Graduate Degrees and Requirements

The Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering Department offers the following graduate degree options: master of engineering (M.Eng.), master of science (M.S.), and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). General descriptions for each of these degrees are provided below. Detailed descriptions of the requirements specific to each discipline can be found within the Graduate Handbook.

All students in the M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. programs must complete Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) requirements.

The SARI program at Penn State is designed to offer graduate students comprehensive, multilevel training in the responsible conduct of research through a three-part program: an online course that must be completed in the first year of graduate study, a three-hour colloquium, CE 590, and two hours that can be completed by attending Office of Research Protection seminars.

M.Eng. Degree

The M.Eng. degree is intended to be a professional degree composed of a well-balanced, unified, and complete program of study leading to advanced professional practice. Students must complete 31 credits of graduate coursework (18 credits of which must be at the 500-level) and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the Graduate Handbook. While full-time students can complete the program in two semesters, part-time students take longer.

M.S. Degree

The M.S. degree program is a blend of graduate-level coursework and research. Students must complete 30 graduate credits (18 credits of which must be at the 500 and/or 600-level, combined, and 6 credits must be research-based), prepare and orally defend a thesis, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the Graduate Handbook.

Ph.D. Degree

The Ph.D. degree program is strongly oriented toward research. Students must complete 15 credits. In addition to meeting course requirements specific to their discipline, Ph.D. students must also successfully pass the qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, final oral exam, write a dissertation, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the Graduate Handbook. The duration of the program varies from three to five years, depending on the student’s background and professional interests.

Minimum course requirements are dependent on the area of specialization:

• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical and Materials Engineering
• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• Transportation Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering

Applicants who do not meet these minimum course requirements can still be admitted on a provisional basis until the coursework is completed elsewhere or as part of the graduate studies at Penn State.

Other Programs

With a vast number of resources available at Penn State, there are many opportunities for interdisciplinary research, and many of our graduate students choose to pursue joint degrees with other programs.

• International Agriculture and Development (INTAD) Dual-Title Degree Program with the College of Agricultural Sciences 
  • Available for M.S. and Ph.D. students in civil engineering
• Operations Research Dual-Title Degree Graduate Program with the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Available for M.S. and Ph.D. students in both civil and environmental engineering; also available as a Ph.D. minor
• Biogeochemistry Dual-Title Graduate Degree Program
  • Available for Ph.D. students in environmental engineering

Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering focuses on the improvement of environmental quality through design, including the treatment of surface water, groundwater, wastewater, soil, and air; the management of wetlands and watersheds; the treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes; the production of renewable energy; and the design of “green” products. The Penn State Environmental Engineering (ENV_E) graduate programs have specific strengths in biological processes for energy production, bioremediation of hazardous contaminants, physical/chemical processes for contaminant removal, conventional water and wastewater treatment, green product design, and environmental modeling.

Program Requirements

Master of Engineering

Master of Engineering students must complete 30 graduate credits (400 level and above), including a minimum of 18 credits at the 500 or 800 level and a minimum of 12 credits with a CE prefix. At least 20 credits must be earned at the University Park campus. The following coursework is required:

• 12 credits of the Core Curriculum
• 6 credits of ENV_E Electives
• 9 credits of Technical Electives
• 3 credits of CE 835: Integrated Project Management for Civil Engineers
• Total: 30 credits

Master of Science

Master of Science students must complete 31 graduate credits (at least 18 credits of which must be at the 500 and 600-level combined and at least 12 credits of which must have a CE prefix), prepare and orally defend a thesis, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the graduate handbook. The following coursework is required:

• 12 credits of the Core Curriculum
• 6 credits of ENV_E Electives
• 6 credits of Technical Electives
• 6 credits Thesis Research (CE 600 or CE 610)
• 1 credit CE 591: Environmental Engineering Seminar
• Total: 31 credits

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of graduate coursework (400-level and above) beyond the master’s degree or 15 credits beyond the M.S. in environmental engineering at Penn State (exclusive of thesis research). In addition, Ph.D. students must also successfully pass the qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, and final oral exam, write a dissertation, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the graduate handbook. 

All academic program requirements are outlined in the graduate handbook.

Courses Offered

The ENV_E curriculum is built around four cornerstones of understanding environmental problems: Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Transport, and Process Engineering. Other courses extend these basic themes to support the research and teaching interests of the faculty and students. Students select a program of study that satisfies the Core Course Requirements as well as an individually chosen area of specialization. Programs of study that satisfy the course requirements for each degree are developed in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Core Curriculum

Students must demonstrate competence in each of the following four core areas: Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Transport, and Process Engineering (3 credits in each core area). Suggested courses to provide this core curriculum are provided below.

