MS in Civil Engineering - USC Viterbi

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024:
September 15, 2023

Fall 2024:
January 15, 2024

The MS in Civil Engineering (General Option) offers a broad education covering several specialty areas of Civil Engineering.

This program requires completion of 28 units of coursework
Eligible for the OPT STEM extension
Program Curriculum Details
USC Catalogue (Full Course List)
USC Schedule of Classes

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 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).


Engineering

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.

AISHWARYA SAMBASIVAN IYER

Tell us a little bit about yourself — where are you from; where did you study before coming to USC?
I’m from India — I was born in Mumbai but grew up in different cities. I traveled a lot owing to the nature of my dad’s job, so I grew up in a few underdeveloped areas. So as I was growing up, I thought I would like to build things for such areas. I wanted to develop better infrastructure, and that is something that was lacking in those areas back then. That’s what drove me to be an engineer.

During your time at USC, what were some of the notable classes, projects, or experiences you had?
Personally, I would say it was an overwhelming mix of emotions at first. Being away from home for the first time, coping with homesickness, adjusting to a new culture — it all turned out to be extremely good. I made a lot of good friends, I loved the subjects I was studying, the professors, and classes. Since most of my friends consisted of international students, I found a sense of community — professors were very supportive and understanding that English was not our first language and we had learned some different methodologies in our learning backgrounds. It all helped for a very smooth transition. Some memorable moments: all those nights at Leavey Library, working the graveyard shift until 7 a.m., finishing a project, going to the Trojan Grounds Starbucks at 3 a.m. There is one incident that definitely left an impression on me — I almost drowned while trying to learn how to surf at Venice Beach. That is something I’ll never forget!

What is a piece of advice you’d give to an incoming student?
Enjoy what you do. If you step back and just examine what you like, you’ll find what you truly want to do and what you can be successful at. Go out there and meet new people, make new friends, and make new connections. They are helpful and help you learn more about yourself and your passions.

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