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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.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour $602.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour $25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Program Structure

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering offers programs of study leading to a Doctoral 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

  1. For students with an acceptable M.S. degree, a minimum of 24 hours of coursework approved by their committee and a minimum of 20 hours of research (CE 9000) are required.
  2. For students admitted without an acceptable M.S. degree (i.e., Direct Admission Ph.D. students), there are three degree options as outlined in the table below. In addition, of the courses completed, the following minimums are required:
    • 12 hours in CE courses, nine of which are at the Full Graduate level
    • 12 hours at the Full Graduate level
    • 15 hours in Engineering.
Case Degree(s) Awarded Required Minimum Credit Hours Completed Total Minimum Credit Hours Completed
1 Ph.D. and Non-Thesis Option M.S.* 57 coursework
20 dissertation (CE 9000)
77
2 Ph.D. and Thesis Option M.S.* 48 coursework
6 thesis (CE 8000)
20 dissertation (CE 9000)
74
3 Ph.D. Only 48 coursework
20 dissertation (CE 9000)
68

* The student needs to submit a seperate application and be admitted for dual enrollment in the M.S. program at least one semester before earning the M.S. degree.

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.

Bagley College of Engineering programs may accept transfer work previously completed by the student. Transcript reviews to determine transfer or prerequisite work will be evaluated AFTER students are granted full admission. Once admitted an academic coordinator can review those transcripts for more information.

To meet admission requirements, submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended

 


 

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

  1. Submit online application. You will choose Civil Engineering as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
  2. Statement of Purpose
  3. 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.
  4. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students
  5. 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.)
  6. 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: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
    • Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
      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
      The Office of the Graduate School
      Magruder Hall

      255 Lee Blvd
      Mississippi State, MS 39762
  7. Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
    Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
  8. Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Additional Required Application Step

Complete Identity Verification: Applicants must complete identity verification through Stripe Identity as part of the required application process. This step helps confirm the applicant’s identity before the application can be completed.

Attention International Students

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an approved English language proficiency test score. Mississippi State University accepts scores from the TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET). Prospective students should consult the appropriate testing organization for information about test registration and administration.

The Graduate School maintains a list of countries exempt from English language requirements. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for specific English language test score requirements and additional information regarding English language proficiency.

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.

Headshot of John Ramirez-Avila

Dr. John J. Ramirez-Avila.

Associate Professor

  • Co-Graduate Coordinator
Headshot of Benjamin Magbanua

Dr. Benjamin S. Magbanua

Associate Professor

  • Co-Graduate Coordinator

Accessing Online Courses

Accessing Course Videos

Videos recorded during our on campus class sessions are uploaded for online students to view within our online course repository.  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 and Download Videos

Instructions for viewing classes live or downloading videos, use our video download instructions.


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
dist-support@engr.msstate.edu
662.325.7794


Contact Information

Tyranni Outlaw Portrait

Tyranni Outlaw

Online Enrollment Services Coordinator

General Program Questions

Assistance with Admissions Process & Requirements

to283@msstate.edu

662-325-8545

Anusha

Anusha Rijal

Retention & Engagement Coach

Current Student Inquires

Academic & Support Services Assistance

a.rijal@msstate.edu

662-325-8876

Olivia Lane Headshot

Olivia Lane

Engineering

Online Education Coordinator

olane@bagley.msstate.edu

662-325-3786

John J. Ramirez-Avila Headshot

Dr. John J. Ramirez-Avila

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Associate Professor

Co-Graduate Coordinator

cee-grad-coord@lists.msstate.edu

Benjamin S. Magbanua Headshot

Dr. Benjamin S. Magbanua

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Associate Professor

Co-Graduate Coordinator

cee-grad-coord@lists.msstate.edu

Updated Filler card

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

See department page

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mississippi State Online accredited?

Mississippi State Online programs are offered by Mississippi State University, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Individual programs may also hold specialized accreditation. Learn more on the Mississippi State University accreditation page.

Will my Mississippi State University diploma say "online"?

No. When you earn a degree through Mississippi State Online, your diploma identifies Mississippi State University and does not indicate that you studied online. Online programs meet the same university standards for academic quality and rigor as on-campus programs.

How much does Mississippi State cost?

Mississippi State helps make your education more affordable by offering the applicable in-state tuition rate to online students regardless of where they live. Tuition and required fees are charged per credit hour, and your total cost depends on your program, credit hours, and applicable fees. Textbooks and course materials are additional expenses, and rates are subject to change.

Do out-of-state students pay in-state tuition at Mississippi State Online?

Yes. Mississippi State Online students pay the applicable in-state tuition rate whether they live in Mississippi or elsewhere. You do not need to be a Mississippi resident to receive this rate for your online program. Required fees and other course expenses still apply.

Can Mississippi State Online students receive financial aid or scholarships?

Eligible online students may receive financial aid, and scholarship opportunities are available. Eligibility and award amounts vary; funding is not guaranteed for every student or program. Complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal student aid, and review scholarship requirements and deadlines.

How do I apply to Mississippi State Online?

Start with the Apply Now page and choose the application that matches your undergraduate or graduate program and applicant status. Select "Online Education" as your campus. Review your program's admission requirements and deadlines, then submit the application, required documents, and any applicable application fee. Requirements vary by program and may differ for new, transfer, returning, and international students.

Do Mississippi State Online programs require campus visits or in-person experiences?

Requirements depend on the program and concentration. Some programs can be completed entirely online, while others include internships, field experiences, or coursework that requires in-person participation. Review your program's curriculum and contact its program representative before applying to confirm attendance requirements. Explore programs and their requirements in the Academic Programs directory.

Can I transfer previous college credits to a Mississippi State Online program?

Transfer-credit policies vary by degree level and program. Some programs consider eligible coursework from other institutions, while others do not accept prior credit toward program requirements. Review your program's transfer-credit policy and contact its academic advisor or program coordinator before planning your coursework.

What support is available to Mississippi State Online students?

Mississippi State Online students have access to academic advising, library resources, writing support, technical assistance, and career services. Program coordinators and advisors can help you navigate your studies and connect with university resources.