MS in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a broad-based discipline that encompasses many specialties in the areas of structural engineering and mechanics, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and transportation engineering. Through the careful selection of courses, you can tailor the UIC MS in Civil Engineering program to meet your interests and needs.
Students pursuing the MS in Civil Engineering may choose between two options to complete their degree:
A thesis option, which provides the opportunity to gain research experience and is ideal for students who may be considering PhD study in the future. Thesis students often make connections in the field that can lead to career advice, research sponsorship, or other forms of funding.
A coursework-only option, intended for students who seek additional knowledge or who hope to obtain a professional license in the civil engineering field. This option is available for part-time as well as full-time students.
MS in Civil Engineering students also have the opportunity to focus their study in a specific area of concentration, which helps to target their master’s degree experience toward their desired outcomes. Our concentration choices include:
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The environmental engineering concentration at UIC is broadly conceived, extending beyond the traditional boundaries of the field.
This concentration covers topics such as:
- Evaporation and other interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere
- Geoscience aspects of waste disposal
- Groundwater contamination and transport
- Management of stored and spilled hazardous waste
- Surface and groundwater hydrology and hydraulics
- Other environmental science and water resources problems
Courses in this concentration draw on the expertise of faculty from several other UIC departments, such as biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, environmental and occupational health sciences, geology, mathematics, and mechanical and industrial engineering. The involvement of these faculty members in our program allows students to explore a wide range of topics in the water resources and environmental engineering field.
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The geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering area of concentration encompasses classical geotechnical engineering—analyzing and designing foundations, retaining structures, and underground structures—as well as environmental geotechnics, such as designing waste containment systems and performing remediation studies.
Students are able to work with faculty whose research addresses a variety of subjects in this area, including environmental geotechnics (e.g. the characterization, containment, remediation, and performance of contaminated materials), earthquake engineering, pavement analysis, and geomechanics.
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MS students in the structural engineering and structural mechanics concentration learn static and dynamic analysis of linear and nonlinear structures including modal analysis, the behavior of structural materials, and the design of structural systems in concrete and steel.
Students examine both current and potential problems in structural engineering. Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- Bridge rehabilitation and rating
- Concrete fracture, damage, and creep
- Failure process of concrete structures
- Linear and nonlinear finite element analysis
- Microstructures of materials
- Structural dynamics and seismic response of structures
This curriculum provides a strong foundation for advanced work in professional practice, research, and teaching. It lays the groundwork for careers in private consulting or construction firms, industrial and governmental research laboratories, and universities, among others.
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The transportation engineering concentration is oriented toward methods for the planning, design, and operation of surface transportation systems.
Through their coursework and research, students work alongside faculty to learn about and develop solutions to problems related to surface transportation facilities (infrastructure) through the application of optimization and simulation methods, as well as knowledge-based systems. In recent years, the faculty has also engaged in the design and evaluation of intelligent transportation systems.
MS in Civil Engineering Curriculum
The curriculum requirements for the MS in Civil Engineering vary based on whether students select the thesis option or the coursework-only option. Expand the sections below to view the curriculum plan for each option.
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Required credit hours: 36
Credit hours from coursework: 24
Credit hours from thesis research: 12
As part of their 24 credit hours of coursework, MS thesis students must complete a minimum of 12 credits from 500-level courses. Of these 12 credits, 8 must be from courses with CME course codes, excluding CME 596, and 4 may come from either CME or COE courses, excluding CME 596 or its equivalent.
The remaining 12 credit hours of coursework must come from 400-level or 500-level CME or COE courses. Only one instance of CME 596 or its equivalent will be accepted toward graduation. CME 496 or its equivalent does not count for graduation credit, and 400-level ENGR courses are not accepted. Any course outside of the College of Engineering must receive prior approval from the academic advisor.
The 12 credit hours of research come from enrolling in CME 598.
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Required credit hours: 36
Credit hours from coursework: 36
As part of their 36 credit hours of coursework, MS course-work only students must complete a minimum of 12 credits from 500-level courses. Of these 12 credits, 8 must be from courses with CME course codes, excluding CME 596, and 4 may come from either CME or COE courses, excluding CME 596 or its equivalent.
The remaining 24 credit hours of coursework must come from 400-level or 500-level CME or COE courses. Only one instance of CME 596 or its equivalent will be accepted toward graduation. CME 496 or its equivalent does not count for graduation credit, and 400-level ENGR courses are not accepted. Any course outside of the College of Engineering must receive prior approval from the academic advisor.
Valerie Makri ’21
MS in Civil Engineering
Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else. Integrating experienced working professionals into the curriculum as professors, instructors, and teaching assistants.
What do you hope to be doing right after graduation? Using my enhanced graduate-level knowledge within my office! I am currently working full-time as a structural engineer.
How is UIC preparing you for your future goals? It offers focused design classes, helpful classroom instructors who have industry experience, and real-world applications.
Looking broadly at your field of study, who is the person you admire the most, and why? Professor German Gurfinkel [a professor emeritus at our fellow UI System school in Urbana-Champaign], known as a concrete guru throughout the world!
Your primary hobby/outside interest: Singing opera, going to punk-rock shows, and petting my cat!
What do you suggest a newcomer to Chicago see or do if they’ve already seen Navy Pier, the Riverwalk, and Skydeck? Enjoy the robust local food and music scene everywhere.
Sabattony Watopa ’21
MS in Civil Engineering
Why did you choose UIC? Great professors, great engineering school, and close to the city center.
What is your academic area of focus within your department? Geotechnical engineering.
Have you worked in any labs? Yes, the Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Laboratory and the Sustainable Engineering Research Laboratory.
Looking broadly at your field of study, who is the person you admire the most, and why? Braja M. Das. He is the founding father of geotechnical engineering. His research and theories are being used all over the world to interpret what’s going on beneath the foundation. He became my role model for pursuing a career in geotechnical engineering.
The best trip/vacation you’ve ever taken, and why: A summer vacation to Key West, Florida. Beautiful beaches. Refreshing.
The snack that powers you up to get through exams:
Mint or fruit juice gum. I like chewing gum during exams because it helps with my nerves and helps me think clearly.
Alexander Simon ’21
MS in Civil Engineering
Name one thing you think UIC does better than anywhere else. The professors who teach graduate-level courses have fantastic experience outside of academia.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now? Working as a design engineer.
How is UIC preparing you for your future goals? It provides status and knowledge of adjacent fields to my industry.
Have you worked in any labs? Yes, UIC’s EDGE Lab.
The best trip/vacation you’ve ever taken, and why: Rome, Florence, and Naples, Italy. Amazing food, beautiful culture, very interesting city layouts, wonderful art.
Favorite restaurant in Chicago, and why: I like Sultan’s Market and Dimo’s pizza because they’re affordable, open late, and have vegetarian and vegan options.