CECEM Graduate Programs

Satisfy university requirements for graduate admission. Additional department-specific requirements are listed below:

Applicants with a domestic undergraduate degree require:

1. An earned Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, with essential undergraduate prerequisites in civil engineering satisfied. Graduates of curricula outside these program areas may be required to satisfy program prerequisites before full admission into the program.
2. A GPA of 2.8 or above from upper-division engineering classes.
3. Completion of the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (Exception: The GRE requirement is waived for applicants with a GPA greater than 3.0).
4. Submit a statement of purpose (with clear indication of the area of specialization).
5. Submit three (3) professional and/or academic letters of recommendation (Exception: This requirement is waived for applicants with a GPA greater than 3.0). 

Applicants with an international undergraduate degree require:

1. An earned Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, with essential undergraduate prerequisites in civil engineering satisfied. Graduates of curricula outside these program areas may be required to satisfy program prerequisites before full admission into the program.
2. A GPA of 2.8 or above from upper-division engineering classes. 
3. Demonstrate English language proficiency (TOEFL score of >= 80 (iBT), or overall IELTS score of >= 6, or DuoLingo score of >= 115).
4. Completion of the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
5. Submit a statement of purpose (with clear indication of the area of specialization).
6. Submit three (3) professional and/or academic letters of recommendation (Exception: This requirement is waived for applicants with a Quantitative GRE score greater than 155).

Note: The institution code for GRE and TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo reporting is 4389.

Application Deadlines: 
Fall semester - April 15
Spring semester - Oct. 1

Graduate Advisor
Civil Engineering: Vesna Terzic

Note: For advising appointments, visit VEC-104, email CECEM@csulb.edu or call 562.985.8419.

Application Components

Upload the following documents through Cal State Apply:

1. Statement of purpose 
2. Unofficial transcripts from all institutions where you attempted courses 
3. Official transcripts from BA/BS institution must be sent to CSULB Enrollment Services
4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (see requirements above and send to CSULB)
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation (see requirements above)
6. (International Students) English language proficiency, with a TOEFL score of >= 80 (iBT), or overall IELTS score of >= 6, or DuoLingo score of >= 115. Please contact the Center for International Education (https://www.cpie.csulb.edu/international/center-for-international-education) for additional question.

View financial aid opportunities

Coordinator: Elhami Nasr

The Construction Management specialization within the MSCE program requires completion of 30 units of graduate courses, as specified below. Each student's program must satisfy all requirements of the university, college, and department, and contain the equivalent of 10 or more units of design, as determined by the department's graduate coordinator. During the first two weeks of the first semester as a graduate student at CSULB, the student should make an appointment to meet with the graduate coordinator, who will assign him/her to one of the construction  management area faculty.

Prerequisites: Complete the following classes within one year of admission to the program if the following prerequisite or equivalent courses have not been met:

• CM 421 Construction Planning and Scheduling
• CM 429 Advanced Estimating and Bidding
• CM 490 Construction Project Management

Core Courses: Complete the following Civil Engineering courses to satisfy the area requirement:

• CE 546 Foundation Engineering
• CE 571 Construction Planning and Cost Control
• CE 573 Engineering Specifications, Law and Contracts
• CE 574 Methods, Analysis and Design of Construction Operations

Math Courses: Complete two courses from the following:

• CE 500 Engineering Analysis I
• CE 501 Engineering Analysis II
• CE 508 Probabilistic and Statistical Methods in Engineering Applications
• CE 509 Computational Methods in Civil Engineering

Elective Courses: Complete one of the following:

• Thesis Option: Complete CE 698 and two elective courses from the following approved CM graduate courses.
• Comprehensive Exam Option: Complete CE 697 Directed Studies, three approved CM elective courses, and the Comprehensive Exam.

Approved Elective Courses:

• CE 504 Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 570 Engineering Management Principles and Practices
• CE 576 Construction Organization and Management
• CE 577 Accounting and Finance in Construction Management
• CE 581 Sustainability and Green Construction
• CE 582 Management of Productivity and Quality
• CE 585 Utility Rehabilitation and Construction

Coordinator:  Pitiporn Asvapathanagul (Environmental) and Laurie Huning (Water Resources)

The MSCE Environmental Engineering / Water Resources Engineering specialization requires completion of 30 units of graduate courses, as specified below.  Each student's program must satisfy all requirements of the university, college, and department, and contain the equivalent of 10 or more units of design, as determined by the department's graduate coordinator. During the first two weeks of the first semester as a graduate student at CSULB, the student should make an appointment to meet with the graduate coordinator, who will assign him/her to one of the environmental and water resources engineering area faculty.

Core Courses: Complete the following Civil Engineering courses to satisfy the area requirement:

• CE 530  Groundwater Flow: Principles and Modeling
• CE 535  Advanced Hydrology
• CE 562  Advanced Water Treatment Design 
• CE 563  Advanced Wastewater Treatment Design 

Math Courses: Complete two courses from the following:

• CE 500  Engineering Analysis I
• CE 501  Engineering Analysis II
• CE 508  Probabilistic and Statistical Methods in Engineering Applications 
• CE 509  Computational Methods in Civil Engineering

Elective Courses: Complete one of the following:

• Thesis Option: Complete CE 698 and two approved Environmental Engineering or Water Resources Engineering elective courses. 
• Comprehensive Exam Option: Complete the following CE 697 Directed Studies and three approved Environmental Engineering or Water Resources Engineering elective courses and successfully complete the Comprehensive Exam. 

Approved Elective Courses:

A. Environmental Engineering Emphasis

• CE 504  Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 533  Groundwater Contaminant Transport: Principles and Modeling
• CE 543  Waste Management and Landfill Engineering
• CE 564  Environmental Health Engineering
• CE 566  Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering
• CE 567  Liquid and Solid Waste Project Planning and Management 
• CE 568 Renewable Resources and Energy

B. Water Resources Engineering Emphasis

• CE 504  Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 532  Sediment Transportation
• CE 533  Groundwater Contaminant Transport: Principles and Modeling 
• CE 536  Urban Surface Water Management
• CE 538  Hydraulic Engineering Design II

Coordinator:  Vesna Terzic

The MSCE Structural Engineering specialization requires completion of 30 units of graduate courses, as specified below. Each student's program must satisfy all requirements of the university, college, and department, and contain the equivalent of 10 or more units of design, as determined by the department's graduate coordinator. During the first two weeks of the first semester as a CSULB graduate student, the student should schedule an advising appointment with the graduate coordinator, who will assign him/her to one of the Structural specialization faculty.

Core Courses: Complete the following Civil Engineering courses to satisfy the area requirement:

• CE 502  Finite Element Method and Applications
• CE 546 Foundation Engineering
• CE 557  Advanced Structural Analysis 
• CE 558  Dynamics of Structures

Math Courses: Complete two courses from the following:

• CE 500  Engineering Analysis I
• CE 501  Engineering Analysis II
• CE 508  Probabilistic and Statistical Methods in Engineering Applications 
• CE 509  Computational Methods in Civil Engineering

Elective Courses: Complete one of the following:

• Thesis Option: Complete CE 698 and two approved Structural Engineering elective courses.
• Comprehensive Exam Option: Complete CE 697 Directed Studies and three approved Structural Engineering elective courses and successfully complete the Comprehensive Exam. 

