SMU Lyle faculty lead M.S. Civil Engineering students in fieldwork and research.

Graduate programs

Master’s in civil engineering

Designing, building and leading sustainable and resilient communities.

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Program format

In-person and online

Commitment

Full-time or part-time

Duration

2 years

Overview

Graduates of SMU Lyle’s M.S. in civil engineering address society’s most pressing challenges related to transportation, infrastructure, smart city applications, energy, sustainability and community resilience. Our curriculum and research programs ensure that our graduates are prepared to meet rapidly evolving societal needs through technical excellence and leadership, serving communities through the built environment.

With a curriculum designed by expert faculty and experienced industry professionals, students benefit from a program rooted in real-world considerations. Developed with working professionals in mind, students have the opportunity to pursue their degree in-person or online. 

Specializations

Civil and environmental leadership

Learn leadership skills and delve into civil infrastructure systems, how to start a business, project management and more.

Construction management

Learn to develop comprehensive project plans and gain knowledge about sustainable construction practices and advanced construction materials.

M.S.C.E. + Cox MBA dual degree

Lyle master’s students can pursue their MBA simultaneously at Cox in this two-year program geared toward STEM students and professionals who desire to broaden their skills.

Thinking Grad School? Think SMU.

Envisioning a brighter future? Think grad school at SMU, where you join a lifelong family network and see immediate returns on your educational investment. Take your new big step at SMU.

Student success

Program career success statement: 

Our graduates consistently secure positions at leading companies and organizations in private and public sectors. SMU civil engineering master’s students become leaders across industries finding innovative solutions to some of today’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • Urban planning
  • Structural engineering
  • Transportation engineering
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Construction management
  • Urban infrastructure engineering
  • Water resource management
  • Civil engineering consulting

100%

M.S. civil engineering graduates employed six months post-graduation (2023–24)

9:1

Graduate student-to-faculty ratio

Top 10

Dallas ranked among best places for civil engineers

(ASCE 2024)

Student stories

SMU Lyle School of Engineering, Civil Engineering

Courtney Kelly '12, '13

Through a collection of children’s books, Civil engineering alum Courtney Kelly ’12, ’13 shares lessons from her personal experience and inspires the next generation of civil engineers.

Admissions

Deadlines and details

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Application questions

Find answers to Lyle application questions.

Additional links

Requirements

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcripts
  4. English language proficiency documentation (if applicable)

All applications are holistically reviewed.

View all requirements

Ready to apply?

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Tuition & financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at SMU.

Curriculum & learning

Featured courses

CEE 7310

Civil and Environmental Engineering Leadership Intensive

Explore leadership in civil and environmental engineering through real-world case studies, guest speakers and hands-on experiences.

CEE 7368

Contracts in Design and Construction

Students learn the basic structure and requirements of a contract and how laws and regulations affect contracts and relationships between parties to the contract.

CEE 7330

Design for Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructure

Covers basic methods of sustainable building and environmental design to assure minimal and efficient resource and energy use.

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Outside of the classroom

  • Centers and Institutes

    Grow as an engineer with collectives that promote leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.

  • Maria Murad with friends in Jordan

    Internships

    Get practical experience to develop industry skills, build a professional network and gain valuable insights. Internships can open doors to future opportunities and contribute to long-term career success.

  • Clubs and organizations

    Explore interests, develop leadership skills and connect with like-minded peers

  • SMU students working with plants at Bontham Family Farms

    Community engagement

    Apply your classroom knowledge to real-world issues while making a positive impact.

Research

Participate in graduate research opportunities and tackle real-world challenges in multimodal transportation systems, infrastructure monitoring, earthquake engineering and fluid-soil-structure interaction, sustainable construction and more. 

Lyle students and faculty perform research that has global implications, taking advantage of state-of-the-art facilities and funding from government agencies, foundations and private companies. 

Faculty

Our distinguished faculty are industry leaders and subject matter experts, bringing real-world experience and industry insights to the classroom. SMU Lyle maintains small class sizes, allowing students to develop meaningful mentorships with their professors.

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Dr Usama El Shamy

Usama El Shamy, Ph.D.

Professor and Interim Department Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering

davila carlos

Khaled Abdelghany, Ph.D.

Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Headshot of Professor Ali Dogru of SMU Lyle.

Ali H. Dogru, Ph.D.

Herman Brown Chair of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering…
Headshot of Professor Easton John, PH.D. of SMU Lyle.

John Easton, Ph.D.

Assistant Provost for Student Academic Engagement and Success Assistant Athletic…
Headshot of Monika U. Ehrman, faculty member at SMU Dedman School of Law.

Monika U. Ehrman

Professor of Law Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering (by Courtesy)

Halit Uster Headshot

Halit Uster, Ph.D.

Fellow, Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity Professor of Operations Research &…
Headshot of Zhong Lu, a member of the Lyle School of Engineering faculty

Zhong Lu

Shuler-Foscue Chair Professor of Earth Sciences Professor of Civil & Environmental…
Headshot of Nicos Makris, Ph.D of SMU Lyle.

Nicos Makris, Ph.D.

Addy Family Centennial Professor in Civil Engineering Professor of Civil & Environmental …
Barbara Minsker

Barbara E. Minsker, Ph.D, P.E.

Bobby B. Lyle Endowed Professor of Leadership & Global Entrepreneurship Senior Fellow in …
Headshot of Reza Moghimi, Ph.D. of SMU Lyle.

Reza Moghimi, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
A headshot of Andrew Quicksall, a member of the Lyle School of Engineering Faculty

Andrew Quicksall

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Headshot of Professor Saeed Salehi of SMU lyle.

Saeed Salehi, Ph.D.

Herman Brown Chair of Mechanical Engineering Professor of Mechanical Engineering…
Janille Smith-Colin headshot

Janille Smith-Colin, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Kate Smits headshot

Kate Smits, Ph.D, P.E.

Solomon Professor for Global Development Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Brett Story headshot

Brett A. Story, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Dr. Zarazaga

Jessie Marshall Zarazaga, Ph.D., RIBA, LeedAP

Clinical Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Director of…

Facilities

SMU Lyle students have access to state-of-the-art facilities where they can conduct research, meet with industry leaders, and gain skills on new and established technologies. 

Lyle Civil Engineering graduate students work with nonprofits, businesses and government to solve challenges.

Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity

A national and international hub partnering with business leaders, academia, NGOs and government to develop solutions for local and global challenges. 

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SMU Lyle Engineering students build prototypes in the Deason Innovation Gym, aka The DIG

Deason Innovation Gym

The Deason Innovation Gym (the DIG) provides the tools and space to work on immersion design projects to accelerate learning, innovation and leadership. Get trained on 3D printers, power tools, metal shop machines and more.

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Request more info about this program

Request more info about the M.S. in civil engineering

Frequently asked questions

A master’s in civil engineering can help you land leadership and specialized roles including city engineer or manager, design engineer, senior inspector, structural engineer, project manager and director of public works, among many others.

A master’s in civil engineering can help accelerate your career by providing technical specializations, leadership skills and industry connections. Skilled environmental engineers are in high demand as the world grapples with critical infrastructure challenges.

Civil engineers with master’s degrees tend to have higher salaries and earning potential than their peers due to the expertise and skills they gained from their degree. 

Tech companies (Amazon, OpenAI), government agencies (Department of Transportation) and major firms such as AECOM, Bechtel and Jacobs are among the many groups that hire civil engineers.

SMU’s M.S. in civil engineering is designed to be completed within two years. Students can take advantage of our flexible learning options, including online and weekend classes, to pursue their degree while working full time and still complete the degree in the typical two-year timeline. Students can also pursue the degree part time.

SMU Lyle’s civil engineering master’s is a flexible program allowing students to tailor their experience to their schedules. The program employs our Lyle Anywhere® flexible learning platform, which gives students the ability to choose in-person, synchronous online, recorded or weekend format classes. Virtual sync sessions offer the chance to gain valuable face time with professors for students pursuing an online environmental engineering degree. 

Whether you study civil engineering in Dallas at SMU’s campus or pursue an online M.S. in civil engineering, we can help you find the balance that works for you.

For a complete breakdown of cost per term for graduate programs, visit the Lyle section of Student Financial Service’s graduate tuition and fees. SMU also has financial aid options for graduate students.

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