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Contact Civil and Environmental Engineering

Email:
cecmeegraduate​@nau.edu


Civil Engineering, Master of Science

Beginning fall 2026, this Civil Engineering degree will be offered as Civil and Environmental Engineering degree.

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.

Requirements Accordion Open

  • 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.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.
Minimum Units for Completion30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Fieldwork Experience/InternshipOptional
ThesisThesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
ResearchIndividualized research is required.
Progression Plan LinkView Program of Study
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate PlanOptional

Purpose Statement

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering aims to educate civil engineers to conduct analytical and experimental studies in the areas of water resources, transportation, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Examples of content areas include quantitative techniques for restoring natural stream channels, modeling and designing intelligent transportation systems, studies of the theoretical underpinnings of advanced structural analysis and design software, and sustainable engineering materials. 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 at increasing competitiveness in the local, regional, and global markets, advancing existing careers, or serving 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 civil engineering (CE) problems.
    • Examine, analyze, and explicate contemporary CE topics and assess and apply specific CE computational tools.
    • Identify, formulate, and solve advanced CE problems.
    • Synthesize, explain, verify, and justify solutions to complex CE problems.
  • Demonstrate the ability to independently and creatively design and conduct research studies.
    • Assess the state of the art in their field of study, including a thorough literature review.
    • Design a research study of personal or professional interest and importance including: planning, organizing, scheduling, and executing the project with the guidance and input of their thesis advisor.
    • Apply independently and creatively appropriate CE and cross-disciplinary engineering theories and tools towards finding a viable solution to the thesis topic.
    • Perform and interpret complex quantitative analyses specific to the thesis.
    • Communicate effectively the results of a comprehensive research study through oral presentations and publications:
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of the research study and the implications of the resulting data
    • Synthesize and present the relevance of the research study in both technical and non-technical terms.
    • Conduct an oral thesis defense to a community of engineering faculty and peers.
    • Create a publishable paper reflecting the integration of knowledge acquired through the research study.

Details Accordion Closed
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.

    • 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 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)

  • 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

    • Thesis Option (6 units)

      • CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of an approved thesis.

  • A maximum of two courses (up to 6 units) may be at the 400-level.

    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 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 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.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

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 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 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 Engineering Coursework: 18 units
      • Additional Electives: 3 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)

    • Additional Electives (3 units)

      • Additional electives chosen in consultation with your advisor. (3 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
      • Thesis Option (6 units)
        • CENE 699 for the completion and final defense of an approved thesis.

    • A maximum of two courses (up to 6 units) may be at the 400-level.

      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 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 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.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

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.

Availability Accordion Closed

Application Deadlines Accordion Closed
Priority Application deadlines are February 1st for Fall admission and September 15th for Spring admission. Applications submitted after these dates will be considered as space is available until August 1st for Fall admission and until December 1st for Spring admission.

Application Requirements Accordion Closed
  • 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.
Note: If your undergraduate degree is not in the same area of study as the program that you intend to apply for, you may need to complete a number of prerequisite courses before being fully admitted into the program.

Financial Support Accordion Closed
  • 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.

Documents and Forms Accordion Closed

For Graduate Assistants

 
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Location
Building 69
Engineering and Technology
2112 S Huffer Ln PO Box: Box 15600
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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