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Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Programs —M.S. and Ph.D.

Graduate study in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UVM prepares you to advance your career and lead innovation in environmental, geotechnical, water resources, structural, materials, transportation, and other vital engineering fields.

UVM’s exceptional team of world-class faculty and industry partners will equip you through invigorating classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. As a student here, you will directly contribute to enhancing the quality of life for people worldwide.

Elevate your career and contributions to a better future—join us.

 

WHAT SETS UVM APART?

UVM research on Vermont waterwaysA Leader in Water Resource Research

UVM is home to the Water Innovation for the Future Initiative, a driving force in water research and technology solutions. Our students and faculty apply physics- and process-based modeling, machine learning, data visualization and other methods to address water-related crises. Their research on floodplains, dams, drinking water treatment and access, wastewater recovery, and surface and groundwater management is helping society live more safely and sustainably.

 

Award-Winning Faculty

At UVM, you'll work alongside scientists leading advances in environmental, geotechnical, water resources, structural, materials, transportation, and other vital fields—among them are three recent National Science Foundation Career awardees and a National Academy of Engineering member. See a complete listing of CEE faculty and their research interests.

 

 

Transportation Research Center

The University of Vermont Transportation Research Center launched in 2006 to advance environmentally sustainable transportation through cutting-edge research, innovative outreach programs, and education of our future leaders. With founding support from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the TRC has attracted millions of external dollars in research, outreach, and workforce development grants.

Current Projects  |  Faculty and Staff  |  TRC News

 

 

Collaboration

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a theme at UVM. Within the CEE department you’ll find engineering students and faculty working with social science, policy, and health science experts to create more effective solutions to complex problems.

 

 

 

PROGRAM DETAILS

CAREER OUTLOOK

Civil and environmental engineering plays a crucial role in shaping society and the environment. Recent growth is attributed to increasing demand for infrastructure improvements, renewable energy sources, and water resource management. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of environmental engineers and civil engineers is projected to grow 4 and 7 percent, respectively through 2039, with environmental engineers on the high end of the pay scale earning more than $153,000 and civil engineers more than $133,000.

WE'LL HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS

We're here to support you during the application process, help you customize your program, and offer resources that support your success throughout your graduate studies and beyond. Contact us today with any questions.

CEE STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Many of our students gain experience as well as funding through UVM's active research partnerships with industry and leading national agencies, such as:

  • The National Science Foundation
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Park Service
  • Vermont Agency of Transportation
  • Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

HOW TO APPLY

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DATES:

Fall Entry: rolling; priority deadline for funding is January 15
Spring Entry: rolling; priority deadline for funding October 1

 

Minimum Entry Requirements:

  • GRE is not required
  • 4-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; a B.S. in engineering is preferred but other areas of science are also considered
  • Minimum coursework preparation: 3 semesters calculus; 1 semester differential equations; 1 semester physics; 1 semester chemistry.
  • 3.0 GPA, or higher
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Personal Statement of Interest in our program
  • If English is not your first or primary language, (TOEFL) scores of at least 90 (IELTS and Duolingo scores also considered)

FUNDING OPTIONS

This is an exceptional time to pursue a graduate degree at UVM, as research funding has increased fourfold during the past three years. Most Ph.D. students and thesis-based master’s students are funded as graduate research assistants (GRA) or graduate teaching assistants (GTA). These positions come with both a stipend and tuition support. We also have seven Ph.D. fellowships described below and multiple teaching and research assistantships at both Master’s and Ph.D. levels.

 

Gund/CEMS Barrett Ph.D. Fellowships (open to all prospective students, including international students)

Supported by a generous gift from Barrett Foundation, Gund/CEMS Barrett Fellowships are open to applicants pursuing doctoral degrees in engineering with environmental applications. These fellowships support Ph.D. students seeking to collaborate on urgent engineering and environmental issues. Students receive up to four years of funding, including an annual $35,000 stipend, tuition, and health insurance.

