Civil Engineering M.E.

Earn your civil engineering degree online

Deepen your engineering knowledge as you gain the foundation to take on new and complex challenges in the field.

With an ever-growing population, today's civil engineers face the challenge of building and maintaining a sustainable infrastructure. One of our most critical resources is water, and the focus of this degree program prepares you to tackle the evolving water concerns facing future generations. Colorado State University is a leader in water-related issues and one of the few institutions providing an online master's in civil engineering with a focus on water resources engineering and management.

Learn from engineering faculty with a wealth of knowledge and experience in:

• Hydrology
• Water resources
• Infrastructure and utility management
• Environmental statistics

Develop the skills needed to solve 21st century water resource problems

Global population growth has increased demand for the development and maintenance of sustainable infrastructure to address water-related issues. Be prepared by studying topics such as:

• Water control and measurement
• Hydrology
• Environmental monitoring
• Geographic Information Systems
• Infrastructure management

Learn about the most recent industry research, so you will be ready to tackle infrastructure-related issues and changing water concerns. You will gain the skills to leverage engineering concepts and computer technology to create a more sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.

High-quality, affordable education

In 2023, CSU was ranked one of the most affordable universities for an online master’s degree in civil engineering by OnlineU.com.

Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 30 total credits must be completed with at least 15 of the 30 credits completed in civil engineering courses.
• 24 credits must be earned from Colorado State University at the 500-level or above, of which 21 of the 24 credits must be earned after formal admission.
• No more than two courses at the 400-level taken at Colorado State University are permitted.
• A thesis, project paper, and final examination are not required. The M.E. is a coursework-only (Plan C) degree.
• No independent study credits will count toward graduation.

Courses

• CIVE 405 – Sustainable Civil/Environmental Engineering (3 cr.)
• CIVE 467 – Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (3 cr.)
• CIVE 502 – Fluid Mechanics (3 cr.)
• CIVE 511 – Coastal Engineering (3 cr.)
• CIVE 512 – Irrigation Systems Design (3 cr.)
• CIVE 513 – Morphodynamic Modeling (3 cr.)
• CIVE 514 – Hydraulic Structures/Systems (3 cr.)
• CIVE 519 – Irrigation Water Management (3 cr.)
• CIVE 524 – Modeling Watershed Hydrology (3 cr.)
• CIVE 540 – Advanced Biological Wastewater Processing (3 cr.)
• CIVE 544 – Water Resources Planning and Management (3 cr.)
• CIVE 547 – Statistics for Environmental Monitoring (3 cr.)
• CIVE 549 – Drainage and Wetland Engineering (3 cr.)
• CIVE 550 – Foundation Engineering (3 cr.)
• CIVE 571 – Pipe System Engineering and Hydraulics (3 cr.)
• CIVE 572 – Analysis of Urban Water Systems (3 cr.)
• CIVE 574 – Civil Engineering Project Management (3 cr.)
• CIVE 575 – Sustainable Water and Waste Management (3 cr.)
• CIVE 576 – Engineering Applications of GIS and GPS (3 cr.)
• CIVE 578 – Infrastructure and Utility Management (3 cr.)
• CIVE 580B8 – Hydraulics of Closed Conduits (3 cr.)
• CIVE 612 – Open Channel Flow (4 cr.)
• CIVE 613 – River Restoration Design (3 cr.)
• CIVE 695H – Independent Study: Water Resource Planning and Management (2 cr.)
• ENGR 550 – Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering (3 cr.)

Mazdak Arabi

Professor
Borland Professor of Water Resources

José L. Chávez

Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Robert Ettema

Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Neil Grigg

Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Peter Nelson

Associate Professor
Borland Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Sybil Sharvelle

Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Karan Venayagamoorthy

Professor
Borland Professor and CSU Monfort Professor

An advanced degree in engineering provides you with the skills and knowledge to handle the new engineering problems that arise from our industrial-oriented society. By becoming a more environmentally-educated engineer, you will be well situated to pursue green positions, helping with areas such as water purification, flow, containment and transport. Consulting firms, industrial firms, and governmental agencies want engineers with advanced training in water resources engineering, systems analysis and optimization, hydrology, hydraulics, and civil engineering infrastructure.

