This program is offered in-person or online.
The mission of The Citadel’s Master of Science in Civil Engineering program is to provide a student-centered learning environment focused on advanced applied engineering techniques and professional skills development for principled leaders in the engineering community through a rigorous curriculum, emphasizing practical engineering concepts, strong professional values, and a disciplined work ethic.
Admission Requirements
Applicants will be admitted to the Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) degree program on the basis of professional and scholastic achievement, along with their aptitude for graduate study. Other qualities appropriate to graduate study are also considered. Anyone holding a bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited college or university is eligible for consideration. Other technical bachelor’s degrees will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Provisional Admission: Applicants may be admitted provisionally if their GPA does not meet minimum requirements. Students admitted provisionally are limited to take two civil engineering courses and must receive a grade of “B” or better in each engineering course to continue in the program.
All material must be received by The Citadel Graduate College office on or before the following dates to assure consideration to the MSCE degree program during the applicable semester.
| Semester to begin | Admission materials due |
|---|---|
| Fall | July 20th |
| Summer | April 15th |
| Spring | December 1st |
For degree-seeking students:
- Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee.
- Submission of an official transcript of the baccalaureate degree from an ABET accredited engineering program or approved alternative.
- Submission of two letters of recommendation.
For non-degree seeking professionals wanting to take graduate-level courses to fulfill professional practice requirements:
- Completion of the online graduate application along with the non-refundable application fee.
- Submission of an official transcript of the baccalaureate degree an ABET accredited engineering program or approved alternative.
- Permission of department is required.
I am a Corps of Cadet’s alumni, an active-duty Army officer, and the only (and first) full-time active duty graduate student in the engineering department.
The focus in The Citadel’s School of Engineering is teaching, so the students come first. The department standards are tough and nationally recognized, and each class has clearly stated standards and expectations. The faculty are highly professional; each have the expected academic credentials, but also have real-world work experience as engineers, which was important to me.
I applied to The Citadel’s graduate program because of the combination of outstanding faculty, a results-based course of study, and the professional, but family atmosphere in Letellier Hall. Based on everything I’ve seen with the engineering department over the last twelve years, the faculty do a great job preparing their students for the engineering license process (FE, PE), for finding meaningful and gainful employment, and for solving America’s infrastructure requirements. What more could you ask for?
Michael McLean
Corps of Cadets, Class of 2010
Citadel Graduate College, Class of 2018
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering is conferred upon those candidates who successfully complete an approved program of study consisting of 30 semester hours of graduate credit as delineated below.
Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within a six-year period from the time of registration in their first graduate course at The Citadel. Any transfer credit must have been earned within six years prior to admission into The Citadel MSCE program. Any prerequisites for applicable courses must be met.
Graduation Requirements (non-credit bearing)
- Darkness to Light Training
- The Citadel’s Principled Leadership Seminar
Graduation Requirements (Course Requirements)
All degree candidates must:
- File a plan of study outlining the intended areas of interest and listing the top four corresponding courses of interest.
- Complete at least 6 courses (18 hours) from the civil engineering areas of study below.
- Complete 4 courses (12 hours) in technical or non-technical classes listed below. Other electives will be considered on a case-by-case basis with approval from the department head.
Civil Engineering Areas of Study
Geotechnical Engineering
- CIVL 730 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
- CIVL 731 Geo-environmental Engineering
- CIVL 732 Advanced Soil Mechanics
- CIVL 733 Advanced Foundations Design
- CIVL 734 Soil Behavior
Structural Engineering
- CIVL 504 Designing for Natural and Manmade Hazards
- CIVL 608 Structural Loads and Systems
- CIVL 610 Wood Design
- CIVL 655 Masonry Structural Design
- CIVL 657 Indeterminate and Matrix Structural Analysis
- CIVL 711 Design of Masonry, Wood and Cold Formed Steel Structures
- CIVL 712 Design of Coastal Structures and Bridges
- CIVL 713 Design of Civil Engineering Systems for Natural and Manmade Hazards
- CIVL 714 Advanced Steel Design
- CIVL 715 Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design
- CIVL 716 Analysis and Design of Prestressed Concrete Members
- CIVL 718 Matrix and Finite Element Analysis
- CIVL 719 Elastic Stability of Structures
- CIVL 720 Dynamic Analysis of Structures
- CIVL 721 Earthquake Engineering for Structural Engineers
Transportation Engineering
- CIVL 506 Geographic Information Systems
- CIVL 575 Traffic Engineering Operations
- CIVL 576 Roadway Geometric Design
- CIVL 612 Urban Transportation Planning
- CIVL 640 Urban Mobility Infrastructure Policy and Planning
- CIVL 642 Public Health, Physical Activity, and Design of the Built Environment
- CIVL 740 Transportation Safety Engineering
- CIVL 741 Travel Demand Forecasting
Non-Technical Electives
Business Administration
- BADM 604 Foundations of Economics
- BADM 609 Foundation of Management and Organization
- BADM 713 Communication for Leadership
- BADM 716 Legal and Ethical Environment for Decision Makers
- BADM 722 Leadership in Organizations
Engineering Leadership and Program Management
- PMGT 650 Overview of Tech Project Management
- PMGT 651 Technical Project Planning & Scheduling
- PMGT 652 Applications in Quality Management
- PMGT 653 Tech Project Support & Operations
- PMGT 661 The Legal and Contractual Aspects of Program Management
- PMGT 671 Project Manager Leadership Development
- PMGT 672 Applied Leadership Concepts
Leadership LDRS 710 Ethics, Values and Principled Leadership
- LDRS 711 Leading Change: Organization Development and Transformation
- LDRS 712 Leading Teams: Coaching, Culture, Diversity, and Globalization
- LDRS 713 Leadership Self-Appraisal, Development and Critical Thinking
- LDRS 714 Strategic Leadership, Vision, Mission and Contemporary Issues
Transfer Credit
A maximum of two courses (6 credit hours) may be transferred in from a regionally accredited college or university, provided: (1) grades of “B” or better were received in the courses being considered, (2) credit was earned within six years prior to admission into The Citadel MSCE program, and (3) each course has been approved by the department head. A maximum of five courses (15 credit hours) may be transferred in from Clemson University, provided: (1) grades of “B” or better were received in the courses being considered, (2) credit was earned within six years prior to admission into The Citadel MSCE program, and (3) each course has been approved by the department head.
Course/ Certificate Availability
The courses/ certificates will be offered based on student preferences/ overall demand indicated in your plan of study to be submitted after acceptance. Students should be aware course/ certificate offerings will be based on minimum class size enrollment. The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will continually monitor student interest to expedite completion of your program of study.
Transfer Credit from The Citadel
A maximum of 12 hours may be transferred from one Citadel graduate degree program where appropriate, provided that core degree requirements are met.
Grading
All students are subject to the Academic Standards section under Policy Information of The Citadel Graduate College catalog.
Requirements for Graduation
The degree of Master of Science in Civil Engineering may be conferred upon those students who successfully complete the 30 hours of graduate coursework as specified above with a grade-point ratio (GPR) of 3.0 or better on hours earned at The Citadel. Completion of more than 30 credit hours of advanced graduate coursework will only be allowed for professional development, and may not be used to increase GPR to the 3.0 required for graduation.
Timothy W. Mays, Ph.D. P.E. is the personal academic advisor for all students in the Master of Science in Civil Engineering program. You may contact Dr. Mays at 843-953-7678 or email timothy.mays@citadel.edu for more information about the program.