CEE Online: Certificate Program
Certificate Areas of Study
The CEE at Illinois Certificate Program allows students to receive a certificate in a specialized area within civil and environmental engineering. Each certificate requires students to complete three or four courses for 12 credit hours. Courses cannot be applied to more than one certificate, and students must earn a B- or higher in each course. Credit earned for a certificate can later be applied to the MS degree program.
Certificates are organized by areas of study below. Click to learn more about the courses offered for each certificate program.
EXPLORE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Eligibility
Students who wish to apply for certificate program must meet the following criteria.
- BS degree in engineering or science from an accredited college in the United States or an approved institution of higher learning abroad. The Transportation Certificate requires basic knowledge in the area of civil engineering and transportation, and the Construction Management Certificate requires basic knowledge in the area of civil engineering and construction management. Students with a non-engineering BS must have taken courses to gain this background knowledge.
- GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher for the last 60 semester hours in a BS program. Students who do not meet the 3.0/4.0 GPA criterion may still be eligible to enroll if they have significant experience outside of the classroom. Such students are encouraged to contact ceeonline@illinois.edu to determine if they are eligible to register for online classes and participate in the certificate program.
Application
- To apply, please complete the application and return to ceeonline@illinois.edu.
- A resume and transcripts reflecting the total BS degree program and any other degrees listed under the "Degree Information" section must be sent along with the application before it will be processed.
Application Deadlines
- August 1 for Fall Semester
- December 1 for Spring Semester
Contact Us
General program questions:
Email: ceeonline@illinois.edu
Phone: (217) 333-3921
Meg C. Griffin, PE
Assistant Director for Graduate Programs
mgriffn@illinois.edu
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS COURSEWORK
CEE Online Certificate Program and coursework information is listed below by specialty area.
The goal of the AI in CEE certificate is to provide students with expertise in AI as it applies to civil and environmental engineering topics. The AI courses balance data science methodology and disciplinary contents from different CEE areas of study. Students will choose 3 courses from below list of core AI courses to complete certificate.
Courses*:
CEE 492. Data Science for CEE
Students will learn to leverage data to study CEE problems, identify patterns and make actionable insights. The course include training in digital and computer tools (such as data processing, exploratory data analysis, spatial data, data visualization, distributed computing, and statistical modeling) with their applications to CEE issues. Class offered every fall semester.
CEE 498MLC. Machine Learning for CEE
Students will learn the fundamentals behind advanced machine learning and learn how to use machine learning tools to solve CEE problems. Topics include regression, Bayesian inference, deep neural networks, scientific deep learning, and Gaussian Processes. Class offered every spring semester.
CEE 598DL. Deep Learning for CEE Sensing, Simulation, & Prediction
This course focuses on deep learning within all areas of civil and environmental engineering. In addition to examining the basics of deep learning, students will investigate practical applications in sensor data processing, information extraction, remote sensing, surrogate modeling, and predictive analytics. Topics of interest include deep convolutional networks, recurrent neural networks, and generative adversarial learning. Students will learn to identify, understand, and compare different deep learning techniques and formulate civil engineering problems using appropriate techniques.
CEE 522. Visual Data Analytics
An introduction to 2D and 3D visual sensing for data acquisition and analysis of buildings and civil infrastructure systems. It is intended mainly for graduate students who want to acquire basic understanding of the theoretical concepts as well as application of computer vision and image processing for sensing buildings, civil infrastructure systems and sustainable construction operations.
CEE 598LM. Learning Methods in Civil Engineering
This course will focus on the fundamentals of learning methods and how they can be applied to civil engineering applications. This course will cover the following materials: Markov decision process, partially observable Markov decision process, reinforcement learning, temporal difference, game theory, genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, and multi-agent deep reinforcement learning. Note that these materials will be covered in accordance to civil engineering problems.
CEE 598PIM. Physics-Informed Machine Learning
Students will learn how to: (a) construct data-driven ML models; (b) constrain ML models with the laws of physics and engineering principles; (c) apply physics-informed ML models to engineering problems. The main topics will include physics-informed Deep Neural Network and Gaussian process regression models and theory-guided machine learning. We will focus on flow, transport, and other processes key to water resources and environmental engineering applications.
*Students choose three courses from these core AI courses to complete certificate.
The CEE Department at the University of Illinois has a tradition of training both undergraduate and graduate students in systems analysis approaches and tools to solve complex problems in various areas of CEE. The Civil Engineering (CE) Systems Certificate Program & Environmental Engineering (EE) Systems Certificate Program fulfill the growing need for solving real-world problems involving complex interdependent systems, such as urban infrastructure systems and food-energy-water-environment systems in a changing environment. New opportunities for enhanced systems education also exist with Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as emerging knowledge and skills in CEE areas.
CEE 512. Logistics Systems Analysis (required)
CEE 491. Decision and Risk Analysis (required)
CEE 434. Environmental and Water Resources Systems Analysis (required)
CEE 491. Decision and Risk Analysis (required)
To complete either certificate, students take CE/ EE Systems required classes and one of the following:
CEE 492. Data Science for Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 498 MLC. Machine Learning for Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 598 LM. Learning Methods in Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 598 DL. Deep Learning for Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Construction Management area of study at Illinois prepares students to manage and direct construction projects in the increasingly global construction industry. The Construction Management faculty includes world-class experts who utilize cutting-edge technology to enable greater efficiency and better collaboration during construction projects. Certificates are offered in the following areas. Students can also complete any three courses in Construction Management for 12 credit hours to earn a general certificate in the area.
CEE 420. Construction Productivity
CEE 421. Construction Planning
CEE 422. Construction Cost Analysis
CEE 420. Construction Productivity
CEE 498CEM. Construction Equipment and Methods
CEE 498CS. Construction Safety
CEE 521. Building Information Modeling
CEE 522. Visual Data Analytics
CEE 526. Construction Optimization
CEE 528. Construction Data Modeling
CEE 598CR. Construction Robotics
Complete any three courses listed above for 12 credit hours
to earn a General Construction Management certificate
The Geotechnical Engineering group at the University of Illinois has educated generations of experts in the use of natural and engineered geomaterials. One of the key tenets of geotechnical engineering is the engineering of foundations for buildings, dams, and other geostructures. Dr. Ralph B. Peck, founder of the Geotechnical Engineering Program at Illinois, was a Professor of Foundation Engineering and offered the first course in Foundation Engineering at the University of Illinois in the 1940s. As foundation engineering has broadened and seen significant innovations over the past 80 years, the Geotechnical Engineering group now covers this fundamental topic in three courses.
The Graduate Certificate in Foundation Engineering is geared toward students looking to expand their understanding of Foundation Engineering and for practicing engineers looking to deepen their knowledge base. This certificate will provide a review of both fundamental theories and new and up-to-date applications in Foundation Engineering.
Courses:
*CEE 484. Applied Soil Mechanics (4 credit hours)
CEE 585. Deep Foundations (4 credit hours)
**CEE 587. Applied Rock Mechanics (4 credit hours)
*Students must have had the CEE 484 prerequisite, CEE 483 Soil Mechanics and Behavior, in order to begin this certificate.
**CEE 586 is a required prerequisite for CEE 587.
The Geotechnical Engineering group at the University of Illinois has educated generations of experts in the use of natural and engineered geomaterials. In recent years, underground construction has rapidly expanded in response to increasing societal needs, particularly in urban areas. At the same time, many new applications in underground engineering have emerged.
The Graduate Certificate in Underground Engineering will provide students and practicing engineers with the tools to successfully navigate this expanding area of Geotechnical Engineering. This certificate includes one of the only courses on tunneling offered in the United States, as well as courses on the fundamentals of numerical modeling and new geoenergy applications for underground construction and geostructures.
