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Contact Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil Engineering, Master of Science
This program assists students who wish to further their engineering education and acquire the knowledge and skills to tackle important engineering challenges, including resilience and sustainability. The plan of study features real-world relevancy and considers how sustainable and resilient systems impact economics, design, and usability.
Requirements Accordion Open
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. (Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.)
You must additionally complete:- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
- All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- All work toward the master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
Overview Accordion Closed
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research is required. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
Purpose Statement
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering aims to educate civil engineers to conduct analytical and experimental studies in the areas of water resources, transportation, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Examples of content areas include quantitative techniques for restoring natural stream channels, modeling and designing intelligent transportation systems, studies of the theoretical underpinnings of advanced structural analysis and design software, and sustainable engineering materials. The learning experiences provided by the program prepare students to enter the workforce with advanced skills or to pursue further studies in a doctoral program. The program also aims at increasing competitiveness in the local, regional, and global markets, advancing existing careers, or serving as a gateway to the PhD degree.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to apply graduate level critical thinking skills to formulate and solve advanced civil engineering (CE) problems.
- Examine, analyze, and explicate contemporary CE topics and assess and apply specific CE computational tools.
- Identify, formulate, and solve advanced CE problems.
- Synthesize, explain, verify, and justify solutions to complex CE problems.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently and creatively design and conduct research studies.
- Assess the state of the art in their field of study, including a thorough literature review.
- Design a research study of personal or professional interest and importance including: planning, organizing, scheduling, and executing the project with the guidance and input of their thesis advisor.
- Apply independently and creatively appropriate CE and cross-disciplinary engineering theories and tools towards finding a viable solution to the thesis topic.
- Perform and interpret complex quantitative analyses specific to the thesis.
- Communicate effectively the results of a comprehensive research study through oral presentations and publications:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the research study and the implications of the resulting data
- Synthesize and present the relevance of the research study in both technical and non-technical terms.
- Conduct an oral thesis defense to a community of engineering faculty and peers.
- Create a publishable paper reflecting the integration of knowledge acquired through the research study.
Details Accordion Closed
Additional Admission Requirements
- Admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Details on admission requirements are included in the online application.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), or the equivalent.
- Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
- Transcripts.
- For details on graduate admission policies, please visit the Graduate Admissions Policy.
- International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Individual program admission requirements include:
- GRE® revised General Test
- BS degree in Engineering or completion of prerequisite courses (see department website for details)
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or essay
Master's Requirements
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
- Graduate-level mathematics or statistics: 3 units
- Civil Engineering Coursework: 12 units
- Additional Electives selected in consultation with your advisor: 9 units
- Select a Thesis or Non-Thesis Option: 6 units
Take the following 30 units:- Graduate-level mathematics or statistics (3 units)
- Select from the following: (12 units)
- Additional electives in consultation with your advisor (9 units):
- A maximum of two courses, up to 6 units, may be at the 400-level.
- You must complete at least 18 hours of formal coursework, other than such individualized studies as independent study, directed readings, thesis and research.
- Select one: (6 units)
Since the Civil Engineering MS program emphasizes interdisciplinary topics, students may wish to take courses outside of their primary emphasis area. Some courses may require prior completion of prerequisite courses. Other requirements for Civil Engineering Master of Science students include the following:- You are responsible for choosing the chair and members of your advisory committee before completing 9 units of coursework.
- You must submit a plan of study that lists all coursework intended to satisfy the MS degree requirements by the first month of the semester in which you take your 10th credit. The elective and math/statistics courses are selected in consultation with and acceptable to the student's graduate committee and its chair.
- Note that if you pursue the Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree at NAU, you will not be able to pursue the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering degree. Only one of the two degrees will be awarded.
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a Master's degree, while simultaneously completing their Bachelor's degree. Departments may allow students to complete both degrees in an accelerated manner by approving up to 12 units applicable to both degrees.
- PROGRAM FEE INFORMATION
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee of $450 per semester has been approved for this program.
Application Deadlines Accordion Closed
Application Requirements Accordion Closed
- Statement of Purpose - This should be a short letter addressed to the Admissions Committee. It should state your reason for pursuing the intended degree, what relevant experience you already have, and what experience you hope to gain by completing the degree.
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume - This is an extended version of your resume. It should provide more information on your studies and experiences, and support your statement of purpose.
- Three letters of Recommendation - These should come from individuals who could provide insight on your readiness and ability to successfully complete your graduate studies (e.g. faculty members, technical supervisors, or other individuals from the field in which you wish to pursue the degree). Within the online application you will be required to input the email addresses of your references and the system will automatically send the letter of recommendation request to each of them.
- Test Scores -
- The GRE test is required for applicants earning their undergraduate degree at an institution other than Northern Arizona University. Competitive GRE scores are expected. Quantitative scores over 151, Verbal scores over 148, and Written scores over 3.0 are encouraged. Report your official GRE test scores to NAU using ETS code 4006.
- International applicants from non-English speaking countries (or international applicants that didn't complete prior degrees at an institution using English as language of instruction) must submit TOEFL, IELTS or DuoLingo scores. The minimum scores accepted for TOEFL, IELTS and DuoLingo are 80, 6.5, and 105 respectively. Applicants with lower scores may be considered for the Program in Intensive English.
- Transcript(s) - Unofficial transcripts must be included in your application. GPA over 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected. Domestic students with GPA over 2.8 will be considered for conditional admission. Official transcripts are not required until admissions.
Financial Support Accordion Closed
- Graduate Assistantships - Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Research Assistantships are available on a competitive basis and availability varies based on the needs of the program. All graduate assistants receive health insurance, tuition remission, and a stipend. Full time graduate assistants, working 20 hours a week, receive 100% tuition remission, while part time graduate assistants, working 10 hours a week, receive 50% tuition remission. Stipend amounts vary by number of hours work and type of assistantship. Admitted students are automatically considered for teaching assistantships. Please contact our Department for more information on becoming a research assistant at NAU Engineering.
- Financial Aid - Students may be eligible for additional financial aid and scholarships. See the Graduate College's webpage on financing your education for more information.