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The Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis option) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Major areas of study include structures, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, construction materials and environmental engineering.

An advanced degree in civil and environmental engineering can lead to career advancements for civil engineers, design engineers or civil/structural engineers.

Do you like to work outdoors as well as indoors? Do you excel at subjects like science and mathematics? Do you have a passion for building things or for taking things apart and putting them back together? Civil engineers are responsible for maintaining, repairing and upgrading infrastructure, so they are involved with engineering projects in a unique and ongoing way even after construction is complete. A graduate degree is for those who want to learn more and provide leadership in their workplace.

Program Structure

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering offers programs of study leading to a Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with specializations in the following areas:

  • Construction Engineering and Management
  • Construction Materials Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering

For more information, please review our Graduate Studies Policy handbook.

Master's students may elect either the thesis or non-thesis option.

Thesis option:
  • 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours minimum of research. Thesis students are expected to fully prepare and/or submit a peer reviewed journal or conference paper.
Non-thesis option:

33 hours of coursework. Non-thesis students may select from two options for an exit examination:

  • Project and examination - a project in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements. A written report on the project in thesis format will be submitted and a formal oral presentation of the work will be made to the committee. The committee will inquisitively review the work with the student during the presentation. The report must be approved by the committee and oral examination successfully completed.
  • Examination only - a comprehensive examination over all graduate coursework and core competency areas will be successfully completed. The format and content of the exam is at the discretion of the graduate committee.

Admissions Requirements

Students seeking full admission into this program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online Civil Engineering program should apply as an Unclassified student.

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

  • Fall Semester – March 15
  • Spring Semester – September 15
  • Summer Semester – January 15

Applications for the off-campus M.S. degree program may be considered for review up to two months after these deadlines upon request by the applicant. Admission requires that the applicant be accepted by a faculty member in their sub‐discipline area who is willing to serve as their major professor. Applicants are encouraged contact appropriate faculty after completion of the application.

Note - These deadlines differ from university published deadlines and are specific to the CEE department to provide timely feedback on application status and appropriate resource allocation.


An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Civil Engineering program.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

Bagley College of Engineering programs may accept transfer work previously completed by the student. Transcript reviews to determine transfer or prerequisite work will be evaluated AFTER students are granted full admission. Once admitted an academic coordinator can review those transcripts for more information.

To meet admission requirements, submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended


Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

  • ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

  1. Submit online application. You will choose Civil Engineering as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
  2. Statement of Purpose
  3. Three letters of recommendation
    • You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
  4. TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students
    • ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying for the summer or fall 2020 semester who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.
    • The department evaluates the overall admissions packet in considering a student for the program.
  5. One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
  6. One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
    • Electronic transcripts should be sent to: Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
    • Paper transcripts should be mailed to: Mississippi State University
      The Office of the Graduate School
      P.O. Box G
      Mississippi State, MS 39762

      Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
      Mississippi State University
      Office of the Graduate School
      175 President Circle
      116 Allen Hall
      Mississippi State, MS 39762

  7. Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
    Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
  8. Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Academic Advising

While you may request a current faculty member to be your major advisor, typically the major advisor is assigned at the time of admission. This assignment will be based on your area of study, research interests, and any financial support that may be offered. This person will work with you on submission of required documents, establishing a graduate committee, and your completion of all degree requirements.

The major advisor must be a full-time faculty member in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Members of the committee must be members of the graduate faculty at Mississippi State University. The majority of the graduate committee must be full-time graduate faculty at Mississippi State University.

Headshot of John Ramirez-Avila

John J. Ramirez-Avila.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator
Headshot of Benjamin Magbanua

Dr. Benjamin S. Magbanua

Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator

Accessing Online Courses

Accessing Course Videos

Videos recorded during our on campus class sessions are uploaded for online students to view within our online course repository.  Online students will have access to course videos within 24 hours of the on campus course completion. Students should visit Engage to access the course videos. Instructions for viewing the recordings and downloading the recordings are offered below.


View and Download Videos

Instructions for viewing classes live or downloading videos, use our video download instructions.


If you experience technical difficulties or have any questions regarding the recording or format of our lecture capture, please contact:

IT Support & Staff
Bagley College of Engineering
Mississippi State University
dist-support@engr.msstate.edu
662.325.7794


Contact Information

Photo of Anusha Rijal

Anusha Rijal

Online Education

  • Coordinator
Headshot of John Ramirez-Avila

John J. Ramirez-Avila.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator
Headshot of Benjamin Magbanua

Dr. Benjamin S. Magbanua

Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator
Headshot of Tamra Swann

Tamra Swann

Engineering

  • Distance Education Coordinator