Master of Science Degree
Civil Engineering, considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompasses specialties such as structural, geotechnical, transportation, environmental, construction, and water resources engineering. The field is continually evolving as civil engineers, recognized as key players in the technological enrichment of the future, pursue innovations that improve people’s lives. With the aging infrastructure and the government’s once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness (i.e., the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill), there is a growing need to fill the demand for civil engineers and their continuing education and professional development.
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree program, with a flexible and competent curriculum for students to choose from, is intended for practicing civil engineers to enhance their professional and leadership abilities to further their careers, as well as for those who wish to pursue more advanced studies for a research career in academia, government or private laboratories, R&D in industry, or elsewhere. Programs of study provide knowledge of advanced topics in structural engineering, sustainability, smart infrastructure, geotechnical engineering, engineering mechanics, environmental engineering, water resources, construction, and transportation engineering.
Upon successful completion of MS Civil Engineering, students are expected to demonstrate the following program-level student learning outcomes:
- demonstrate an extensive basic and applied knowledge of core principles and advanced concepts in civil engineering;
- analyze and solve complex civil engineering problems using engineering principles including the ability to identify, formulate, and address open-ended engineering problems;
- contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and apply innovative/critical thinking to engineering challenges;
- communicate effectively both to technical and non-technical audiences through written reports, oral presentations, manuscripts, and technical documents
- work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating collaboration skills in engineering projects
Graduates of MS Civil Engineering will seek employment in private and public organizations and or pursue Ph.D. study that requires advanced coursework and skills in civil engineering.
Degree Requirements Overview
This MS program consists of a flexible curriculum for students to choose from. There are no required tracks students need to specify. When students enroll, there are two required courses all students need to take for them to have a consistent base. Meanwhile, they will work with their advisors to design a set of courses that best suits their professional interests and goals. Hence, this program is flexible and consists of two core courses in fostering a strong base in advanced mathematics for engineers and essential Machine Learning skills to stay competitive in a data-driven future of engineering of increasing industry demand with growing importance, and a suite of courses in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering mechanics, environmental engineering, water resources, and transportation engineering for specialty.
The MS program is offered with two experience options (thesis or non-thesis) to accommodate students’ varying professional goals. Both the thesis option and non-thesis degree paths require a minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate study extending over at least two semesters.
To graduate from MS Civil Engineering, a student must achieve a cumulative average GPA of 3.0 or above for all courses counted toward the degree.
| Thesis option | Credits | Non-thesis option | Credits |
| Engineering courses (select at least 5 from below) | 15-21 | Engineering courses (select at least 7 below) | 21-27 |
| Other electives | 0-6 | Other electives | 0-6 |
| Thesis | 9 | Engineering Project or Course* | 3 |
| Total: | 30 | Total: | 30 |
*The non-thesis option, students have the options to enroll in an Engineering Project course – as a project option or an additional Engineering course– as an all-course option. The all-course option would include a comprehensive exam in the final semester.
Required and Approved Elective courses
Students will choose engineering courses from the list below. Students are allowed to take no more than six credits (Graduate level) outside of engineering with prior approval from faculty advisor.
| Course Title | Credits | |
| Required Courses | MAT 515 Mathematical Methods in Computational science & Engineering | 3 |
| CE 573 Introduction to Machine Learning in Engineering Applications | 3 | |
| Approved Elective courses | CE 516 Advanced mechanics of solids | 3 |
| CE 503 Advanced Reinforced concrete design | 3 | |
| CE 504 Advanced steel design | 3 | |
| CE 505 Advanced Finite element method | 3 | |
| CE 506 Pavement Analysis and Design | 3 | |
| CE 507 Design of earth structures | 3 | |
| CE 508 Foundation design | 3 | |
| CE 509 Advanced Soil Mechanics | 3 | |
| CE 550 Wind turbine design | 3 | |
| CE 520 Advanced Traffic Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 521 Highway Design | 3 | |
| CE 522 Airport Design | 3 | |
| CE 523 Traffic Flow and Capacity Analysis | 3 | |
| CE 524 Transportation Safety | 3 | |
| CE 526 Transportation Data Management and Analysis | 3 | |
| CE 527 Travel Demand Modeling | 3 | |
| CE 530 Advanced Water Resource modeling | 3 | |
| CE 532 Advanced Water and Wastewater Unit design | 3 | |
| CE 533 Advanced Groundwater Hydrology | 3 | |
| CE 537 Contaminant Transport in the Environment | 3 | |
| CE 538 Sediment Transport Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 580 Engineering Project | 3 | |
| CE 590 Thesis | 9 | |
| CE 602 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering | 3 | |
| CE 610 Theoretical Geo-mechanics | 3 | |
| CE 634 Advanced Spatial Modeling | 3 | |
| CE 660 Logistics and Supply Chain | 3 |
While SUNY Poly will seek applicants with sufficient background in relevant undergraduate-level civil engineering courses, otherwise well-qualified students will be accommodated by taking appropriate, regularly offered bridge courses, though time to completion may be delayed.