Civil engineers with a focus on water resource engineering are needed in the global marketplace, though specific career opportunities depend on the desired region and job market. As a civil engineering graduate you'll find outstanding employment prospects in public works, private consulting or regulatory organizations, and government or military agencies.

In a recent study conducted by EMSI, it was determined that civil engineering is among the top 25 occupations facing potential skill shortages. This suggests that workers have failed to acquire the education employers are looking for. This paired with a predicted 19% rate of growth in the industry's employment opportunities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, offers an optimistic jobs outlook. Prepare yourself to meet market demand with a civil engineering master's degree.

You are encouraged to ask instructors about prominent regions for degree application and salary ranges. Professors may be able to connect you to valuable career resources, including job opportunities with private organizations or public agencies.

Matt Thomas

Matt’s love of rivers started when he was just 16, working as a rafting guide. See how CSU’s online civil engineering master’s gave him the opportunity to put his passion to work.

Bryana Zuiderweg

“The information in this program was very applicable to my career. It helped me become a better, more developed engineer. My GIS courses allowed me to take my skills to another level. I apply what I learned in the pipeline and stormwater courses regularly in my daily job duties.”

Scott Kempin

“This program taught and prepared me to better use technology in the field, especially GIS and modeling tools. The case studies and literature prepared me to form defensible and sound engineering judgements. The professors prepared me to solve real-world challenges.”

Pamela Whitfield

“I wanted to switch disciplines from working at a natural gas utility to storm water design, but I struggled to get my foot in the door. Now I’m doing the work I really wanted to do and enjoying my career path. Much of what I learned in this program has direct connections to my job. I also learned to apply new ideas, such as incorporating GIS into projects to make a project more meaningful to the end user.”

Carlos Garcia

“Before completing the program, I had the seeds of ideas that could improve processes at work, but I wasn’t able to execute the ideas or build the tools. Since moving through this program, I have enhanced my abilities to create new and improved workflows, carving out an important role on my team at work.”

All courses are delivered online via our learning management system called Canvas. The system allows you to watch recorded, campus-based lectures, engage in course content and communicate with peers online. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to study at the time that best fits your schedule. Take a look at this engineering course capture to get a feel for the online student experience in our programs.

In your courses you will:

• View recorded campus-based lectures online
• Download and review lecture notes
• Complete assigned and optional readings
• Communicate and exchange ideas with instructors and fellow students through chat rooms, threaded discussions, and email
• Complete individual projects and collaborate on group projects
• Study for and complete exams
• Write course-related papers

Although the online format of this degree offers flexibility, it still requires the same amount of work and time as an on-campus graduate program. Depending on your learning and studying style, expect to spend nine to twelve hours per week on a three-credit course. This will vary depending on your learning and studying style.

Your interactions with faculty depend on the specific course, but generally, your instructors have online or telephone office hours and are available by email or via course discussion boards.

This online program allows you to earn your degree while maintaining your busy work and family schedules.

Is online and distance learning right for you? »

Do I have to write a thesis?

No. The Master of Engineering is a coursework-only (Plan C) degree.

Are scholarships available?

No. Scholarships are not available, but financial aid is available.

How will this program help me find a new job?

Civil engineers with a focus on water resource management are needed in a global marketplace, though specific career opportunities depend on the desired region and job market. You are encouraged to ask instructors about prominent regions for degree application and salary ranges. Professors may be able to connect you to valuable career resources, including job opportunities with private organizations or public agencies.

What are typical assignments and how much time will I spend preparing outside of class?

For this online program you can expect a similar workload to a traditional on-campus program. You can expect to spend approximately nine to twelve hours per week preparing for each three-hour course.

I don't have a B.S. in engineering, but I might still qualify. Should I apply?

Possibly. A B.S. in engineering is not required for the M.E. degree. However, certain prerequisite coursework is required. For detailed information visit the Application Requirements - Non-B.S.E. Students page.

Application Deadlines