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.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring 2024 | September 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2024 (Civil & Environmental Eng. only) | January 15, 2024 |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the master's of science programs in Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering are required to have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Degrees in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines are frequently represented among our program applicants, including but not limited to the following:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Engineering Mechanics
- Mechanical Engineering
Applicants without a Bachelor’s degree in the preferred majors listed above will only be considered with coursework and demonstrated proficiency in the acceptable courses listed below (or equivalent).
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 2024 applications.
For tips on completing your application visit
Ready to Apply
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
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 28 Unit Program
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.
Alumni Employment
- Arup - Graduate Structural Engineer
- Degenkolb Engineers - Structural Engineer
- Engineering Employee Services Corporation
- Icubed consulting - Structural Engineer
- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. - Design Architecture Professional
- KP Engineers - Structural Engineer
- Mackenzie - Structural Designer
- Schlumberger
- The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University - Structural Engineer
- Tipping Structural Engineers - Structural Designer
- Turner Construction - Field Engineer
- US Army Corps of Engineers - Structural Engineer
Internships
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.
Required Courses
|
| All courses are required - 12 units total. |
| CE 507 | Advanced Mechanics (4 units) |
| CE 541 | Dynamics of Structures (4 units) |
| CE 599 | UQ Concepts (2 units) |
| CE 599 | Data Analytics in Engineering (2 units) |
| Elective Courses |
| Elective courses selected after consultation with an academic advisor - 16 units total. Electives are listed below by subfield. |
At least two-thirds of coursework applied to degree must be at the 500-level or higher. |
| Structural Mechanics Electives |
| CE 529 | Finite Element Analysis (4 units) |
| CE 543 | Structural Instability & Failure (4 units) |
| CE 546 | Structural Mechanics of Composite Materials (2 units) |
| Design Electives |
| CE 529 | Finite Element Analysis (4 units) |
| CE 533 | Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (4 units) |
| CE 537 | Advanced Reinforced Concrete (2 units) |
| CE 539 | Advanced Steel Structures (4 units) |
| Data Science and Forensic Engineering Electives |
| CE 529 | Finite Element Analysis (4 units) |
| CE 543 | Structural Instability & Failure (4 units) |
Please complete the following form for more information.
