Graduate Studies
Applying | Deadlines | Graduate Nonmatriculated | MS degree | PhD degree | Financial Aid | Contact
Master's Degree Studies
In addition to the requirements stated in Admission Policies, the student must hold a bachelor's degree in some branch of engineering or related science or present other evidence of adequate preparation for graduate study in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Degree Types
Based on your undergraduate degree, three degree types are offered at the master's level. They are:
• Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering (MSCE)
This degree is generally granted to students with an undergraduate degree in Civil or Civil and Environmental Engineering (BSCE).• Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
This degree is generally granted to students with an undergraduate degree in some other field of engineering. Students with non-engineering undergraduate degrees must satisfy the MSE prerequisites for the appropriate areas. An MSE prerequisite form is available for Environmental and Water Resources/Hydraulics. Students should complete 100 and 200 level requirements prior to being admitted to the Graduate School.• Master of Science (MS)
This degree is generally granted to students with undergraduate training relevant and applicable to the solution of problems in some specific sector of civil and environmental engineering. A limited core of preparatory courses from the undergraduate curriculum may be required.• Distance Learning Master’s Degree in Construction Engineering (MSCE)
As the only online master's degree of its kind in the country, the Online Master’s Degree Program in Construction Engineering allows you to pursue an advanced degree on a schedule that works for you. Developed in 2002 by an interdisciplinary team from the departments of Construction Management and Civil & Environmental Engineering, the University of Washington's Graduate Program in Construction Engineering prepares professionals to deal with the changes in the heavy construction industry. With no requirement to come to campus, you can set your own schedule and complete the degree from anywhere. This flexibility means you can continue to pursue your career – and your life – while earning your degree.
If your undergraduate degree is in engineering, you should apply to the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering to earn the M.S. in Civil Engineering. If your educational background is in a field other than engineering, you should apply to the Department of Construction Management to earn the M.S. in Construction Management.
For additional information and application deadlines, please visit the Online Graduate Program in Construction Engineering website.
Degree Options
The MSCE, MSE or MS degrees may be obtained with or without a thesis.
A coursework-only degree is intended for students with some years of professional experience and whose career objectives can best be met by additional coursework. Coursework-only degrees are also appropriate for students involved in engineering internships. The decision of whether or not to pursue a thesis or coursework-only degree rests with the student. Students accepting research assistantships are expected to follow the thesis option. Students must indicate their intention of studying for a coursework-only degree to the Graduate Advising Office in their program plan by the end of their first quarter of study (Autumn).
Transfer of Credit
After being admitted, a student pursuing a graduate program leading to the master's degree may transmit a written petition to the Dean of the Graduate School requesting permission to transfer up to 6 graduate quarter credits taken while a graduate student in another recognized Graduate School to be applied toward the master's degree here. These credits cannot have been used to fulfill the requirements of a previous degree. The petition must be accompanied by a written recommendation from the Departmental Director of Graduate Studies.
Master's Degree Prerequisites
The Geotechnical and Structural Programs require the following master's degree prerequisites:
Degree Requirements
Students must satisfy Graduate School, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Program requirements in order to graduate. These requirements are given at the following web addresses
Graduate School Requirements - http://www.grad.washington.edu/stsv/mastersinfo.htm
Requirements exist for the following programs:
The checklist below will aid students in checking some of the common requirements. However, the checklist cannot describe all the requirements for complex cases.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all requirements are satisfied well before the expected graduation date. In order to check this students are required to:
i) prepare a coursework plan
ii) verify it with the checklist
iii) obtain approval from their supervisory committees and from the graduate school before the end of their first quarter in the masters program