MS in Civil Engineering

city with highway interchange at night

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:

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.

MS Students in Their Own Words Heading link

Valerie

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

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

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.

Learn about MS program admissions