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Fall 2026 Graduate Catalog
Civil Engineering, MS
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 Return to: Master’s Programs
Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Degrees Awarded: Master of Science in Civil Engineering
Chairperson: Rigoberto Burgueño, 2430 Old Computer Science Bldg., 631-632-8315
Graduate Program Director: Ruwen Qin, 2427 Old Computer Science Bldg., 631-632-9341
Gradute Program Coordinator: Malina Salman, 2441 Old Computer Science Bldg., 631-632-8911
The Department of Civil Engineering, in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, offers graduate work leading to the MS and PhD degrees, and a graduate certificate. The overarching mission of the graduate programs is to train the next generation of civil engineers to make important discoveries, develop new technologies, and apply novel approaches to ensure the safety, resilience, and sustainability of our basic infrastructure systems. Our programs in Civil Engineering offer students a broad curriculum with the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in the major areas of civil engineering. The programs emphasize interdisciplinary approaches in solving society’s most pressing problems, with an emphasis on building, restoring and improving urban infrastructure. The faculty in the Department of Civil Engineering is actively involved in state-of-the-art research and work collaboratively with graduate students on projects that are both applied and fundamental in nature. The MS program is designed to provide students with greater depth in a particular area in civil engineering for further advanced study or pursuing a career as professional engineers.
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Admission Requirements
Application Website Application Deadlines Students may begin an on-line application at any time. -
For Spring Admission: The deadline for international applicants is October 1, and the deadline for domestic applicants is December 1. All required application materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, resume, statement of pupose, and test scores, must be submitted by this date. -
For Fall Admission: While applications are accepted on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their complete applications, including all required materials, by the priority deadline of January 15 to be considered for admission and financial aid. The final deadlines are May 1 for international applicants and July 15 for domestic applicants. For admission to the MS program in the Department of Civil Engineering, requirements are*: -
A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, or a related field such as another engineering discipline, physical science, or mathematics. -
An overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent and a GPA of at least 3.0 in engineering, mathematics, and science courses. -
A statement of purpose -
A resume -
Three (3) letters of recommendation, including at least two letters from supervisory sources such as academic advisors, course instructors, among others. -
For non-native speakers of English, submission of the TOEFL or IELTS test. -
Acceptance by both the Civil Engineering Graduate Program and the Graduate School. *At this time, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is optional. If submitting the GRE General Test, Stony Brook University’s test code is 2548, and for Civil Engineering it is 1102. General Requirements
Academic Advisor Each MS student selects an academic advisor in his or her area of interest before registration. The academic advisor will guide the student in course selection, research, and other areas of academic importance. Students receiving financial aid must select a thesis/project research advisor before the start of their program. Credits Required
A minimum of 30 credits is required. A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be transferred from other programs toward the MS degree. These may include up to six (6) credits from other institutions. The maximum also includes any credits received from taking Civil Engineering courses while having non-degree status at Stony Brook as an SPD or GSP student. Credits used to obtain any prior degrees are not eligible for transfer. All requests for transfer of credits require the approval of the Graduate Program Director (GPD) and the Graduate School. MS Program Plan
Students must submit a Program Plan that outlines the path to meet the degree requirements, including coursework, for approval by the Graduate Program Director no later than one month into the student’s first semester in the program. Project Requirements
A student choosing the project option must select a project advisor who usually is the student’s academic advisor. Upon completion, the project report must be submitted for approval to a faculty committee of at least two members, of which at least one must be a Civil Engineering Faculty. An oral presentation of the report is required for projects of 3 or more credits. Thesis Requirements
A student choosing the thesis option must select a thesis advisor who usually is the student’s academic advisor. Upon completion, the thesis must be submitted for approval to a faculty committee of at least three members. At least two members of the committee must be Civil Engineering faculty. The thesis also must be defended in an oral examination before the committee. A student who has ever been appointed as a teaching, graduate, or research assistant must choose the thesis option unless otherwise approved by the GPD. A student choosing the thesis option may not switch to the project option without the GPD’s approval. GPA Requirement
An average GPA of 3.0 or higher in all coursework, exclusive of CIV 599 - M.S. Thesis Research , is a minimum requirement for satisfactory status in the graduate program. Time Limit
Full-time students must complete all degree requirements within three years. Part-time students must complete all degree requirements within five years. Required Courses
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MS with thesis: a minimum of 21 approved graduate course credits and an accepted thesis, which is registered as 9 credits of CIV 599 (MS Thesis). -
MS with project: a minimum of 30 approved graduate course credits including an accepted project, which is registered as no more than 6 credits of CIV 596 (MS Project). -
All full-time graduate students are required to register for CIV 691 (Civil Engineering Seminar) each fall semester and obtain a satisfactory grade. -
A minimum of 18 graduate course credits must be taken in the Civil Engineering Program. No more than 3 credits of CIV 596 and CIV 599 may be counted towards this minimum. All courses taken outside the Program for application to the graduate degree requirements are subject to approval by the student’s advisor and the GPD. -
Up to 15 credits from the Advanced Certificate in Civil Engineering may be applied to the MS degree in Civil Engineering provided they meet the course requirements for the MS degree. - MS students serving as Teaching Assistants must register for GRD 697 (Fundamentals of College Teaching), as part of the teaching training.
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Return to: Master’s Programs
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