Civil Engineering Professional Master of Science Dual-Track Option

Demonstration in geotech lab

Program Description

The Dual-Track Professional Master of Science degree in civil engineering aims to provide students and practicing professionals graduate-level engineering specialization and technical competence in more than a single area. The intended cross-disciplinary training and perspective is often needed to serve or lead in the diverse field of civil engineering where engineers typically have to work in and interact with others from more than one discipline in large and small projects, private and government sectors, in design and development as well as consulting services. The broader technical preparation will expand their career opportunities, professional outlook and provide multiple pathways to leadership and management positions. The high demand nationally for more broadly trained graduates in civil engineering to satisfy our sustainable and resilient infrastructure needs and in turn the national’s overall economical development points to the benefit of a cross-disciplinary General Civil Engineering coursework-only professional master’s degree. With the wide spectrum of classes for the students to choose from the Department and the College, students will have a wide selection of graduate courses to complete the Professional Master of Science degree in one year.

FAQs

A Professional Master's ProgramÌýdegree offers professionals new opportunities for career advancement and equips them with a broader skill set, enabling them to handle more responsibilities in their professions. This often leads to substantial increases in responsibilities and salary. Additionally, working professionals frequently benefit from financial support from their employers, with many companies covering a large portion of their employees’ master's degree expenses.

Costs vary depending on whether you are a Colorado resident and how many credits you takeÌýeachÌýsemester.Ìý Visit this pageÌýfor up-to-date information on tuition and fees.Ìý

Be sure to check with your employer to see if they offer a program that covers all or part of your tuition.

Fall Admission Deadline

Feb. 1: MS students—international and domestic New extended deadline!

Spring Admission Deadline

Oct. 1.

Applications close at 11:59 p.m. EST for both dates.

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, watch our video below and don't hesitate to contact our graduate advisors at ceaegrad.advising@colorado.edu.

Dual-Track Option Requirements

Required Courses and Credits

In this program, students are required to select:

  1. 9 credit hours from one or more of the Group A-course lists for the fourÌýsub-areas below,
  2. 15 credit hours from more than one of the Group B-course lists for the fourÌýsub-areas below,
  3. 6 credits of 5000-level free electives, broadly categorized as Group C, from the extensive course offerings in the four group As and Bs below, other courses in civil engineering and other engineering departments in the college, or professional management classes, such as Ìý²¹²Ô»å ,Ìýin consultation with CVEN PMP advisors to design the most effective course plan for their interests.

List of Group A and B courses

Code

Title

Sub-area 1: Structural Engineering
Group A
Advanced Mechanics of Materials I
Matrix Structural Analysis
Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
Structural Dynamics
Group B
Advanced Topics in Steel Design
Advanced Topics in Reinforced Concrete Design
Earthquake Engineering
Sub-area 2: Construction Engineering
Group A
Special Topics for Seniors/Grads (CEM Fundamentals)
Construction Safety
Legal Aspects of Construction
Group B
Engineering Risk and Decision Analysis
Managing Construction and Engineering Projects and Organizations
Special Topics for Seniors/Grads
Sub-area 3: Geotechnical Engineering
Group A
Soil Mechanics
Dynamics of Soils and Structures
Computational Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering
Introduction to Rock Mechanics
Group B
Seepage and Slopes
Foundation Engineering
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
Sub-area 4: Water Resources Engineering
Group A
Physical Hydrology
Groundwater Hydrology
Environmental Fluid Mechanics
Statistical Methods for Natural and Engineered Systems
Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering
Group B
Modeling of Hydrologic Systems
Water Resources System and Management
Applied Groundwater Modeling
Transport and Dispersion in Surface Water
Water Resources Engineering Design

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Graduate program information session. ÌýWatch Now!

Ìý

Virtual Information Session Ìý

Nov. 12, 2025
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. MST

The Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (CEAE) graduate programs are excited to host an online information session for prospective PhD, MS and Professional Master's (PMP) students.

In the first half of the session, we’ll provide an overview of the CEAE programs, application requirements and life at ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ. In the second half, you’ll have the opportunity to join breakout rooms to explore your specific Subplan/Track of interest in more detail.

If you have questions, please contact us at ceaegrad.advising@colorado.edu.Ìý
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We look forward to connecting with you!

Prospective Graduate Student Request for Information