Courses:
CEE 498GE. Geoenergy Systems (4 credit hours)
CEE 580. Excavation and Support Systems (4 credit hours)
CEE 589. Computational Geomechanics (4 credit hours)
CEE 593. Tunneling in Soil and Rock (4 credit hours)
*Students must have had CEE 484 and its prerequisite, CEE 483 Soil Mechanics and Behavior, in order to begin this certificate.
The Certificate in Pavement Engineering is geared towards practicing engineers who wish to gain additional technical expertise in pavements and transportation materials. The pavement engineering group at Illinois boasts the largest research and graduate education program of its kind in the US. This comprehensive program boasts world-class faculty, a broad-based, cutting-edge research portfolio, and strong ties to industry and government agencies. Our Pavement Engineering courses are kept up-to-date with the latest developments in materials, design, specifications, and sustainable pavement engineering practices.
Courses:
CEE 406. Pavement Design/Analysis I
CEE 503. Construction Materials Deterioration
CEE 505. Transportation Soil Stabilization
CEE 506. Pavement Design/Analysis II
CEE 508. Pavement Evaluation and Rehabilitation
CEE 509. Transportation Soils
CEE 598ABM. Advanced Bituminous Materials
The Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) at Illinois is the largest and oldest railroad program in North America, providing courses in railroad infrastructure design and maintenance, network operation, and high speed rail engineering. Today, U.S. railroads are transporting more freight than any point in history, and new intercity passenger rail corridors are being considered throughout the country. Railroads, and the engineering firms and manufacturers that supply the industry, need talented engineers to develop and implement the technology needed for the future of rail transport. A certificate in rail engineering provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the efficiencies of rail transportation and its unmatched combination of capacity, speed, safety, and land-use efficiency.
Courses:
CEE 408. Railroad Transportation Engineering
CEE 409. Railroad Track Engineering
CEE 410. Railway Signaling and Control
CEE 411. Railroad Project Planning and Design
CEE 412. High Speed Rail Engineering
As the demand for freight and passenger mobility continues to grow at an increasing pace, there is a pressing need to ensure efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of transportation systems for current and future generations. The transportation engineering faculty at Illinois offer unequaled expertise in holistic and innovative solutions to planning, managing, and control of urban mobility systems. The courses offered in this program emphasize development of analytic, problem-solving, design, and management skills that will be essential for professional, teaching, and research careers in public and private sectors.
Courses:
CEE 417. Urban Transportation Planning (4 credit hours) - offered on-campus only
CEE 418. Public Transportation Systems (4 credit hours)
CEE 419. Transportation Economics (4 credit hours)
CEE 512. Logistics Systems Analysis(4 credit hours)
CEE 598UTM. Urban Transportation Models (4 credit hours)
Rapid advances of information technologies in recent years, such as those in sensing, wireless communication, and artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing the ways vehicular traffic systems are monitored and operated. The transportation engineering faculty at Illinois include world-class experts who utilize such cutting-edge technologies to enable greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability of vehicular traffic. The courses in this certificate program offer physics-based and data-based analysis methods to enable effective monitoring, planning, management, and control of vehicular traffic systems.
Courses:
CEE 416. Traffic Capacity Analysis (4 credit hours)
CEE 498LM. Learning Methods in CE (4 credit hours)
CEE 515. Traffic Flow Theory (4 credit hours)
CEE 517. Traffic Signal Systems (4 credit hours)
The Water Resources Engineering and Science (WRES) area of study prepares students for the planning, design, operation, and management of surface and ground water systems, preservation and enhancement of the natural river and watershed environment, design and construction of water control facilities, and conservation of water resources. The legacy of WRES is embodied in three core fields: hydrology, environmental fluid and river mechanics, and water resources systems and policies.
Our faculty are distinguished experts in these core fields but also engage in research that spans interdisciplinary domains, including economics, geography, geology, atmospheric sciences, ecology, biology, and policy. Through collaborative projects, both on and beyond campus, our faculty address regional to global issues such as climate solutions, extreme event preparedness, environmental transport, water security, infrastructure safety, ecosystem resilience, water governance, and environmental justice.