• Biology - CE 479 or CE 473
• Chemistry - CE 570 or CE 573
• Chemical Transport – CE 574, CE 576, or CE 580
• Process Engineering - CE 571 or CE 572

Electives

Environmental engineering electives allow students to develop additional expertise in their areas of specialization. The following courses are offered in the ENV_E program (all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted):

• CE 402: Computing Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CE 403: Energy Use, Climate Change, and Our Engineered Infrastructure
• CE 473: Ecological Design of Regenerative Aquatic Systems
• CE 475: Water Quality Chemistry (4cr with lab)
• CE 476: Solid & Hazardous Wastes
• CE 479: Environmental Microbiology for Engineers
• CE 536: Topics in Biogeochemistry (2cr)
• CE 556: Environmental Electrochemistry
• CE 570: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
• CE 571: Physical-Chemical Treatment Processes
• CE 572: Biological Treatment Processes
• CE 573: Environmental Organic Chemistry
• CE 574: Reactive Transport Processes in Porous Media
• CE 576: Environmental Transport Processes 
• CE 578: Groundwater Remediation
• CE 580: Hydrodynamic Mixing Processes
• CE 592: Environmental Engineering & Science Topics (1cr)
• CE 597: Isotopes in Environmental Engineering 

Technical Electives

Students are encouraged to take courses outside the environmental engineering core and elective courses. These could be other CEE courses or courses in other departments on subjects such as agronomy, biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry, geohydrology, geochemistry, materials science, microbiology, and mineral processing, which may be of particular interest. Students should discuss options for satisfying their technical elective requirements with their academic advisers. A detailed list of technical electives can be found in the graduate handbook.

Geotechnical and Materials Engineering

The geotechnical and materials engineering (GME) program includes several important disciplines of civil engineering associated with the characterization, behavior, design, and management of natural particulate materials, infrastructure materials, and pavements. Graduate students may focus their coursework and research in one of these areas:

• Geotechnical engineering studies the ground that serves as foundation materials for civil infrastructure under service loading conditions, extreme events (such as earthquakes and other natural hazards), and the impact of climate change. The faculty in geotechnical engineering at Penn State employ field investigations, laboratory characterizations, and computational methods to study the fundamental engineering behaviors and mechanisms of soils and develop solutions for resilient infrastructure.
• Materials engineering focuses on designing and advancing construction materials to provide sustainable and high-performance infrastructure solutions for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications. Students leverage cutting-edge experimental methods and computational modeling techniques to analyze and simulate the microstructure, properties, and long-term performance and durability of modern construction materials. Penn State's materials research aligns with the future vision outlined by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Concrete Institute, addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in infrastructure development.
• Pavement engineering includes the characterization, design, and analysis of flexible and rigid pavements. It includes the study of asphalt concrete, Portland cement concrete, aggregate bases, and subgrade soils. Pavement design includes the selection and specification of appropriate materials, layer thicknesses, surface conditions, and drainage features for the needed traffic and environmental conditions. The pavement engineering program also includes infrastructure asset management, which incorporates a systems approach to the long-term inspection, evaluation with both destructive and nondestructive testing, maintenance, rehabilitation, and resource allocation for the pavements, bridges, and other civil infrastructure. 

Program Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, all GME graduate students are expected to actively participate in the group's graduate seminar series. Graduate students should pick a specialty area in geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, or pavement engineering. For each degree, the advisor must approve the final course plan.

Master of Engineering

• 15 credits of GME Core Curriculum (400- or 500-level with CE prefix, as listed below)
• 12 credits of Technical Electives
• 3 credits of CE 835: Integrated Project Management for Civil Engineers
• Total: 30 credits

Master of Science

• 9 credits of GME Core Curriculum (400- or 500-level with CE prefix)
• 15 credits of Technical Electives at 500- and 600-level
• 6 credits of CE 600 (Thesis Research)
• 1 credit of CE 597: GME Grad Seminar
• Total: 31 credits
  

Doctor of Philosophy

For the doctoral degree, a minimum of 30 credits is suggested, although the number of credits may vary. Final requirements will be determined in consultation with the student’s adviser and with the qualifying exam committee. A typical plan might include:

• 15 credits of GME core curriculum and relevant technical electives
• 15 credits of Thesis Research (CE 600)

In addition, Ph.D. students must successfully pass the qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, final oral exam, write a dissertation, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the graduate handbook. For direct entry to the doctoral degree without a master’s degree, the student must also complete the course credit requirement equivalent to that of a master of science degree. 

