Civil Engineering (MS)

The MS in Civil Engineering supports the mission of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley by preparing students who are globally competitive to effectively practice engineering with professionalism and a commitment to ethnical responsibilities. Students will be afforded opportunities to meet and interact with practicing engineers, businesses, and governmental agencies as well as to participate in professional engineering organizations and in research. The program prepares students for local, regional, or worldwide employment in the engineering profession with either a 30‐hour degree program if the student completes a thesis or a 36‐hour degree program without a thesis. Students will select one of four tracks: Construction and Structures, Geotechnical and Transportation, Energy and Utility Infrastructure, and Environmental and Water Resources.

The Thesis Track is designed to provide depth in one of the areas of concentration, and to promote cross‐cutting, inquiry‐based research. Students in the Thesis option are required to take a minimum of four elective courses from one selected concentration area. Students are required develop and successfully defend a thesis proposal, and subsequently execute, document and defend the proposed research to meet graduation requirements.

The Non‐Thesis Track is designed to provide advanced knowledge and technical capacity across all four areas of concentration. Students are required to take at least unique two electives from each concentration area.