Master of Science in Civil Engineering

2 Years On Campus Mba Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering at Illinois Tech develops advanced engineering knowledge and practical expertise in the planning, design, construction and management of civil infrastructure systems. Students can specialise in Structural Engineering or Transportation and Infrastructure Systems Engineering, developing the technical and analytical capabilities needed to address modern infrastructure challenges and pursue advanced engineering careers.

Curriculum Structure

The program requires 30 credit hours and offers coursework-based and thesis-based completion options. Illinois Tech does not prescribe a fixed year-wise course sequence; students select courses according to their specialisation and academic advising. The following is an illustrative two-year progression based on the official curriculum.

Year 1 – Advanced Engineering Foundations: Students develop advanced technical knowledge through subjects such as CAE 503 – Advanced Structural Analysis, CAE 518 – Advanced Reinforced Concrete and CAE 525 – Advanced Steel Structures for the Structural Engineering specialisation. Students choosing Transportation and Infrastructure Systems Engineering can explore CAE 544 – Urban Transportation Planning, CAE 546 – Public Transportation Systems and CAE 555 – Transportation Systems Evaluation, building an understanding of infrastructure planning, transportation networks and engineering systems.

Year 2 – Specialisation and Applied Engineering: Students deepen their expertise through specialised electives and advanced engineering applications. Structural Engineering students can explore CAE 530 – Finite Element Method of Analysis, CAE 508 – Advanced Bridge Engineering and CAE 586 – Seismic Design of Building and Bridge Structures. Transportation students can study CAE 580 – Intelligent Transportation Systems, CAE 581 – Algorithms in Transportation and CAE 547 – Advanced Traffic Engineering. Students following the thesis option also undertake mentored research through CAE 591 – Research and Thesis for M.S. Degree.

Focus Areas

Structural engineering, advanced structural analysis, reinforced concrete, steel structures, bridge engineering, earthquake engineering, transportation planning, intelligent transportation systems, traffic modelling, transportation asset management, infrastructure systems and artificial intelligence applications in transportation.

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced structural analysis and design capabilities, evaluate infrastructure performance, understand transportation systems, apply engineering mathematics and computational methods, analyse transportation networks, solve complex infrastructure challenges and conduct independent engineering research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official program information does not specify a separate professional accreditation for this master's degree. The curriculum develops advanced technical competencies relevant to civil engineering practice, infrastructure planning and structural design.

Reputation (Rankings and Employability)

Research environment: Illinois Tech's CAEE department maintains research activities across structural engineering, transportation systems, construction technology and environmental engineering.
Industry connections: The department maintains relationships with industry, academic and government organisations, providing opportunities for students to engage with the wider engineering sector.
Employment statistics: The official program page does not publish a dedicated MS Civil Engineering graduate employment rate or salary figure.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Illinois Tech combines advanced engineering education with research opportunities and access to specialised laboratories. Students benefit from the department's facilities for structural materials, transportation engineering, construction technology and environmental systems. Its location in Chicago also provides access to a strong architecture, engineering and construction industry environment, supported by faculty with research and professional industry experience.

Students can benefit from the following program-specific resources and opportunities:

Trimble Technology Lab: Access construction technology resources supporting digital construction, virtual design and construction, and building information modelling.
Concrete and Structural Materials Laboratories: Explore concrete behaviour, structural materials, testing and advanced structural engineering research.
Transportation Engineering and Planning Laboratory: Engage with research involving transportation systems, urban mobility, traffic operations and infrastructure planning.
Environmental and Water Resources Laboratories: Explore water-resource engineering, environmental systems and water-related research.
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design Laboratories: Access specialised hardware and software for engineering design, modelling and computational analysis.
Structural Engineering Research: Explore bridge performance, structural reliability, earthquake engineering and advanced structural analysis.
Transportation Modelling: Develop knowledge of transportation systems, traffic simulation, intelligent transportation technologies and infrastructure management.
Digital Engineering Tools: Depending on selected coursework, students can gain exposure to Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Insight, Navisworks and BIM 360 Ops through CAE 515 – Building Information Modeling Applications for Building Performance.
Research Opportunities: Thesis-based students can undertake faculty-mentored research and complete an independent master's thesis.
Industry Engagement: Benefit from the department's connections with engineering companies, government organisations and academic institutions.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MS in Civil Engineering prepares graduates for specialised professional opportunities in structural engineering, transportation infrastructure, bridge design and infrastructure systems management. Students develop advanced technical and analytical capabilities that can support careers in engineering consultancy, infrastructure development, transportation planning and structural design.

Career development and employment opportunities:

Career services: Illinois Tech provides career development resources, including career advising, professional development and employer engagement opportunities.
Industry connections: The CAEE department maintains relationships with industry, academic and government organisations, helping students connect with the wider engineering sector.
Structural engineering careers: Graduates can pursue opportunities in structural design, bridge engineering, infrastructure assessment and earthquake-resistant construction.
Transportation engineering careers: Students can explore roles involving urban transportation planning, traffic engineering, transportation systems management and infrastructure development.
Potential job roles: Structural Engineer, Transportation Engineer, Bridge Design Engineer, Infrastructure Systems Analyst, Traffic Engineer and Civil Engineering Consultant.
Employment statistics: The university does not publish a dedicated employment rate or average salary for this specific master's program in its official program information.
Professional development: Advanced coursework, computational engineering and optional thesis research help graduates strengthen their technical expertise and prepare for greater professional responsibilities.
Research progression: Students interested in research can use the thesis pathway to develop independent investigation and technical research skills.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Civil Engineering at Illinois Tech or explore related doctoral programs at other universities. The thesis-based pathway is particularly suitable for students interested in academic research, university teaching and advanced engineering investigations. Further research may focus on structural engineering, bridge performance, transportation systems, intelligent transportation technologies and infrastructure resilience