Structural Engineering is a Civil Engineering discipline which emphasizes analytical and experimental studies of the behavior of structures (e.g., buildings, bridges, and dams) under service loads (e.g., traffic) and environmental loads (e.g., wind and earthquake). Emphasis is placed on response predictions or computations for these structures and their constituent materials (e.g., steel, reinforced concrete, and composites). Study is made of the nature of these loadings, both static and dynamic, with implications being drawn for design.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring | September 1 (extended to October 1) |
| Fall | December 15 (Scholarship consideration)
January 15 (Final deadline) |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Most applicants have degrees in engineering or closely related fields, such as Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Transportation Engineering.
Applicants without a bachelor's degree in a directly related field may still be considered if they have completed and demonstrated strong proficiency in the following coursework (or equivalent):
This is not an exhaustive list. Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (2 required)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2026 applications.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
TUITION AND FEES OVERVIEW
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 28 Unit Program
2025 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2025*
Companies & Job Titles (multiple positions may be listed)
Average Reported Salary: $113,680 (based on two submissions)
- The Boeing Company - Sr. Structural Analyst
- Build Group - Project Engineer
- Department of Building & Safety (City of Los Angeles) - Structural Engineer Associate
- Florida Engineering LLC - Assistant Structural Engineer
- HDR, Inc. - Structural Coordinator
- Jacobs - Structural Engineer
Previous Years
- Brandow and Johnston - Design and Structural Engineer (2023 or before)
- DLR Group - Structural Designer (2024)
- HSA & Associates, Inc. - Structural Engineer (2024)
- HSA & Associates, Inc. - Structural Engineer (2023 or before)
- Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. - Structural Analyst (2024)
- KPFF - Structural Design Engineer (2024)
- Mott MacDonald - Engineer II - Structural (2024)
- Walter P. Moore - Graduate Engineer 1 (2024)
- WSP USA - Assistant Consultant, Structural Engineering / Graduate Structural Engineer (2024)
.Internships (2025)**
Total No. of Internships: 5
AECOM; City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public Works; Geosyntec Consultants
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2025 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
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This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
At least two-thirds of coursework applied to degree must be at the 500-level or higher.
Core Courses
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| All courses are required - 8 units total. |
| CE 507 | Advanced Mechanics (4 units) |
| CE 541 | Dynamics of Structures (4 units) |
| Elective Courses |
| The program offers a wide range of elective courses. - 20 units total. Electives are listed below by group. |
| Group 1 Electives |
| Minimum of 8 units of electives must be taken from Group 1. |
| CE 512 | Seismic Design of Structures (4 units) |
| CE 533 | Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (4 units) |
| CE 534 | Retaining Structures and Slope Stability (4 units) |
| CE 537 | Advanced Reinforced Concrete (4 units) |
| CE 539 | Advanced Steel Structures (4 units) |
| Group 2 Electives |
| Minimum of 4 units of electives must be taken from Group 2. |
| CE 529 | Finite Element Analysis (4 units) |
| CE 531 | Quantifying Uncertainty in Civil & Environmental Engineering (2 units) |
| CE 532 | Data Analytics in Civil Engineering (2 units) |
| CE 538 | Prestressed Concrete (2 units) |
Please complete the following form for more information.
