Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Master of Science - Construction and Infrastructure Management


Plan Description


The Master of Science - Construction and Infrastructure Management (MSCIM) degree is for individuals interested in the management of construction and transportation infrastructure.

It is intended for applicants with all baccalaureate backgrounds, especially those in areas other than engineering, and who either presently work for or aspire to work for construction companies, transportation agencies, public agencies, or private companies who provide professional services in the transportation and construction management fields.

The degree provides graduate-level study for those seeking mid- and upper-level management positions in the construction and transportation industries. Students with degrees in construction management, engineering, science, architecture, business, economics, public administration, quantitative geography, computer science, mathematics, operations research, statistics, political science, physical science, psychology, health sciences, urban or regional planning, as well as related disciplines are invited to apply.

Applications for admission to the program are evaluated on an individual basis by the Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction (CEEC) faculty.

Two concentrations:

  • Construction Management (CM) and
  • Transportation Infrastructure Management (TIM),

are available in the MSCIM degree program.

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 MSCIM degree in thesis and non-thesis subplans is open to those students completing the following requirements:

  1. Applications must be submitted in the Grad Rebel Gateway system.
  2. Applicants must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university or international equivalent. 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. Overall undergraduate GPA should be at least 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or at least 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
  4. Students interested in the Construction Management concentration must have earned credits in the following subjects or their equivalents with a C (2.00 out of 4) or better grade: MATH 181 - Calculus I PHYS 151/151 L - General Physics I CEM 250/250L - Construction Materials & Methods CEM 270 - Construction Engineering Mechanics A course in construction or engineering graphics.
  5. Students interested in Transportation Infrastructure Management concentration must have earned credits in the following subjects or their equivalents with a C (2.00 out of 4) or better grade: MATH 181 - Calculus I PHYS 151/151L or 152/152L– General Physics I or II STAT 152 – Statistics.
  6. The above-mentioned deficiency courses required of a student before entering the MSCIM program will be determined on an individual basis. The student will be notified in writing of any deficiencies prior to admission to the program. Students with deficiencies exceeding two courses may need to satisfactorily complete them before admission to the graduate program. A minimum grade of C is required in the deficiency courses.
  7. The CEEC Graduate Program Committee (GPC) and Graduate Coordinator make all the final decisions after review of each applicant’s records and admissions information.
  8. The applicant must submit a Statement of Intent (SOI) with no more than two pages describing the reasons why they wish to earn a MSCIM degree.
  9. Furthermore, the applicant must submit a recent resume (no more than 2 pages).
  10. In addition, two letters of recommendation (LOR) must be submitted by individuals familiar with applicant’s knowledge, skills and abilities. It is highly recommended that LOR documents are created using official letterheads (e.g. academic advisor, academic faculty, professional supervisor). Also, applicants must enter official email addresses of those sending an LOR.
  11. International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements established in the UNLV Graduate English proficiency page.
  12. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Construction Management - Thesis


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


(Optional) Graduate Internship and Seminar Courses - Credits: 1 - 3

Students that opt to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must take 1 credit of CEM 792. This course can be taken only once during their studies.  However, the credit will not be counted towards the degree.

CEM 798 can be taken to a maximum of three credits. However, the credits will not be counted towards the degree. 

Degree Requirements


  1. A Thesis Advisory Committee composed of at least four members of the UNLV graduate faculty is to be formed for the student. At least two of the committee members must be from tenured or tenure-track Construction Engineering Management (CEM) faculty and the third member from CEEC Department. The fourth faculty member, the Graduate College Representative, is recommended by advisor/advisee and appointed by the Graduate College. It is recommended that the Thesis Advisory Committee collective expertise reflects the thesis topic. The committee chair must be a CEM tenure-track faculty from the area of expertise chosen for the thesis topic.
  2. Students who have credit in CEM 651 and CEM 653 or equivalent courses will select two other courses from the elective courses list.
  3. In addition to the coursework requirements, 9 credits of research work associated with the master’s level thesis (CEM 797) with the outcome being a manuscript written for a specific indexed conference or journal.
  4. At least 50% of the courses (600 and 700 level) within the total coursework must be from the College of Engineering.
  5. At least 50% of the courses within the total coursework must be 700 level.
  6. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00. A course in which a grade of less than C was earned will not be considered for use toward the degree.
  7. All requirements for the degree are met upon the satisfactory completion of the proposed research, the submission of a satisfactory thesis, and the successful oral defense of the thesis before the Thesis Advisory Committee.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Construction Management - Non-Thesis


