Master of Science in Civil Engineering

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The Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis option) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Major areas of study include structures, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, construction materials and environmental engineering.

An advanced degree in civil and environmental engineering can lead to career advancements for civil engineers, design engineers or civil/structural engineers.

Do you like to work outdoors as well as indoors? Do you excel at subjects like science and mathematics? Do you have a passion for building things or for taking things apart and putting them back together? Civil engineers are responsible for maintaining, repairing and upgrading infrastructure, so they are involved with engineering projects in a unique and ongoing way even after construction is complete. A graduate degree is for those who want to learn more and provide leadership in their workplace.

Program Structure

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering offers programs of study leading to a Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with specializations in the following areas:

Construction Engineering and Management
Construction Materials Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Water Resources Engineering

For more information, please review our Graduate Studies Policy handbook.

Master's students may elect either the thesis or non-thesis option.

Thesis option:

24 hours of coursework and 6 hours minimum of research. Thesis students are expected to fully prepare and/or submit a peer reviewed journal or conference paper.

Non-thesis option:

33 hours of coursework. Non-thesis students may select from two options for an exit examination:

Project and examination - a project in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. A written report on the project in thesis format will be submitted and a formal oral presentation of the work will be made to the committee. The committee will inquisitively review the work with the student during the presentation. The report must be approved by the committee and oral examination successfully completed.
Examination only - a comprehensive examination over all graduate coursework and core competency areas will be successfully completed. The format and content of the exam is at the discretion of the graduate committee.

Admissions Requirements

Students seeking full admission into this program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online Civil Engineering program should apply as an Unclassified student.

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

Fall Semester – March 15
Spring Semester – September 15
Summer Semester – January 15

Applications for the off-campus M.S. degree program may be considered for review up to two months after these deadlines upon request by the applicant. Admission requires that the applicant be accepted by a faculty member in their sub‐discipline area who is willing to serve as their major professor. Applicants are encouraged contact appropriate faculty after completion of the application.

Note - These deadlines differ from university published deadlines and are specific to the CEE department to provide timely feedback on application status and appropriate resource allocation.

An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Civil Engineering program.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions
Direct Admit Doctor of Philosophy

Readmission
Provisional Admissions
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Civil Engineering as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students
- ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying for the summer or fall 2020 semester who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.
- The department evaluates the overall admissions packet in considering a student for the program.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper transcripts should be mailed to: Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
  Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Civil Engineering online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores
- ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying for the summer or fall 2020 semester who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor's degree or progress towards degree
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Pay $80 non-refundable application processing fee

Direct Admit Doctor of Philosophy

Three cases exist for direct admit students. An option exists to obtain a Ph.D. without obtaining a master’s degree with less requirements, but to obtain master’s and Ph.D. degrees under direct admit status has the same cumulative requirements as if the degrees were obtained separately.

Ph.D. with a M.S. (Non-Thesis) - 71 total hours
- 51 Hours Course Work
- 20 hours dissertation (CE 9000)
Ph.D. with a M.S. (Thesis) - 68 total hours
- 42 Hours Course Work
- 6 hours thesis (CE 8000)
- 20 hours dissertation (CE 9000)
Ph.D. - 62 total hours
- 42 hours coursework

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer. Transcripts should be sent to your advisor at P.O. Box 9805, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

Academic Advising

While you may request a current faculty member to be your major advisor, typically the major advisor is assigned at the time of admission. This assignment will be based on your area of study, research interests, and any financial support that may be offered. This person will work with you on submission of required documents, establishing a graduate committee, and your completion of all degree requirements.

The major advisor must be a full-time faculty member in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Members of the committee must be members of the graduate faculty at Mississippi State University. The majority of the graduate committee must be full-time graduate faculty at Mississippi State University.

Dr. Farshid Vahedifard, P.E.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Academic Coordinator

farshid@cee.msstate.edu 662-325-0902

Accessing Online Courses

Accessing Course Videos

Online students will have access to course videos within 24 hours of the on campus course completion. Students should visit Engage to access the course videos. Instructions for viewing the recordings and downloading the recordings are offered below.

View Videos

Instructions for viewing course videos, use our course video viewing instructions.

Download Videos

Instructions for downloading videos, use our video download instructions.

Viewing Classes Live

To view the class live, distance students will need to go to http://it.engr.msstate.edu/distance/player/?id=buildingroom and make sure they change "?id=buildingroom" to the correct room for their class (i.e. http://it.engr.msstate.edu/distance/player/?id=walker304).

If you experience technical difficulties or have any questions regarding the recording or format of our lecture capture, please contact:

IT Support & Staff
Bagley College of Engineering
Mississippi State University
distance-support@engr.msstate.edu
662.325.7794

Accessing Course Information

Course information may be accessible through Canvas (NetID and Net Password login required). If you do not find course information within Canvas please refer to the course videos (links listed above) for information from your professor regarding the class. Within Canvas clicking on the title for a course will take you to the default course view. On the left, there will be a toolbar with options selected by the professor – these may be Assignments, Announcements, Grades, Web Links, or any combination of a wide variety of utilities. These will be different for each class. If you experience technical difficulties or have any questions regarding Canvas, please contact the Center for Distance Education’s Technical Assistance.