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Contact Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and Environmental 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.
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.
Individual degree programs may exceed the baseline University Policy for a master's degree. The program-specific requirements are provided on the Details tab below.
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program 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 and Environmental Engineering aims to educate civil and environmental engineers to conduct analytical and experimental studies in the areas of water resources, water quality, water and wastewater design, transportation, structural, geotechnical, waste management, and air quality engineering. Content areas include ecosystem restoration, intelligent transportation systems, advanced structural analysis, sustainable engineering materials, advanced wastewater treatment, environmental toxicology, energy and resource recovery, and water and sanitation in developing countries. 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 to increase competitiveness in the local, regional, and global markets, advance existing careers, or serve 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 engineering problems.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently identify appropriate sources and distill relevant information from the literature.
- Demonstrate the ability to document and explain advanced civil or environmental engineering issues and solutions to a variety of audiences.
Graduate Admission Information
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:- Transcripts.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Additional Admission Requirements
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- Completion of a BS degree in engineering or completion of prerequisite courses.
- See the NAU Civil and Environmental Engineering website for details.
- Completion of a BS degree in engineering or completion of prerequisite courses.
- Essay/Letter of Intent/Personal Statement*
- Recommendation(s)/Reference(s)*
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae*
Recommended
- GRE® Revised General Test*
Master's Requirements
This Master's degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
- Graduate-level Mathematics or Statistics: 3 units
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Coursework: 12 units
- Additional Electives: 9 units
- Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select one: 6 units
Take the following 30 units:
- Students completing a non-thesis, coursework, project, track, internship, track, or exam option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
- Students completing a thesis are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Graduate-level Mathematics or Statistics (3 units)
- Select a graduate-level (500-level or higher) mathematics or statistics course (3 units)
Civil and Environmental Engineering Coursework (12 units)
- Select from the following in consultation with your advisor (12 units):
- Any graduate-level CENE courses
- CENE 697 (up to 3 units)
- Select from the following in consultation with your advisor (12 units):
Additional Electives (9 units)
- Additional electives chosen in consultation with your advisor. (9 units)
Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select one (6 units)
Non-Thesis Option (6 units)
- Select one from the following options (6 units):
- CENE 690 - Master's Project
- Additional CENE electives
- Select one from the following options (6 units):
Thesis Option (6 units)
- CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of an approved thesis.
You must complete at least 18 hours of formal coursework, other than such individualized studies as independent study, directed readings, thesis, and research.
Since the Civil and Environmental 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 and Environmental 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.
Additional Information
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
- Program Fee Information
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.
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.
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and start a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering at NAU.
A total of 9 units will be shared between the plans selected from:
- Additional 400-level CENE coursework (0 - 3 units)
- Additional graduate-level CENE coursework (6 - 9 units)
OR
Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and start a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering at NAU.
A total of 9 units will be shared between the plans selected from:
- Additional 400-level CENE coursework (0 - 3 units)
- Additional graduate-level CENE coursework (6 - 9 units)
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.
- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:
Master's Requirements
This Master degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
- Graduate-level Mathematics or Statistics: 3 units
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Coursework: 12 units
- Additional Electives: 9 units
- Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select one: 6 units
Take the following 30 units:
- Students completing a non-thesis, coursework, project, track, internship, track, or exam option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
- Students completing a thesis are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
Graduate-level Mathematics or Statistics (3 units)
- Select a graduate-level (500-level or higher) mathematics or statistics course (3 units)
Civil and Environmental Engineering Coursework (12 units)
- Select from the following (12 units):
- Any graduate-level CENE courses
- Chosen in consultation with your advisor.
- CENE 697 (up to 3 units)
- Any graduate-level CENE courses
- Select from the following (12 units):
Additional Electives (9 units)
- Additional 400-level CENE coursework (0 - 3 units)
- Additional graduate-level CENE coursework (6 - 9 units)
Non-Thesis or Thesis Option - Select one (6 units)
Non-Thesis Option (6 units)
- Select one from the following options (6 units):
- CENE 690 - Master's Project
- Additional CENE electives
- Select one from the following options (6 units):
Thesis Option (6 units)
- CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of an approved thesis.
You must complete at least 18 hours of formal coursework, other than such individualized studies as independent study, directed readings, thesis, and research.
Since the Civil and Environmental 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 and Environmental 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.
Additional Information
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
- Program Fee Information
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.
- 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.
- 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 Office of Graduate and Professional Studies webpage on financing your education for more information.
- Prerequisite Courses for MS Civil Engineering
- Program of Study (by catalog year)
- MS Learning Objective Evaluation - Contact Department
- MS Thesis Proposal
- Thesis Advisory Committee Form