Tufts University - School of Engineering

MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Our graduate programs, which include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master's of Science (M.S.), and certificate programs, are well-suited to students from a variety of backgrounds, including those from non-engineering fields.

Fields of Study

• Applied Data Science
• Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
• Environmental Health
• Geosystems Engineering
• Structural Engineering and Mechanics

In addition, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering participates with other Tufts departments in the following programs:

• Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS) (certificate)
• Bioengineering (M.S.): Environmental Biotechnology
• Materials Science and Engineering (PhD.)

Degree Programs

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers several degree programs, including the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. The M.S. degree program is offered on a full- or part-time basis. A full-time M.S. degree program can be completed in one or two years. See our Admissions page for more information about applying.

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
• Master of Science (M.S.)

Master of Science

A Master of Science is awarded in Civil and Environmental Engineering, with students specializing in the fields of study listed above. Students must complete the course of study outlined for their chosen specialization. There is no foreign language requirement. The program is designed for individuals who desire to pursue doctoral education and research or a career in engineering practice within the private or public sector.

All of our M.S. programs can be completed in one year without a thesis or in two years with a thesis. Students are admitted and matched with an academic/research advisor.

M.S. Thesis Option

The topic of the thesis is typically selected to be synergistic with the research of a particular faculty member. Students are expected to form a thesis committee and present a thesis proposal to their committee within twelve (12) months of entering the M.S. program. M.S. thesis committees should be composed of at least three members, with the chair being the student's advisor within the department. In addition, one of the committee members may be from outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. While it is acceptable to select committee members from outside the university, the majority of the committee must comprise members of the Faculty at Tufts University.

Thesis research culminates in an oral defense that is open to the public. M.S. students must defend their thesis no sooner than six (6) months after the first thesis proposal meeting. The thesis will be prepared in the format specified in the Arts, Science, and Engineering Graduate Student Handbook; however, a main section of the thesis should take the form of a peer-reviewed journal article. M.S. students are expected to submit at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal before being cleared to graduate.

The graduate program outcomes for the Master of Science program are:

• An ability to apply knowledge of technical skills when working in one of the Civil and Environmental tracks (Environmental Health, Environmental Engineering, and Water Resources, Geosystems Engineering, and Structural Engineering and Mechanics).
• An ability to conduct and assess research, with mentorship, related to topics in a sub-discipline of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
• Written and verbal communication of research and technical results.