• Master of Science with coursework only requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework (300-level or higher). The graduate coursework must include at least 18 credit hours of 5500/5600-level courses.
• Master of Science with project requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours, which includes 27 credit hours of graduate coursework (300-level or higher) and three credit hours of independent project (CIV-ENGR 5500). At least 18 credit hours must be at the 5500/5600-level. The candidate must submit a report prepared per the adviser's guidelines and present the project work in front of a three-member project examining committee.
• Master of Science with thesis requires the completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours, which includes 24 credit hours of approved graduate coursework (300-level or higher) and six credit hours of thesis work (CIV-ENGR 5599). At least 18 credit hours must be at the 5500/5600-level. The candidate must submit a thesis prepared per the graduate school guidelines and orally defend the thesis work in front of a three-member thesis examining committee.

A minimum of three credit hours of advanced mathematics from an approved course list is required for the M.S. degree in Civil Engineering.  Exceptions are available by petition to the CME Graduate Committee. 

In addition, half of the required credit hours may be earned in other fields, such as management, geosciences etc., to allow students to broaden their education beyond the civil engineering field.

Other specifications for students pursuing the project or thesis option:

1. The student must request to schedule a project or thesis defense in the first half of the semester in which the student plans to defend.
2. The written part of the project/thesis must be completed and given to all the committee members at least ten days prior to the defense date.
3. The defense date and an abstract must be advertised to the CME faculty and students at least one week prior to the scheduled defense date.