Approved Elective Courses:

• CE 504  Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 516  Timber Design II
• CE 517  Reinforced Masonry Design
• CE 551  Advanced Reinforced Concrete Structures
• CE 552  Theory of Plates and Shells
• CE 553  Behavior and Design of Steel Structures
• CE 554  Analysis and Design with Composite Materials
• CE 555 Earthquake Analysis and Design

Coordinators:  Shailesh Chandra (Transportation) and Lisa Star (Geotechnical)

The MSCE Transportation Engineering/ Geotechnical Engineering specialization requires completion of 30 units of graduate courses, as specified below. Each student's program must satisfy all requirements of the university, college, and department, and contain the equivalent of 10 or more units of design, as determined by the department's graduate coordinator. During the first two weeks of the first semester as a CSULB graduate student, the student should make an appointment to meet with the graduate coordinator, who will assign him/her to an area advisor.

Core Courses: Complete the following Civil Engineering courses to satisfy the area requirement:

• CE 522  Transportation Planning
• CE 526  Pavement Engineering
• CE 546  Foundation   Engineering
• CE 548  Advanced Soil Mechanics

Math Courses: Complete two courses from the following:

• CE 500  Engineering Analysis I
• CE 501  Engineering Analysis II
• CE 502  Finite Element Method and Applications
• CE 508  Probabilistic and Statistical Methods in Engineering Applications 
• CE 509  Computational Methods in Civil Engineering
• CE 640  Mathematical Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering

Elective Courses: Complete one of the following:

• Thesis Option: Complete CE 698 and two elective courses from approved Geotechnical or Transportation Emphasis.
• Comprehensive Exam Option: Complete CE 697 Directed Studies and three elective courses from approved Geotechnical or Transportation Emphasis and successfully complete the Comprehensive Exam.

Approved Elective Courses:

A.    Transportation Emphasis

• CE 504  Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 520  Seaport Planning and Design
• CE 528  Advanced Highway Materials
• CE 529  Advanced Traffic Engineering
• CE 629  Traffic Operations

B.    Geotechnical Emphasis

• CE 504  Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 528  Advanced Highway Materials
• CE 547  Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
• CE 549 Retaining Structures and Slope Stability 

Coordinator: Lisa Star

The Master's in Construction Management (pdf) requires completion of 30 units of graduate courses, as specified below. Each student's program must satisfy all requirements of the university, college, and department. During the first two weeks of the first semester as a graduate student at CSULB, the student should make an appointment to meet with the graduate coordinator, who will assign him/her to one of the construction management area faculty.

Prerequisites: Complete the following classes within one year of admission to the program if the following prerequisite or equivalent courses have not been met:

• CM 421 Construction Planning and Scheduling
• CM 429 Advanced Estimating and Bidding
• CM 490 Construction Project Management

Core Courses: Complete the following core Construction Management courses:

• CE 571 Construction Planning and Cost Control
• CE 573 Engineering Specifications, Law and Contracts
• CE 574 Methods, Analysis and Design of Construction Operations
• CE 576 Construction Organization and Management

Business Courses: Complete two courses from the following:

• ACCT 500 - Managerial and Financial Accounting
• FIN 501- Financial Management Concepts
• MRKT 500 - Marketing Concepts
• MGMT 500 - Business Policies, Operations and Organizations

Elective Courses: Complete one of the following:

Thesis Option: Complete six units of CE 698 – Thesis course, and two elective courses from the following approved elective courses.

Comprehensive Exam Option: Complete CE 697 - Directed Studies course, three approved elective courses, and the Comprehensive Exam.

Approved Elective Courses:

• CE 504 Selected Topics in Civil Engineering
• CE 570 Engineering Management Principles and Practices
• CE 581 Sustainability and Green Construction
• CE 582 Management of Productivity and Quality
• CE 585 Utility Rehabilitation and Construction

Students wishing to pursue advanced study may be interested in the College of Engineering’s Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree. Graduate study leading to the MSE can be tailored to the goals of a student with a background in chemical engineering by taking advanced course work to develop expertise in one of four areas:

• Environmental: Chemistry and civil engineering
• Controls: Electrical engineering
• Microelectronics: Computer engineering
• Thermal, fluids, and materials: Mechanical engineering

With most courses offered in the evening, the program is tailored to working professionals.

Program advisor: Feike Leij
View requirements for MSE