The WRES area offers three certificates: Water Systems and Policy, Environmental Hydrology, and Environmental Hydrodynamics.
To earn a certificate, students must complete three courses from the course list associated with each certificate, preferably two at the 400 level and one at the 500 level. Completion of the three certificates can contribute toward an MS degree. Courses are offered during the spring and fall semesters and are available in both in-class and online formats.
Water Systems and Policy Courses*:
CEE 433. Water Technology and Policy
CEE 434. Environmental Systems I
CEE 453. Urban Hydrology and Hydraulics
CEE 498 MP. Modeling Plants from Gene to Ecosystems
CEE 552. River Basin Management
CEE 598 IUW. Integrated Urban Water
*Depending on selected courses, completing a certificate in WRES may not add up to 12 credit hours.
The Water Resources Engineering and Science (WRES) area of study prepares students for the planning, design, operation, and management of surface and ground water systems, preservation and enhancement of the natural river and watershed environment, design and construction of water control facilities, and conservation of water resources. The legacy of WRES is embodied in three core fields: hydrology, environmental fluid and river mechanics, and water resources systems and policies.
Our faculty are distinguished experts in these core fields but also engage in research that spans interdisciplinary domains, including economics, geography, geology, atmospheric sciences, ecology, biology, and policy. Through collaborative projects, both on and beyond campus, our faculty address regional to global issues such as climate solutions, extreme event preparedness, environmental transport, water security, infrastructure safety, ecosystem resilience, water governance, and environmental justice.
The WRES area offers three certificates: Water Systems and Policy, Environmental Hydrology, and Environmental Hydrodynamics.
To earn a certificate, students must complete three courses from the course list associated with each certificate, preferably two at the 400 level and one at the 500 level. Completion of the three certificates can contribute toward an MS degree. Courses are offered during the spring and fall semesters and are available in both in-class and online formats.
Environmental Hydrology Courses*:
CEE 450. Surface Hydrology
CEE 453. Urban Hydrology and Hydraulics
CEE 457. Groundwater
CEE 459. Ecohydraulics
CEE 550. Hydrologic Variability
CEE 554. Groundwater Modeling
CEE 557. Integrated Urban Water
*Depending on selected courses, completing a certificate in WRES may not add up to 12 credit hours.
The Water Resources Engineering and Science (WRES) area of study prepares students for the planning, design, operation, and management of surface and ground water systems, preservation and enhancement of the natural river and watershed environment, design and construction of water control facilities, and conservation of water resources. The legacy of WRES is embodied in three core fields: hydrology, environmental fluid and river mechanics, and water resources systems and policies.
Our faculty are distinguished experts in these core fields but also engage in research that spans interdisciplinary domains, including economics, geography, geology, atmospheric sciences, ecology, biology, and policy. Through collaborative projects, both on and beyond campus, our faculty address regional to global issues such as climate solutions, extreme event preparedness, environmental transport, water security, infrastructure safety, ecosystem resilience, water governance, and environmental justice.
The WRES area offers three certificates: Water Systems and Policy, Environmental Hydrology, and Environmental Hydrodynamics.
To earn a certificate, students must complete three courses from the course list associated with each certificate, preferably two at the 400 level and one at the 500 level. Completion of the three certificates can contribute toward an MS degree. Courses are offered during the spring and fall semesters and are available in both in-class and online formats.
Environmental Hydrodynamics Courses*:
CEE 451. Environmental Fluid Mechanics
CEE 452. Hydraulic Analysis and Design
CEE 459. Ecohydraulics
CEE 551. Open-Channel Hydraulics
CEE 555. Mixing in Environmental Flows
CEE 558. Environmental Hydrodynamics
CEE 559. Sediment Transport
*Depending on selected courses, completing a certificate in WRES may not add up to 12 credit hours.