Virtual Graduate Recruitment

Thank you for your interest in LSU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering! Whether you are looking for the "right" university to continue your education, or would just like to know more about our program, we hope this page will provide everything you want to know about our activities, our programs, and life at LSU.

We continuously strive to improve our graduate programs and research directions. One of our main goals as we do this is to produce future leaders who can creatively apply their knowledge, especially in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). The objective of our research is to find effective solutions to the problems currently faced by the profession and then to predict the issues that may challenge the profession in the future. In the process, we will be educating individuals who are equipped to effectively respond to such challenges. The CEE faculty are making vigorous efforts to undertake collaborative research across discipline areas within the department, across different fields of engineering within the college, across the different departments and colleges in the university, and across universities. These efforts reflect the interdisciplinary nature of present day research efforts and help to attract sponsored research proposed by interdisciplinary research teams and industrial partnerships.

We also have outstanding facilities. The College of Engineering is housed in one of the largest free-standing educational engineering buildings in the United States. You can take a virtual self-guided tour of Patrick F. Taylor Hall here. Students choosing LSU have access to a wide range of centers and institutes to aid them in their research endeavors, including the recently constructed Center for River Studies, Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation & Transportation Resiliency, and the Advanced Computational Solid Mechanics Laboratory.

On the last Friday of every month from 2:00-3:00p.m. CST we are hosting Zoom drop-in sessions where prospective students can stop by to discuss our program offerings and admissions with the Graduate Program Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Zoom Drop-In Session

Can't make a Zoom session? Feel free to reach out to us anytime with questions, we are available Monday through Friday from 8:00-4:30p.m. CST. You can find the contact information for the CEE Graduate Programs Office here

Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering is available as either a thesis or non-thesis option. 

Thesis Option:

  • 12 credit hours in the major field or interest
  • 9 credit hours from a related field
  • 3 credit hours of approved mathematics/statistics
  • 1 credit hour of Graduate Seminar (CE 7750)
  • 6 credit hours of thesis research (CE 8000)

Total Credit Hours: 25 + 6 thesis hours

Non-Thesis Option:

  • 12 credit hours in the major field of interest
  • 18 credit hours from a related field
  • 3 credit hours of approved mathematics/statistics
  • 1 credit hour of Graduate Seminar (CE 7750)
  • 3 credit hours of project research (CE 7740)

Total Credit Hours: 34 + 3 project hours

Master of Science in Coastal and Ecological Engineering

The Master of Science in Coastal and Ecological Engineering is only available as a thesis option. 

Coursework:

Total Credit Hours: 25 + 6 thesis hours

Master of Science in Civil Engineering at LSU Online

The Master of Science in Civil Engineering at LSU Online is only available as a non-thesis option. Designed for civil engineering professionals looking to elevate and refresh their knowledge of the industry, our online MS in Civil Engineering program offers many areas of specialization that can advance your career. Our students become equipped to design, develop, and effectively lead in the civil engineering industry. Gain the tools needed to address globalization and sustainability, while advancing your position as a lead civil engineer.

Total Credit Hours: 36

Graduate Certificate in Civil Engineering at LSU Online

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering 

Coursework:

  • Students with a bachelor's degree but without a master's degree are required to earn a minimum of 42 credit hours of course work plus 1 credit hour of Graduate Seminar (CE 7750) and 9 credit hours of dissertation research (CE 9000).
  • Students entering the Ph.D. program with a master's degree must take a minimum of 18 credit hours of course work plus 1 credit hour of Graduate Seminar (CE 7750) and 9 credit hours of dissertation research (CE 9000).

Areas of Specialization 

Students admitted to the M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Civil Engineering program are able to concentrate their research in one of six areas: transportation engineering, geotechnical and geophysical engineering, mechanics of materials, structural engineering, water resources engineering, and environmental engineering. You can view our faculty grouped by research area here. Select a research area from the list below to learn more. 

Areas of Specialization
Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical and Geophysical Engineering
Structural Engineering

Transportation Engineering

Water Resources Engineering

Mechanics of Materials

Life at LSU

As a graduate student, there’s plenty to learn and enjoy about the department, the college, LSU, and even Baton Rouge itself. The atmosphere of LSU is second to none. The community is friendly and diverse. We are a short trip away from New Orleans, a mecca of history, tradition, and cultural significance. And the food is amazing! Below are some resources to help you get the most out of your time at LSU.

How to Do LSU

Experience the LSU Community

What to Do and Where to Go in Baton Rouge

Apply

Before applying to our program, please review the departmental admission requirements and the Graduate School's admission requirements. International applicants have additional requirements that they should also review. 

Application Deadlines

The department adheres to the application deadlines posted by the Graduate School and does not have separate priory deadlines for admission or financial aid. 

Applicant (on campus) Fall Spring Summer
Domestic Applicants July 15 November 15 June 15
International Applicants June 17 October 1 April 17
Non-Degree Applicants July 15 November 15 June 15

 

Applicant (online) Fall Spring Summer
Domestic & International Applicants Module 1: August 10
Module 2: October 5
Module 1: December 14
Module 2: March 1
Module 1: April 6
Module 2: June 15

Contact Us

Questions? Reach out to our Graduate Programs Office by emailing cegrad@lsu.edu. You can find additional contact information for our office here

You may also contact civil and environmental engineering faculty based on your area of interest by selecting from the list below.