Core Curriculum

• CE 434: Geotechnical Engineering Design (3 cr)
• CE 435: Foundation Engineering (3 cr)
• CE 436: Construction Engineering Materials (3 cr)
• CE 512: Advanced Soil Mechanics (3 cr)
• CE 529: Infrastructure Systems Analysis and Decision Making (3 cr)
• CE 583: Bituminious Materials and Mixtures (3 cr)
• CE 584: Concrete Materials and Properties (3 cr)
• CE 585: Advanced Characterization of Cementitious Materials (3 cr)
• CE 597: Geoenvironmental Engineering (3 cr)
• CE 597: Cold Regions Engineering (3 cr)
• CE 597: Geotechnical Subsurface Characterization (3 cr)

Technical Electives and Other Courses

Technical electives allow students to develop breadth by obtaining expertise in related fields within and outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. A student should consult their adviser for a recommended technical elective.

Structural Engineering and Mechanics

The conceptualization, analysis, and design of structural systems pose some of the most interesting and challenging problems encountered by the engineering profession. To prepare engineers to address these challenges, the department offers a graduate specialty in structural engineering and mechanics for students interested in the structural engineering profession.

The primary objectives of this graduate specialty are to provide students with a greater understanding of the behavior of structures and their constituent materials under various loading scenarios, to equip them with the necessary knowledge in approaching diverse structural design problems, and to introduce them to cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art methodologies toward engineering advancements and novel scientific contributions.

Coursework focuses on the primary areas of structural analysis, mechanics, and design. Related coursework is also available through the architectural, mechanical, aerospace, and general engineering curricula. 

Program Requirements

Master of Engineering

Master of engineering students must complete 30 graduate credits (400-level and above), including a minimum of 18 credits at the 500- or 800-level and a minimum of 12 credits with a CE prefix. At least 20 credits must be earned at the University Park campus. The following coursework is required: 

• 12 credits of Core Curriculum (CE 400 and 500)
• 15 credits of Technical Electives
• 3 credits of CE 835: Integrated Project Management for Civil Engineers
• Total: 30 credits

Master of Science

Master of Science students must complete 30 graduate credits. A thesis is required, and at least 6 credits of thesis research must be completed (CE 600 or 610). At least 18 credits must be at the 500- and 600-level, combined, and at least 12 credits must have the CE prefix. Students should also prepare and orally defend a thesis and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the graduate handbook. The following coursework is required: 

• 6 credits of thesis research (CE 600 or 610)
• 12 credits of Core Curriculum (CE 400 and 500)
• 12 credits of Technical Electives
• 1 credit CE 597: Structural Engineering Seminar
• Total: 31 credits

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students who have completed a M.Eng. or M.S. degree must complete a minimum of 15 credits of additional graduate coursework (400 level and above). In addition, Ph.D. students must also successfully pass the qualifying exam, comprehensive exam, final oral exam, write a dissertation, and satisfy the other academic program requirements outlined in the graduate handbook. For direct entry to the Ph.D. program without a master’s degree, the student must also complete the course credit requirement equivalent to that of a master of science degree. 

Core Curriculum

The following is required for all master’s graduate students with a focus in the area of structural engineering and mechanics. All students shall take a minimum of two courses from the analysis and design categories.

Analysis 

• CE 540: Statically Indeterminate Structures (alternatively CE 447 Structural Analysis by Matrix Methods)
• CE 541: Structural Analysis
• CE 548: Structural Design for Dynamic Loads

Design

• CE 543: Prestressed Concrete
• CE 544: Behavior and Design of Reinforced Concrete Members
• CE 545: Metal Structure Behavior and Design

Structural Engineering Technical Electives

• CE 402: Computing Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CE 404: Probabilistic modeling and Machine Learning for Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CE 538: Earthquake Resistant Design of Buildings
• CE 542: Building Enclosure Science and Design
• CE 539: Approximate Methods of Structural Engineering
• CE 549: Bridge Engineering
• CE 566 - Uncertainty and Reliability in Civil Engineering
• CE 597 - Computational Intelligence and Analysis of Randomness in Engineering

Transportation Engineering

The movement of people and goods is essential for the economic, social, and political well-being of all nations. Today's transportation engineers are at the forefront of transforming transportation systems to meet modern challenges. This includes integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automated vehicles, and electrification to enhance safety, sustainability, efficiency, and equity for all users. Transportation engineers are responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of diverse transportation modes—highways, transit systems, railways, and active transportation networks for bicyclists and pedestrians. The goal of the academic and research programs in transportation engineering is to equip students with a comprehensive theoretical foundation and practical skills to innovate and lead in the evolving field of transportation engineering.

