two years.

The Civil Engineering master's program has four main areas of specialization:

  1. Soils-structures engineering
  2. Environmental engineering
  3. Water resources engineering
  4. General civil engineering

Types Civil Engineering Master's

UND offers two civil engineering masters degrees: Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng.). Please connect with the Department of Civil Engineering before making a final decision.

  • The M.S. program includes a thesis or research project/independent study. The M.S. will prepare you for careers in research, practice and further studies toward a Ph.D.
  • The M.Eng. program is more course-based and includes writing a design project report. The program has a strong and directed emphasis toward the practice of engineering.

On-Campus or Online Civil Engineering Master's

  • Build on your knowledge to achieve a greater understanding of civil engineering and the design process.

  • Practice civil engineering in a wide range of professional settings including consulting firms, government agencies and industries.

  • Conduct research in your chosen area of interest. Many students specialize in environmental, structural, transportation, water resources, and general civil engineering.

  • Demonstrate practical skill that can be applied in the real world with a written design project requirement.

  • Shape the future of transportation. UND’s Transportation Technology Research Initiative is using autonomous systems to develop and maintain a modern transportation system.

  •  Foster a deeper understanding of the engineering design process. 

Jobs with Civil Engineering Master's

88K

Median salary for a Civil Engineers, 2021

Labor Insights

7%

Expected job growth for civil engineers to 2031

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

UND civil engineering graduates can expect a range of job opportunities in many specialties such as:

  • Environmental engineering: Devise solutions for wastewater management, water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health.
  • Geotechnical engineering: Use soil and rock mechanics to solve engineering problems.
  • Soil engineering: Evaluate the characteristics of the ground upon which a structure is built.
  • Structural engineering: Create the form and shape of man-made structures.
  • Transportation engineering: Plan the functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation.
  • Waste management engineering: Coordinate and manage waste disposal, waste collection and recycling operations.
  • Water resource engineering: Design systems and equipment to manage water resources.

Civil Engineering Master's Skills

More advanced skills, like project management and engineering design, are in high demand. A civil engineering master's degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • AutoCAD
  • Java (Programming Language)
  • Construction Management

Companies Hiring Civil Engineering Master's Graduates

Many top companies in the public and private sector value advanced civil engineering talent. Our alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services (AE2S)
  • Bolton & Menk
  • Burns & McDonnell
  • Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson
  • WSB & Associates

Civil Engineering Master's Courses

CE 501. Mechanics of Materials II. 3 Credits.

Theories of stress and strain in two and three dimensions; transformation of stresses and strains in two and three dimensions; tensor notation; linear and nonlinear stress strain behavior; thermal stresses; isotropic, orthotropic, and anisotropic material behavior; yield criteria and theories of failures under combined stresses; energy methods; torsion of noncircular and thin walled sections; unsymmetrical bending; shear center; curved beams. Prerequisite: ENGR 203. On demand.

CE 502. Structural Stability. 3 Credits.

Concept of stability; equilibrium and energy methods; stability of columns, beam columns, and frames; inelastic buckling; stability by slope deflection and matrix methods; use of codes for the stability design of aluminum and steel columns and frames; torsional and lateral torsional buckling of beams and beam columns. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of mechanics of materials; additional information is available in the CE Graduate Student Handbook on the CE Department website and the CE graduate student blackboard site. On demand.

CE 535. Hazardous Waste Management. 3 Credits.

Regulations, generation, storage, transportation, disposal, classification, fate and transport of contaminants, environmental audits, pollution prevention and management facilities, remediation alternatives, physical-chemical treatment, bioremediation, stabilization/solidification, thermal processes. Prerequisite: CE 306 and CHEM 121.

CE 523. Hydraulic Engineering. 3 Credits.

Fluid statics and dynamics; open channel flow; transitions and controls; hydraulic structures; hydraulic machinery; hydraulic power conversion; and hydraulic modeling. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of fluid mechanics; additional information is available in the CE Graduate Student Handbook on the CE Department website and the CE graduate student blackboard site. S.

CE 531. Environmental Engineering I. 3 Credits.

Environmental quality, water quality modeling, water wastewater treatment systems, sludge processing, solid wastes, hazardous wastes, environmental law. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of fluid mechanics; additional information is available in the CE Graduate Student Handbook on the CE Department website and the CE graduate student blackboard site. S.

CE 525. Surface Hydrology. 3 Credits.

Extreme rainfalls and flood frequency analysis, regionalization; runoff generations, routings, and basin modeling; urban storm water design; GIS and remote sensing applications in hydrology; recent techniques and development in surface hydrology. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of hydrology; additional information is available in the CE Graduate Student Handbook on the CE Department website and the CE graduate student blackboard site. S.

UND Civil Engineering MS MENG Students

Best Online Civil Engineering Master's

UND is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top online graduate engineering program.

50 BEST ONLINE MASTER OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DEGREE PROGRAMS
Top 22 Online Civil Engineering Degree Programs in 2021
2022 Top Online Schools for Engineering
2020 Most Affordable Online Master's in Civil Engineering Programs

Leaders in Civil Engineering

Brendan Blades began taking classes at UND to further his career as a civil engineer.

Read Brendan's Story

Explore More Options

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional graduate education opportunities.

Department Contact
Yeo Howe Lim
Graduate Program Director
P 701.777.3998
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