Special Graduate Degree Programs and Options

Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Concentration. The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering offers a transcriptable option in Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) within the M.S. and Ph.D. program. The program requirements listed are in addition to the normal requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degree. See https://cse.illinois.edu/cse-educational-programs/graduate-concentration/  

Graduate Concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Grainger College of Engineering Technology Entrepreneur Center offers a transcriptable concentration in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. With the approval of their advisor, CEE MS and PhD students who complete this concentration can use the credit toward their CEE degrees. The concentration requirements can be found at  https://tec.illinois.edu/academics/graduate-concentration

Master of Architecture and Master of Civil Engineering (Construction Management or Structural Engineering). This program is administered through the school of architecture and requires a baccalaureate in architectural studies. Thus the program is intended for graduate students in architecture. Ideally, students should apply for both programs at the same time. The CEE requirements for the MS degree in this joint program are 32 hours of course work including three 500 level courses in CEE. The student must be enrolled in architecture the first year (fall and spring) and the second year in the CEE Department (fall and spring) in order to obtain the joint degree. A curriculum change petition will be necessary before the second year to change to CEE. Architecture also has information at https://arch.illinois.edu/programs-applying/graduate-degrees/.  The thesis option is not available for this joint degree program.

Joint Degree Option in the Master of Urban Planning. This program is administered in the department of Urban and Regional Planning. Students must apply for admission to both the Urban Planning program and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The requirements for the MSCE degree in this joint program are 32 hours of course work including three 500 level courses in CEE. The student must be enrolled in the CEE Department for at least two semesters in order to obtain the joint degree. http://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/faa/joint-degree/urban-planning-mup/

iMBA Certificate. The Gies College of Business provides an opportunity for CEE students to complete the Value Chain Management Certificate, which is part of the MBA program offered online and called the iMBA program. On-campus and full-time CEE students can apply to take courses and complete one of the core specializations in the iMBA program, Value Chain Management, with no additional tuition or fee costs. Upon completion of the specialization, students will earn a certificate and 12 hours of credit that can be applied towards an iMBA degree, which students can apply for and continue after their MS or PhD degree in CEE. The 12 credit hours earned as part of this program will not count toward any CEE graduate degree.

Direct PhD Program. As of spring 2021 admissions, the CEE Department has a Direct Ph.D. program, which allows highly qualified applicants to be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree. The admission application for this program must be supported by a faculty advisor and CEE area. The direct Ph.D. program has the same coursework requirements as the MS plus Ph.D. route. However, students in the direct Ph.D. are not required to write an M.S. thesis and do not necessarily have to earn an M.S. degree. 

The following table lists the general requirements for completing a degree through the direct admit PhD program.

New 96 Credit Hour Direct PhD Option, CEE & EE