Program Requirements

Master of Engineering

• 15 credits of TE Core Curriculum 
• 12 credits of Technical Electives
• 3 credits of CE 835: Integrated Project Management for Civil Engineers
• Total: 30 credits

Master of Science

• 6 credits of thesis research (CE 600)
• 12 credits of TE Core Curriculum (400- or 500-levels with CE prefix)
• 12 credits of electives at 500- and 600-levels (CE prefix)
• 1 credit of CE 597: Transportation Grad Seminar
• Total: 31 credits

Doctor of Philosophy

For the Ph.D. degree, a minimum of 30 credits is suggested. A plan to complete coursework associated with the Ph.D. research skills must be devised in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Courses Offered

Transportation Engineering coursework focuses on transport system planning, geometric design, traffic engineering, transportation safety, and the maintenance and operation of transportation facilities. The program also uses a multidisciplinary approach to ensure that students have a broad knowledge base to help solve the wide range of problems that face transportation engineers.

Core Curriculum

• CE 421W: Transportation Design
• CE 422: Transportation Planning
• CE 423: Traffic Operations
• CE 521: Transportation Networks and Systems Analysis
• CE 522: Traffic Flow Theory and Simulation
• CE 523: Analysis of Transportation Demand
• C E 525: Transportation Operations
• C E 528: Transportation Safety Analysis
• CE 529: Infrastructure Systems Analysis and Decision Making
• CE 597: Public Transportation Planning
• CE 597: Transportation Data Science

Technical Electives
Because of the vastness of the transportation network and its users, graduate students may wish to take courses beyond the core transportation coursework offered in the Department. These courses are intended to complement the curricular requirements and may include 400- or 500-level courses in CEE or in the following Departments:

• Economics
• Geography
• Industrial Engineering
• Information Science and Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Psychology
• Supply Chain and Information Systems
• Statistics
• Computer Science

Water Resources Engineering

Water resources engineering focuses on the analysis, modeling, and design of systems that govern the availability, distribution, and quality of water in natural and built environments. Core areas include surface water and groundwater hydrology, hydraulics, ecohydrology, watershed processes, water quality modeling, flood risk and resilience, and sustainable water infrastructure. The water resources engineering (WRE) graduate programs have specific strengths in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, hydroclimatology, watershed and urban hydrology, groundwater–surface water interactions, remote sensing and geospatial analysis, water quality processes, and AI/data-driven approaches for managing water resources under changing climate and land-use conditions.

Program Requirements

Master of Engineering

• 12 credits of the core curriculum
• 15 credits of technical electives (500-level and above)
• 3 credits of CE 835: Integrated Project Management for Civil Engineers
• Total: 30 credits

Master of Science

• 12 credits of the Core Curriculum
• 12 credits of Technical Electives (500-level and above)
• 6 credits of thesis research (CE 600)
• 1 credit CE 591: Environmental Engineering Seminar
• Total: 31 credits

Doctor of Philosophy

Each student needs to devise a plan of study in consultation with their advisor. For direct entry to the Ph.D. program without a master’s degree, the student must complete the course credit requirement equivalent to that of a master of science degree.

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum provides students with a comprehensive foundation in water-resources topics including hydrology, hydraulics, and river mechanics. Students who have previously completed equivalent classes may substitute additional water resources or technical electives in their place.

• CE 402: Computing Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering
• CE 405: Introduction to AI/ML in Civil & Environmental Engineering & Geosciences
• CE 462: Open Channel Hydraulics 
• CE 555: Groundwater Hydrology 
• CE 561: Fundamentals of Surface Hydrology 
• CE 564: Sediment Transport

Technical Electives

Water Resources electives allow students to develop additional expertise in their areas of specialization. 

• CE 556: Tracer and Contaminant Transport in Groundwater 
• CE 567: River Engineering
• CE 570: Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
• CE 580: Hydrodynamic Mixing Processes
• CE 587: Computational Ecohydrology
• CE 597: Mathematical and Research Aspects of AI/ML in Civil & Environmental Engineering & Geosciences
• CE 597: Field and Experimental Methods in Water Resources Engineering
• CE 597: Advanced Fluid Mechanics 
• CE 597: Computational Modeling with OpenFOAM 

Technical electives outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering allow students to develop breadth by obtaining expertise in related fields. Courses in graduate fields such as atmospheric science, geoscience, ecology, applied statistics, geography, forest resources, and soil science may be of particular interest. Students interested in satisfying their technical elective requirements with classes outside the department should discuss this option with their academic advisers.