The Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree is designed for students who have an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering or another closely related engineering degree. Graduate work and research in civil engineering reflect the very broad nature of the field, which encompasses the design, construction, and enhancement of the infrastructure of society.
The program includes course work in structural analysis and design, geotechnical engineering and foundations, transportation planning and operations, traffic engineering, construction engineering, water resources engineering, and smart cities.
Faculty research interests include geotechnical studies of subsurface conditions, soil testing "superpave" mix design, intelligent transportation systems, traffic safety, structural dynamics, nonlinear structural analysis and software development, reinforced concrete, construction engineering, hydraulic modeling, coastal ocean modeling, stormwater management, and watershed management. Students completing the program find positions in consulting firms, construction, and construction-related industries, in city, county, state, and federal government agencies, and academic institutions.
The Civil Engineering MSCE program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree, and both thesis and nonthesis options are available. The thesis option requires 24 credit hours of formal graduate-level course work and 6 credit hours of thesis. The nonthesis option requires 30 hours of formal course work and completion of a culminating experience. For nonthesis MS students, the culminating experience is submission of a portfolio that satisfies program requirements. It is strongly suggested that part-time students pursue the nonthesis option.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
This program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please visit https://apq.ucf.edu/files/Licensure-Disclosure-CECS-Civil-Engineering-MSCE.pdf.
Please Note: Civil Engineering MSCE may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
International students (F or J visa) are required to enroll in a full-time course load of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Only 3 of the 9 credit hours may be taken in a completely online format. For a detailed listing of enrollment requirements for international students, please visit http://global.ucf.edu/. If you have questions, please consult UCF Global at (407) 823-2337.
UCF is not authorized to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states. Refer to State Restrictions for current information.
Program Prerequisites
A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or another closely related engineering degree.
Degree Requirements
Elective Courses (See Program Details For Groupings)
24 Total Credits
- Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
- CEG6065 - Soil Dynamics (3)
- CEG6115 - Foundation Engineering (3)
- CEG6317 - Advanced Geotechnical Engineering (3)
- CES5144 - Matrix Methods for Structural Analysis (3)
- CES5325 - Bridge Engineering (3)
- CES5606 - Advanced Steel Structures (3)
- CES5706 - Advanced Reinforced Concrete (3)
- CES5821 - Masonry and Timber Design (3)
- CES6010 - Structural Reliability (3)
- CES6116 - Finite Element Structural Analysis (3)
- CES6209 - Dynamics of Structures (3)
- CES6220 - Wind and Earthquake Engineering (3)
- CES6230 - Advanced Structural Mechanics (3)
- CES6527 - Nonlinear Structural Analysis (3)
- CES6715 - Prestressed Concrete Structures (3)
- TTE5204 - Traffic Engineering (3)
- TTE5805 - Geometric Design of Transportation Systems (3)
- TTE5835 - Pavement Engineering (3)
- TTE6205 - Highway Capacity (3)
- TTE6256 - Traffic Operations (3)
- TTE6270 - Intelligent Transportation Systems (3)
- TTE6315 - Traffic Safety Analysis (3)
- TTE6526 - Planning and Design of Airports (3)
- TTE6625 - Mass Transportation Systems (3)
- CGN6655 - Regional Planning, Design, and Development (3)
- CWR5125 - Groundwater Hydrology (3)
- CWR5205 - Hydraulic Engineering (3)
- CWR5515 - Numerical Methods in Civil and Environmental Engineering (3)
- CWR5545 - Water Resources Engineering (3)
- CWR5634 - Water Resources in a Changing Environment (3)
- CWR6102 - Advanced Hydrology (3)
- CWR6102 - Advanced Hydrology (3)
- CWR6235 - Open Channel Hydraulics (3)
- CWR6236 - River Engineering and Sediment Transport (3)
- CWR6535 - Modeling Water Resources Systems (3)
- CCE5220 - Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3)
- CEG6610 - Smart Underground Structures: Tunnels and Shafts (3)
- CES6876 - Smart City Built Infrastructure (3)
- CGN5617 - Infrastructure Systems Optimization and Identification (3)
- CGN6342 - Modeling Human Behavior with Emerging Data (3)
- CGN6343 - Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Cities (3)
- ENV6128 - Smart Air Quality Monitoring and Air Pollution Control (3)
- ENV6533 - Smart Water and Wastewater Management (3)
- STA5703 - Data Mining Methodology I (3)
- TTE5531 - Active Mobility and Technologies: Synergy and Challenges (3)
- TTE5532 - Policy Aspects of Smart City Transportation (3)
- TTE6533 - Mobility in Smart Cities: Technologies and Application Areas (3)
- TTE6275 - Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (3)
- TTE6608 - Algorithms and Models for Smart Cities (3)
- CGN5340 - Internet of Things: Applications in Smart Cities (3)
- CGN5341 - Interdisciplinary Introduction to Smart Cities' Applications (3)
- CCE5205 - Decision Support for Infrastructure Projects (3)
- CCE5006 - Infrastructure Systems Management (3)
- CCE5220 - Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3)
- CCE5937 - Special Topics (3)
- CCE6036 - Advanced Construction Planning and Control (3)
- CCE6211 - Design and Monitoring of Construction Processes (3)
- CCE6045 - Cost Analysis of Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (3)
Non Thesis Students - Required Course Selection
0 Total Credits
- Nonthesis students must take at least one course where a research project is required (one course marked with an asterisk - See Program Details Section Below for asterisks).
Thesis/Nonthesis Option
6 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: XXX 6971 - Thesis (with the course prefix of CGN, CEG, CES, CWR or TTE) For those pursuing the thesis option, students must complete 6 credit hours of thesis and successfully defend the thesis. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all thesis defense announcements are approved by the student's adviser and posted on the college's website and on the university-wide Events Calendar at the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date.
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Nonthesis students must complete at least 6 additional credit hours of electives from the lists above or other courses as approved by the student's adviser. Please note that at least one course in the nonthesis program of study must be one of the courses in the "Program Details" section below that has an asterisk, which denotes that this course provides an independent learning experience for the student.
- Students are required to complete a culminating experience. The culminating experience for nonthesis MS students is submission of their portfolio of activities by the course Withdrawal date of the semester prior to their intended graduation. The portfolio requirements are listed on the CECE website. Make sure and contact your program’s coordinator early in your graduating semester to find out when the portfolios are to be turned in for evaluation. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator should be able to tell you who the coordinator is for your degree program if you do not already know.
Grand Total Credits: 30
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or another closely related engineering degree.
- Résumé.
- Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Faculty members may choose to conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews before accepting an applicant into their research program.
The GRE is not required, however, taking the GRE is highly recommended for students wishing to pursue a thesis. In order to be considered for any fellowships, a GRE score is required.
Application Deadlines
| Civil Engineering MSCE | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
