Program Overview

Master of Science in Engineering - Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering & Construction (CEEC) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) offers a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. This program provides students with a comprehensive education in various areas of civil and environmental engineering, including construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources/environmental engineering.

About the Program

The MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in their chosen area of specialization. The program offers three tracks: Thesis, Non-Thesis, and Integrated BS-MSE Thesis. Students in the program will have the opportunity to work with experienced faculty members and conduct research in state-of-the-art facilities.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering vary depending on the track. For the Thesis track, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge in their chosen area of expertise.
2. Acquire and apply appropriate research methodology to solve contemporary engineering problems.
3. Demonstrate an ability to generate, collect, compile, and interpret research data.
4. Demonstrate technical communication skills.

For the Non-Thesis track, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge in their chosen area of expertise.
2. Demonstrate technical communication skills.

Career Possibilities

The MSE degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering can lead to better opportunities for securing technical or management positions at public institutions, and engineering consulting, design, manufacturing, or construction firms. Graduates of the program can specialize in areas such as construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, or water resource/environmental engineering.

Requirements

The requirements for the MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering vary depending on the track. For the Thesis track, students must complete:

• A minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate courses.
• At least 3 credits of thesis research prospectus preparation.
• At least 6 credits of research work associated with the master's level thesis.
• A thesis defense.

For the Non-Thesis track, students must complete:

• A minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate courses.
• A culminating exam.

For the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis track, students must complete:

• A minimum of 24-27 credits of approved graduate courses.
• At least 3 credits of thesis research prospectus preparation.
• At least 6 credits of research work associated with the master's level thesis.
• A thesis defense.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Hold a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related discipline.
2. Have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last 60 semester credits of undergraduate degree.
3. Submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
4. Submit two letters of recommendation.

Department Admission Requirements

In addition to the university's admission requirements, the CEEC department has the following requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a closely related discipline.
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last 60 semester credits of undergraduate degree.
3. Completion of prerequisite undergraduate courses, depending on the area of specialty.

Additional Requirements for the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Subplan

Students in the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis subplan must meet the following additional requirements:

1. A minimum of two semesters of full-time enrollment in the B.S. of Civil and Environmental Engineering program at UNLV.
2. A minimum of 90 credits of coursework applicable to the B.S. of Civil and Environmental Engineering degree must be completed before beginning the joint degree program.
3. An overall cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher is needed to begin the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis subplan degree program.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete all required coursework.
2. Pass a thesis defense (Thesis track) or a culminating exam (Non-Thesis track).
3. Submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check (Thesis track).

Contacts

For more information about the MSE program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Mohamed Kaseko, Ph.D. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction and the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering are committed to providing students with a well-rounded education and preparing them for successful careers in engineering.