Degree Requirements
Designed to balance advanced technical knowledge with specialized expertise, the MS in Civil Engineering combines foundational coursework, advanced engineering electives, and opportunities to tailor the degree to each student’s professional goals. Working closely with faculty, students build their expertise through advanced coursework and complete either a research thesis or an applied project that demonstrates their mastery of civil engineering concepts and prepares them for professional practice, leadership, or further academic study.
Program Structure
The MS in Civil Engineering offers two completion paths with a thesis or project for the capstone experience.
The 30 credit hour program (10 courses), consisting of:
| Core Foundation Coursework | 6 credit hours (2 classes) |
|---|---|
| Engineering Electives | 9 - 15 credit hours (3 - 5 classes) |
| General Electives | 0 - 6 credit hours (0 - 2 classes) |
| Capstone: Thesis or Project | 9 credit hours or 3 credit hours (respectively) |
| Total | 30 credit hours (11 classes) |
The breakdown listed can be further separated into the four categories making up the MS Civil Engineering program.
Core Foundation Coursework (6 credits)
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MAT 515: Mathematical Methods in Computational Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CE 573: Introduction to Machine Learning in Engineering Applications | 3 |
| Total | 6 credit hours (2 classes) |
Engineering Electives (9 - 15 credits)
| Course Name | Credits | Area of Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| CE 503 Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design | 3 | Structural Engineering |
| CE 504 Advanced Steel Design | 3 | Structural Engineering |
| CE 505 Advanced Finite Element Method | 3 | Structural Engineering, Engineering Mechanics (Computational Mechanics) |
| CE 506 Pavement Analysis and Design | 3 | Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering |
| CE 507 Design of Earth Structures | 3 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CE 508 Foundation Design | 3 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CE 509 Advanced Soil Mechanics | 3 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CE 516 Advanced Mechanics of Solids | 3 | Structural Engineering, Engineering Mechanics (Applied Mechanics) |
| CE 520 Advanced Traffic Engineering | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 521 Highway Design | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 522 Airport Design | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 523 Traffic Flow and Capacity Analysis | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 524 Transportation Safety | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 526 Transportation Data Management and Analysis | 3 | Transportation Engineering, Data Analytics |
| CE 527 Travel Demand Modeling | 3 | Transportation Engineering |
| CE 530 Advanced Water Resource Modeling | 3 | Water Resources Engineering |
| CE 532 Advanced Water and Wastewater Unit Design | 3 | Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering |
| CE 533 Advanced Groundwater Hydrology | 3 | Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering |
| CE 537 Contaminant Transport in the Environment | 3 | Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering |
| CE 538 Sediment Transport Engineering | 3 | Water Resources Engineering |
| CE 580 Engineering Project | 3 | Interdisciplinary Engineering/ Student's Area of Specialization |
| CE/ME 550 Wind turbine design | 3 | Structural Engineering, Interdisciplinary Engineering |
| CE 602 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering | 3 | Structural Engineering |
| CE 610 Theoretical Geo-mechanics | 3 | Geotechnical Engineering |
| CE 634 Advanced Spatial Modeling | 3 | Transportation Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geospatial Modeling |
General Electives from Other Graduate Programs
In addition to the approved engineering elective courses listed in the table, students may also satisfy elective requirements with approved graduate courses offered by other academic programs if they wish.
Capstone: Thesis or Project (9 or 3 credits)
The MS Civil Engineering program concludes with capstone experience of your choosing. Working closely with a faculty advisor, students may choose to complete either a traditional research thesis or project-based work, allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a way that aligns with their academic interests and professional goals.
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Thesis | 9 |
| Project | 3 |
Contact Information
Admissions Questions/Information
McKenzie Albrecht
Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
Email:
graduate@sunypoly.edu
Call:
315-792-7347
International Admissions (Visa Seeking) Questions/Information
Willjavian Dawson
International Admissions Counselor
Email:
international@sunypoly.edu
Call:
315-792-7347
Academic Questions/Program Specific Information
Zhanjie Li, PhD
Professor of Civil Engineering & MS CE Program Coordinator
Email (preferred):
zhanjie.li@sunypoly.edu
Call:
315-792-7439