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


(Optional) Graduate Internship Course - Credits: 1

Students that opt to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must take 1 credit of CEM 792. This course can be taken only once during their studies.  However, the credit will not be counted towards the degree.

Culminating Experience Course – Credits: 3

CEM 798 Construction & Infrastructure Management Seminar / Units: 3

Degree Requirements


  1. The student’s Advisor should be tenured or a tenure track CEM faculty member of the CEEC Department. An advisory committee is not required.
  2. In addition to the coursework requirement, 3 credits of Seminar (CEM 798) with the outcome being a professional presentation.
  3. Students who have credit in CEM 651 and CEM 653 or equivalent courses will select two other courses from the elective courses list.
  4. At least 50% of the courses (600 and 700 level) within the total coursework must be from the College of Engineering.
  5. At least 50% of the courses within the total coursework must be 700 level.
  6. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00. A course in which a grade of less than C was earned will not be considered for use toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements


The student must successfully present their seminar on an appropriate topic collectively decided by the student and their advisor in CEM 798 Seminar course. 

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 3 Requirements: Transportation Infrastructure Management - Thesis


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


(Optional) Graduate Internship and Seminar Courses - Credits: 1 - 3

Students that opt to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must take 1 credit of CEE 792. This course can be taken only once during their studies.  However, the credit will not be counted towards the degree.

CEM 798 course can be taken to a maximum of three credits. However, the credits will not be counted towards the degree. 

Degree Requirements


  1. A Thesis Advisory Committee composed of at least four members of the UNLV graduate faculty is to be formed for the student. At least two of the committee members must be from tenured or tenure-track faculty of the CEEC Department and the third member can be from a related field. The fourth faculty member, the Graduate College Representative, is recommended by advisor/advisee and appointed by the Graduate College. It is recommended that the Thesis Advisory Committee collective expertise reflects the thesis topic. The committee chair must be a tenured or tenure-track CEEC faculty from the area of expertise chosen for thesis topic.
  2. In addition to CEE 700, CEE 609, and CEE 730, all students must successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits of approved graduate courses.
  3. In addition to the coursework requirements, 9 credits of research work associated with the master’s level thesis (CEM 797) with the outcome being a manuscript written for a specific indexed conference or journal.
  4. At least 50% of the courses (600 and 700 level) within the total coursework must be from the College of Engineering.
  5. At least 50% of the courses within the total coursework must be 700 level.
  6. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00. A course in which a grade of less than C was earned will not be considered for use toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.

After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

Subplan 4 Requirements: Transportation Infrastructure Management - Non-Thesis


Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements


Required Courses - Credits: 6

Complete 6 credits by completing all of the following courses.
(Optional) Graduate Internship Course - Credits: 1

Students that opt to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must take 1 credit of CEE 792. This course can be taken only once during their studies.  However, the credit will not be counted towards the degree.

Culminating Experience Course - Credits: 3

CEM 798 Construction & Infrastructure Management Seminar / Units: 3

Degree Requirements


  1. The student’s Advisor should be tenured or a tenure-track -faculty member of the CEEC Department. An advisory committee is not required.
  2. In addition to CEE 609 and CEE 730, students must complete a minimum of 21 credits of approved graduate courses, and 3 credits of Seminar (CEM 798) with the outcome being a professional presentation.
  3. At least 50% of the courses (600 and 700 level) within the total coursework must be from the College of Engineering.
  4. At least 50% of the courses within the total coursework must be 700 level.
  5. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00. A course in which a grade of less than C was received will not be considered for use toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements


The student must successfully present their seminar on an appropriate topic collectively decided by the student and their advisor in CEM 798 Seminar course.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.