Civil Engineering MS, PhD Degree Programs

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits. 

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

If you would like to enter the MS in Civil Engineering program at Michigan Tech and do not have a BS degree in an engineering discipline, read here for your options.

All students must complete a minimum of 131 credits in appropriate subjects before the bachelor’s degree will be awarded and the student is considered a graduate student. At the time the Bachelor’s degree is awarded, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and a departmental GPA of at least 3.5 to continue in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Accelerated Master’s program. Alternatively, students with a departmental GPA between 3.0 and 3.5, and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, must also have a strong recommendation from their faculty advisor in order to continue in the Accelerated Master’s program. If these conditions are not met, a student may continue in pursuit of the Master’s degree via the conventional pathway (which does not allow credits to be double-counted) without re-applying and notifying the Graduate School.

Students will be considered undergraduates for the purposes of financial aid, tuition, and class standing until their undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once students are awarded their undergraduate degree, they will be considered graduate students for the purposes of financial aid and tuition.

• Undergraduate students must apply for admission to the accelerated master's program though the standard Graduate School application process (GRE scores are not required).
• Applications for students must be completed no later than the end of Week 6 of their second to last semester of BS coursework.
• A course plan signed by the planned advisor is required and should be emailed to the Graduate Program Assistant.
• GRE scores are not required for the application process; however, students are strongly encouraged to take the GRE during the final year of the bachelor's program.
• The accelerated master's program requires you to be accepted into the Graduate School and the Master of Science in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering program prior to the awarding of your bachelor’s degree.
• Only students who will complete both a bachelor's and a master's in civil or environmental engineering at Michigan Tech are eligible to enroll in the accelerated program.
• Students already enrolled in a graduate program may not retroactively enroll in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Accelerated Master's program.

• Each student will work with a faculty advisor who is a member of the civil or environmental engineering faculty.
• The faculty advisor’s primary responsibility is to supervise the student’s research and/or professional growth, as well as to work with the student to develop an academic plan for enrolling in the appropriate courses for the student and program.
• Before a student is allowed to complete the accelerated master's program, the faculty advisor shall ensure that the student's level of preparation and attainment are consistent with the high standard expected of all MS graduates from the CEGE department at Michigan Tech.

Students must earn 30 credits past the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering; however, up to 6 credits taken as an undergraduate student can be applied toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees, so long as they are at the 4000 or 5000 level and satisfy the requirements for both degrees.

These 6 credits would typically be earned through technical electives and are independent of Senior Rule credits that may additionally count toward the master’s degree. For the entire 30 credits required for the MS degree, however, not more than 12 credits of 3000-4000 course work may be counted.

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in one to two years. The thesis must be prepared following the current procedures.

To help ensure a timely degree completion for Thesis Option students, the student should begin conducting degree research with their advisor during the junior or senior year; however, MS research credits may be earned only after the bachelor’s degree is awarded.

At least two weeks prior to the oral examination, students must

Schedule their examination in their Degree Progress Checklist
Submit a draft thesis to the Graduate School
Distribute the thesis to the examining committee

Students must also report the results of the oral examination and submit a final thesis to the Graduate School prior to completing their degrees.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in one year to a year and a half. The report must be prepared following the current procedures.

To help ensure a timely degree completion for Report Option students, the student should begin conducting degree research with their advisor during the junior or senior year; however, MS research credits may be earned only after the bachelor’s degree is awarded.

At least two weeks prior to the oral examination, students must

• Schedule their examination in their Degree Progress Checklist
• Distribute the report to the examining committee
• Submit the report to the Graduate School

Students must also report the results of the oral examination and submit the final report to the Graduate School using the current procedures.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in course work other than the project.

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through course work. Research credits may be used on a case-by-case basis following the approval of the graduate program director. Some sample course plans follow. These are samples and do not in any way preclude other possibilities. All students should work with an advisor to design their particular path to the MSCE.

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

• Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
• Pass Qualifying Examination
• Pass Research Proposal Examination
• Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
• Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.