MS Civil Engineering

Graduate Education Policies and Procedures apply to these programs.

There are many reasons to consider a master’s degree in Civil Engineering:

• Gain advanced training in your chosen civil engineering specialty.
• Become an expert in your chosen thesis (or report) research.
• Position yourself in a competitive employment market.
• Earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

The Master of Science (MS) in Civil Engineering at CU Denver is intended for students who have previously earned an undergraduate degree in engineering or a similar field. Students of other backgrounds are welcome but usually have more prerequisites to complete before they can be admitted to the MS program.

The Civil Engineering graduate program is designed for both full-time and part-time students who want to advance their academic and professional skills in civil engineering and related areas. Our graduate programs are designed for working professionals and offer ample opportunities for hands-on research.

Many students are full-time, while many also work full-time jobs and complete evening classes. Depending on a student's pace, the master's program typically takes 2-4 years to complete. Most graduate courses are offered in the afternoons or evenings.

Specialty Areas

• Construction Engineering and Management
• Geomatics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Hydrologic, Environmental, and Sustainability Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transportation Engineering

Program Prerequisites

Prerequisite classes are in addition to the 30 semester hours needed to complete a master's degree, as they are necessary background information that is usually included in an engineering bachelor's program. Students must receive a grade of C minus (C-) or better for the prerequisite class to apply to the program.

Students may complete prerequisite classes either before or after being admitted to a degree program. However, applicants with 5 or more incomplete prerequisites will not be admitted. You may complete no more than nine credit hours of graduate work before completing these prerequisites. Note, all courses taken at CU Denver while enrolled graduate studies count toward your grade point average (GPA).

If prerequisites are taken after admission to the master's program, students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA, per Graduate Education policies and procedures. The student’s faculty advisor may also specify undergraduate courses that must be completed before starting graduate course work, but these will not count toward the semester hour requirements for the degree.

Transfer Credits

Master's students may transfer up to 9 semester hours from another institution toward their master's degree, if approved by their advisor. Students who completed their undergraduate degree at CU Denver many have additional options available.