M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Program Overview

The lasting impact of civil and environmental engineers is evident everywhere — in the buildings we live in, the roads and bridges we travel on, the systems that provide us clean water and process waste, protecting our fragile ecosystems, developing sustainable and green-energy technologies, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and much more.

Our Master’s program emphasizes engineering related to environmental and hydrological processes, sustainable transportation systems, materials, and geotechnical, geoenvironmental, and structural engineering.

Expanding research opportunities exist for students in our Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) program as we work collaboratively to address critical issues facing the world, including sustainability and energy, infrastructure systems, climate change, hazard mitigation, and adaptation, as well as environmental and public health. We employ a wide range of interdisciplinary research methods, from developing advanced sensors for laboratory and field testing to employing artificial intelligence to expand computational modeling and data analytics capabilities. 

Some of our recent research projects include:

• Groundwater contamination modeling and remediation
• Environmental restoration and ecological engineering
• Hydrological processes
• Resource recovery from wastes
• Air pollution-related health effects
• Sustainable materials
• Soil and structural dynamics
• Earthquake engineering
• Geo-energy
• Climate change impacts on natural and built infrastructure
• Structural health monitoring
• Sustainable transportation systems

Concentrations

Design your degree

UVM’s exceptional team of world-class faculty and industry partners will equip you through invigorating classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. As a student here, you will directly contribute to enhancing the quality of life for people worldwide.

Our curricular and research graduate programs emphasize engineering related to:

• Environmental and hydrological processes
• Sustainable transportation systems
• Materials
• Geotechnical, geoenvironmental, and structural engineering.

The success of our Master’s program is built on an expanding foundation of internationally recognized faculty-led research, with collaborative funding partners across a wide range of innovative industries and national, state, and local agencies.

CEE graduate students can concurrently pursue certificates of graduate study in Complex Systems, Ecological Economics, and Community Resilience & Planning, among others.

Learn more about our growing portfolio of research initiatives 

Curriculum

Our M.S. program curriculum is continuously updated to address emerging topics in civil and environmental engineering and to offer a breadth of courses that make studying in our program both engaging and flexible.

“Our students use our local communities and landscape, including extraordinary Lake Champlain, as laboratories.”

— CEE Professor and Department Chair Mandar Dewoolkar

Master's Degree Overview

A minimum of 30 credit hours (CR) is required for master's degree completion, including no fewer than:

• 6 CR graduate-level statistics, advanced mathematics and/or numerical methods
• 9 CR CEE courses
• 3 CR outside of CEE 3
• Graduate seminar participation each semester (mandatory)

NOTE: Master's students may choose a thesis, project, or course-only program path. Requirements increase 3-9 CR for thesis and project path students.

Graduate catalogue degree overview and requirements

Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Program Course Inventory

Deadlines

The deadlines for application submission to the Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering program are:

Fall Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding January 1st
Spring Deadline: Rolling, Priority deadline for funding October 1st

Admissions

We seek to attract excellent and motivated students who aspire to learn through hands-on research. The minimum entry requirements for our Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering program are:

• 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; a B.S. in engineering is preferred but other areas of science are also considered*
• GRE is not required
• Minimum coursework preparation: 3 semesters of calculus, 1 semester of differential equations, 1 semester of physics, 1 semester of chemistry.
• 3.0 GPA, or higher
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement of Interest in our program
• If English is not your first or primary language, (TOEFL) scores of at least 90 (IELTS and Duolingo scores also considered)

*A B.S. in engineering is preferred, but applicants with a B.S. in one of the sciences are often accepted. The latter, however, should have a minimum of the following mathematics and science coursework completed prior to admission: 

• Calculus through differential equations (UVM’s MATH 3201 equivalent)
• Calculus-based physics (UVM’s PHYS 1500 equivalent)
• Chemistry (UVM’s CHEM 1400 equivalent)

Learn more about the UVM Graduate College admission process

Outcomes

Career outlook

Civil and environmental engineering plays a crucial role in shaping society and the environment. Recent growth is attributed to increasing demand for infrastructure improvements, renewable energy sources, and water resource management. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of environmental engineers and civil engineers is projected to grow 4 and 7 percent, respectively through 2039, with environmental engineers on the high end of the pay scale earning more than $153,000 and civil engineers more than $133,000.

A graduate engineering degree will allow you to command a more competitive salary when applying to upper-management roles and increase your earning potential throughout your career.

Where our alumni work

With the support of the CEMS Career Readiness Program CEMS graduate students have landed jobs with companies such as:

PC Construction 

PC Construction is an employee-owned construction firm providing integrated construction services through a full range of delivery methods.

Stantec

Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting.

ARUP

ARUP is a global consultancy of designers, engineers and consultants who guide, plan, and design the future of the built environment.

EIV Technical Services

EIV is a consulting company comprised of project managers, scientists, technicians and engineers providing support services to planning and construction projects. 

Dubois & King, Inc

A premier consultant in New England for more than a half-century, DuBois & King provides professional services in civil, structural, environmental, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Bohler

Bohler is a land development, consulting, and site design firm that helps developers, owners, and other real estate professionals identify and act on opportunities. Ultimately, we help move your project forward, faster.

Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans)

Vermont State agency that plans, develops, implements, and manages a statewide transportation network - including roads, bridges, railroads, airports, park-and-rides, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and public transportation facilities and services.

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB)

VHB is a multidisciplinary American civil engineering consulting and design firm headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts 

Program outcomes

A CEMS graduate education gives you depth and breadth of knowledge, along with the skills you'll need for every challenge and opportunity that awaits. Outcomes for our M.S. program in Civil and Environmental Engineering include:

1. Have in-depth understanding of the foundational concepts in the field of study.
2. Be skilled at communicating technical results in both oral and written form.
3. Have a comprehensive knowledge of the literature relevant to the research or seminar topic.

4. Have a detailed knowledge of the research methodologies relevant to the research or seminar topic.

    

Costs and Funding

Costs

 View Graduate College Tuition and Fees (Student Financial Services website)

Funding options

This is an exceptional time to pursue a graduate degree at UVM, as research funding has increased fourfold during the past three years. Most Ph.D. students and thesis-based master’s students are funded as graduate research assistants (GRA) or graduate teaching assistants (GTA). These positions come with both a stipend and tuition support. We also have seven Ph.D. fellowships described below and multiple teaching and research assistantships at both Master’s and Ph.D. levels.

Gund/CEMS Barrett Ph.D. Fellowships (open to all prospective students, including international students)

Supported by a generous gift from Barrett Foundation, Gund/CEMS Barrett Fellowships are open to applicants pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering with environmental applications. These fellowships support Ph.D. students seeking to collaborate on urgent engineering and environmental issues. Students receive up to four years of funding, including an annual $35,000 stipend, tuition, and health insurance.

Learn more about Barrett Ph.D. Fellowships

GAANN Ph.D. Fellowships (open to US citizens and permanent residents only)

We have multiple US Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of Nation Need (GAANN) doctoral fellowships. The project title is: Research and Education in Sustainable, Equitable, and Climate-Resilient Civil Infrastructure Systems. We are recruiting highly talented doctoral fellows to train them to be highly-skilled teacher-scholars capable of 1) designing next-generation sustainable and equitable civil infrastructure systems that are climate-resilient, and 2) educating future generations of engineers committed to sustainability, civic engagement, and equity.

Learn more about GAANN Ph.D. Fellowships

More

Meet our faculty

Our faculty are leading researchers in their fields with the awards, funding, and research publications that have helped the University of Vermont reach the coveted R1 Research University status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Learn more about Faculty Research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering