Master of Science in Engineering - Civil and Environmental Engineering

Plan Description

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction (CEEC) at UNLV offers a number of program degree options leading to the Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) - Civil and Environmental Engineering. Specific areas of engineering that are currently available include Construction, Geotechnical, Structural, Transportation, and Water Resources/Environmental. Two tracks (thesis and project) are available in M.S.E. degree program along with an Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track for currently enrolled CEEC undergraduate students. 

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Admission to the program leading to the M.S.E. degree in thesis and project tracks is open to those students completing the following requirements:

1. Applications must include all documentation as required by the Graduate College. Applications should be submitted through the Grad Rebel Gateway system.
2. Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely-related discipline with an overall GPA of 2.75 (4.00=A) and a GPA of 3.0 (4.00=A) for the last 60 credit hours (semester basis) of undergraduate program. Applicants desiring to specialize in environmental engineering who have baccalaureate degrees in the natural sciences may require at least an additional semester of full­time study to complete engineering prerequisite undergraduate course work; this may include fluid mechanics, calculus through differential equations, engineering physics, chemistry and engineering economics. Successful environmental engineering applicants are expected to complete a set of graduate courses in engineering hydrology, hydraulics, statistics, water and wastewater treatment, and wastewater treatment plant design during their graduate study. The CEEC Graduate Program Committee (GPC) and Graduate Coordinator make all the final decisions after review of each applicant’s records and admissions information.
3. The applicant must submit a Statement of Intent (SOI) with no more than two pages, indicating his/her interests in the area of specialization (construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources/environmental) and objectives in working toward a M.S.E. degree. In addition, two letters of recommendation (LOR) must be submitted from individuals familiar with the applicant’s knowledge, skills and abilities. It is highly recommended that LOR be written on official letter head.
4. International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements established in the UNLV Graduate Catalog.
5. All applicants are required to take GRE General Test and submit the scores to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (code 4861). Successful applicants generally have a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of at least 300 and analytical writing score of at least 3.
6. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Additional Requirements for the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track

This program is designed to provide high-achieving CEEC undergraduate students with the opportunity to be exposed to graduate courses and encourage them to continue with a graduate degree by reducing the time needed for degree completion. Up to six credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework with grades of B or better can be taken as technical electives during the senior year. Those credit hours will be also counted towards the graduate degree coursework. The following additional requirements must be satisfied:

1. A minimum of two semesters of full­time enrollment in B.S. of Civil and Environmental Engineering program at UNLV is required.
2. A minimum of 90 credit hours of course work applicable to the B.S. of Civil and Environmental Engineering degree must be completed before beginning the joint degree program.
3. An overall cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher is needed to begin the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track degree program.

Once a student has been admitted into the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track program, they must then submit an application for an M.S.E. program in Civil Engineering. The student has to follow the normal application procedures found on the UNLV Graduate College website. Additionally,

1. Student must meet all departmental and Graduate College application deadlines.
2. Student should indicate in their application materials that they are participating in the Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track program.
3. Student should request a letter of nomination from a CEEC faculty member. Submit this letter along with a short resume (no more than 2 pages). The materials will be evaluated by three faculty members in the student’s technical area of interest or nearby areas.
4. Student must choose the Integrated BS-M.S.E. Thesis Track

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty, specific areas, and degree tracks within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Thesis Track
Subplan 2: Project Track
Subplan 3: The Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track

Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis Track

Total Credits Required: 30

Subplan 2 Requirements: Project Track

Total Credits Required: 30

Subplan 3 Requirements: The Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track

Total Credits Required: 30

Plan Graduation Requirements

Refer to your subplan for Graduation Requirements.

Subplan 1: Thesis Track
Subplan 2: Project Track
Subplan 3: The Integrated BS-MSE Thesis Track