A master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on construction engineering prepares students to take on advanced roles in infrastructure planning, project delivery, and construction leadership. Graduate study builds expertise in scheduling, estimating, digital construction technologies, asset management, and emerging delivery methods used on complex infrastructure systems.
This specialization is especially valuable for students interested in transportation, structural, environmental, or utility infrastructure who want to strengthen their ability to lead projects from planning through construction.
What Makes Graduate Study Different?
Graduate-level construction engineering focuses on managing complex infrastructure systems, integrating digital technologies into project workflows, and supporting decision-making across the full project lifecycle. Students develop deeper technical and managerial skills that support leadership roles in infrastructure delivery, risk management, and long-term asset performance.
Advanced Skills You’ll Build
- Analyze and apply modern infrastructure project delivery methods such as design–build and construction manager at risk.
- Evaluate emerging applications of artificial intelligence and digital tools in construction planning, scheduling, and decision support.
- Understand how construction engineering integrates across transportation, structural, geotechnical, and environmental infrastructure systems.
- Develop advanced skills in scheduling and estimating complex infrastructure projects.
- Apply lifecycle asset management strategies to maximize infrastructure performance and service life.
How a Master's Degree Can Support Your Career
The sample course plan for Michigan Tech's civil engineering master's degree with a focus on construction engineering provides a guide to courses and requirements.
Infrastructure Project Leadership
Prepare for roles coordinating multidisciplinary infrastructure projects from planning through construction.
Digital Construction and Innovation
Develop skills in emerging tools such as AI-supported scheduling, data-driven decision-making, and digital project delivery.
Asset and Lifecycle Management
Support long-term infrastructure performance through lifecycle planning, maintenance strategy development, and renewal prioritization.
A Strong Option for Current Michigan Tech Students
For Michigan Tech undergraduates, the MSCE Construction Engineering focus provides an opportunity to strengthen both technical and leadership skills before entering professional practice. Graduate study can help students transition more quickly into project engineering, coordination, and infrastructure management roles.
- Develop deeper expertise in infrastructure project delivery and planning.
- Strengthen scheduling and estimating skills used in large-scale civil engineering projects.
- Explore advanced applications of digital construction tools and emerging technologies.
- Build interdisciplinary knowledge connecting construction with multiple civil engineering subdisciplines.
Sample Course Plan
This sample course plan is a sample, and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of graduate course descriptions is available.
Assumed Student Background
- The sample course plan shown below was designed assuming that a student has taken CEE 3332 or equivalent.
- This plan will for for the following students:
- Students who did not receive their BSCE at Michigan Tech
- Students who received their BSCE at Michigan Tech and intent to count the following
courses towards either senior rule, or an accelerated MS program
- CEE 4020
- CEE 4213
- CEE 4344
- CEE 5770
- CEE 4333
- The plan leaves space for 3 graduate electives which can be used for Thesis credits
for students pursuing
the MS Thesis option.
Requirements
30 credits minimum (12 maximum credits at 3000-4000 level; 18 credits at 5000 level)
Sample Coursework List
Choose Three of the Following:
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 4020 – Digital Project Delivery | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 4213 – Structural Concrete Design | 3 | Spring |
| CEE 4333 – Construction Estimating | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 4344 – Construction Scheduling | 3 | Spring |
| CEE 5770 – AI for Engineers | 3 | Spring |
Two of the following:
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 4401 – Pavement Design | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5261 – Bridge Design and Construction | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5404 – Transportation Planning | 3 | Fall |
Required Courses:
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 4030/5030 – Building Information Modeling | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5390 - Civil Asset Management | 3 | Fall |
| Systems Elective | 3 | |
| Three Graduate Electives | 9 |
Electives
Sample CEE Graduate Electives
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 4402 - Traffic Engineering | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5102 – Advanced Concrete Materials | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5213 – Concrete and Masonry Building Systems | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5404 – Transportation Planning | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5411 – Pavement Design | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5414 – Railroad Engineering | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5417 – Transportation Design | 3 | Spring |
| CEE 5640 – Stormwater Management and LID | 3 | Summer |
|
CEE 5730 – Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability* |
3 | Fall |
| CEE 5760 – Optimization Methods* | 3 | Spring |
| CEE 5800 – Mathematical Modeling of Earth Systems | 3 | Fall |
*Could be used in place of CEE 5710 or as a graduate elective
Systems Elective
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 5730 – Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability | 3 | Fall |
| CEE 5760 – Optimization Methods | 3 | Spring |
Sample Non-CEE Graduate Electives
| Course | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 5520 – Sustainable Futures – II | 3 | Spring |
| MEEM 4150 – Intermediate Mechanics of Material | 3 | Spring |
| MEEM 4170 – Failure of Materials in Mechanics | 3 | Spring |
| MSE 4430 – Composite Materials | 3 | Spring |
| OSM 4700 – Logistics and Transportation Managemen | 3 | Spring |
Disclaimer
This course plan is meant to serve as a sample for a student interested in pursuing a coursework-only MSCE degree with a focus on water resources engineering. This plan may not be appropriate for all students, nor is it necessary for a student to follow this schedule to earn a coursework-only degree. Student-specific goals and prior education must be considered and consultation with faculty members is required. Consult with instructors before enrolling in courses that are outside of the Department to ensure that the course will be consistent with your goals and background since sometimes other courses may provide more value to the student. All MSCE degree requirements and rules set forth by the Department and the Graduate School must be met in order for a student to finish the program.
