Degrees and Programs of Study

Degrees

The M.S. degree may be completed with or without a thesis. The M.S. degree requires 32 credit hours of graduate course credit if a thesis is part of the program (with 8 of the 32 hours comprising the thesis), and 36 hours without a thesis. It is possible to complete the M.S. non-thesis degree in one year or less. 

The Ph.D. program requires 32 additional hours of coursework beyond the M.S. degree, plus a comprehensive research program and preparation of a dissertation for an additional 32 hours of thesis research credit.

The department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering in Civil Engineering

Areas of Specialization

M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are available in a variety of specialized areas. In addition to the department's established interdisclinary programs in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems, Energy-Water-Environment Sustainability and Societal Risk Management, students can also develop cross-disciplinary programs in consultation with their advisers.

Master of Engineering in Railway Engineering

CEE at Illinois' RailTEC has partnered with KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, to offer an innovative degree that covers all aspects of rail engineering with an international perspective. The Master of Engineering in Engineering with Concentration in Railway Engineering provides a broad interdisciplinary education in railway engineering for a variety of professional career-track students. Click here for details about the program. 

Special Degree Programs and Options

Students from Underrepresented Groups may be eligible for an all-expenses paid visit under the College of Engineering's Multi-Cultural Engineering Recruitment for Graduate Education (MERGE) Program.

For more information about CEE graduate programs and courses, or to apply online, visit the Graduate Applications page.