Learn more

GAANN Ph.D. Fellowships (open to US citizens and permanent residents only)

We have multiple US Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of Nation Need (GAANN) doctoral fellowships. The project title is: Research and Education in Sustainable, Equitable, and Climate-Resilient Civil Infrastructure Systems. We are recruiting highly talented doctoral fellows to train them to be highly-skilled teacher-scholars capable of 1) designing next-generation sustainable and equitable civil infrastructure systems that are climate-resilient, and 2) educating future generations of engineers committed to sustainability, civic engagement, and equity.

Learn more 

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Master's Degree Overview:

A minimum of 30 credit hours (CR) is required for master's degree completion, including no fewer than:

  • 6 CR graduate-level statistics, advanced mathematics and/or numerical methods
  • 9 CR CEE courses
  • 3 CR outside of CEE 3
  • Graduate seminar participation each semester (mandatory)

NOTE: Master's students may choose a thesis, project, or course-only program path. Requirements increase 3-9 CR for thesis and project path students.

 

Doctoral Degree Overview

A minimum of 75 credit hours is required for doctoral degree completion, including no fewer than:

  • 35 CR of research (but no more than 45 CR); 30 CR courses (15 in CEE courses taken at UVM, transferred, or a combination; 15 CR graded at UVM; a maximum of 24 course credits transferred)
  • 6 CR engineering coursework outside of CEE
  • Graduate seminar participation each semester (mandatory)
  • Semester-long significant teaching experience
  • Comprehensive exam (by end of second year)

SOME COLLABORATORS

 

WHERE OUR ALUMNI WORK

With the support of the CEMS Career Readiness Program CEMS graduate students have landed jobs with companies such as:

 

 

FEATURED NEWS AND RESEARCH

Snowfall Measurement

Arne Bomblies and his students unpack the complexity of snow—an economic and safety factor many other regions—with $4.5M in funding from the Army’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. Read more >>

 

 

Food Waste Management

A project led by professor Matthew Scarborough to help reduce food loss and waste and to divert food waste from landfills and incinerators by expanding anaerobic digester capacity in the United States recently received $200,000 in funding from the EPA. Read more >>

 

 

Hydrological Modeling

Donna Rizzo and her students develop neural networks to improve the accuracy of regional hydrological models that vary in time and space. Read more >>

 

 

 

Microbial Platforms

Matthew Scarborough directs the Environmental Microbiome Engineering Research Group.  He and his students study and develop microbial community-based platforms to protect the environment and public health. Read more >>

 

 

UVM Designated a National Institute for Water Resources

The Vermont Water Center, located at the University of Vermont, is 1 of 54 National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR) established at land grant institutions. Read more >>

 

 

Hydrological Research Partnership Focuses on National Water Modeling and Flood Forecasting

In collaboration with 28 universities and institutions, the University of Vermont (UVM) is advancing its status as a preeminent institution in the field of hydrological research, with transformative support from the federal government of up to $25 million. Read more >>

 

 

UVM Earns $20M Research Grant to ‘Harness the Data Revolution’

UVM earned a $20 million research capacity-building award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to better understand and harness the power of stories. Read more>>

Explore more research projects >>

 

 

“Graduate students work very closely with our faculty, whether in the lab, doing computational or analytical work, or publishing papers together and going to conferences to present our work.” 

–Eric Hernandez, Professor

“Here at UVM, faculty are willing to work with you on issues that are local, meaningful, and human-centric. 

–Donna Rizzo, UVM Professor

“Our students use our local communities and landscape, including extraordinary Lake Champlain, as laboratories. 

–Mandar Dewoolkar, UVM Professor

 

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Masters Degree Snapshot

Bachelor’s Degree: 
Required
GRE: 
Not Required
Program Length: 
Variable (average time 3-4 semesters)
Learning Format: 
In-person
Credits: 
30 credits
Tuition: 
Visit Student Financial Services
Start Date: 
Spring, Summer, or Fall

 

Doctorate Degree Snapshot

Bachelor’s Degree: 
Required
Master's Degree: 
Encouraged, not required
Program Length: 
Variable (average time 8 semesters or 4 years)
Learning Format: 
In-person
Credits: 
75 credits
Tuition: 
Visit Student Financial Services
Start Date: 
Spring, Summer, or Fall

 

Application deadline:

October 1 for Spring admissions.
January 15 for Fall admissions.

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CEE Graduate Student Handbook (PDF)