Master of Civil Engineering
Norwich’s online Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) program is made up of six courses, each delivered over 11 weeks in length for a total of 36 credit hours. Students master one course at a time, to create a strong foundation of knowledge and context for future topics.
The program is designed to help prepare graduates to :
Assess, formulate, and innovate to solve complex and multidisciplinary real-world engineering problems by applying knowledge of engineering fundamentals, mathematics, natural and social sciences, humanities, and technology.
Develop, build, and lead professional teams to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary work environments.
Implement and apply effective verbal and written communications with technical and non-technical audiences.
Anticipate and understand responsibilities of practicing engineers with respect to global, environmental, societal, and ethical contexts of their work.
Fundamental Courses
Each concentration offers a set of fundamental courses. Fundamental courses are designed for students who do not meet all the admission requirements. Students not meeting the admission requirements of the Master of Civil Engineering program with respect to their previous coursework will be required to pass fundamentals courses with a grade of B or better in order to be admitted to the degree program. Fundamentals courses do not satisfy degree requirements of the Master of Civil Engineering degree. Please speak with your admissions advisor to learn more.
Curriculum Map
A one-page curriculum map outlining the courses by concentration can be downloaded for your use.
Core Curriculum
Students begin the program by taking the following two courses and complete the program with a capstone project.
Structural Engineering
Designed to reinforce the fundamentals of structural engineering and engineering mechanics, students examine the design of steel, timber structures, and the benefits of reinforced, prestressed, and precast concrete structures.
Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
Examine the fundamentals of environmental and water resource engineering with this concentration. Explore the physicochemical and biological processes for water and wastewater treatment and study key aspects of geographic information systems (GIS) and geo-environmental engineering.
Construction Management
Build your business management and leadership skills from a civil engineering perspective with this concentration. Gain the expertise necessary to lead a team of engineers and manage every aspect of an engineering business.
Geotechnical Engineering
Review engineering mechanics and the foundations of engineering while exploring earthquake engineering, soil mechanics, and soil stabilization. Study numerical methods for the analysis of complex geotechnical circumstances.
Residency
Our civil engineering program ends in a residency at the historic Norwich University campus in Vermont. During this time you will have the opportunity to meet with fellow students, faculty, and program staff in both formal classroom and informal settings. Academic recognition ceremonies and commencement cap off the week, and family and friends are encouraged to attend.
Curriculum requirements are subject to change without notice.
Fundamentals Courses for the Structural
Fundamentals Courses for the Environmental/Water Resources
Fundamentals Courses for the Construction Management
Fundamentals Courses for the Geotechnical
Career Opportunities for Master of Civil Engineering Graduates
Civil engineering requires a high level of expertise in a variety of topics, including construction design, operation, maintenance, and federal, state, and local compliance laws. That’s why careers associated with this degree are well-compensated. According to the 2019 ASCE civil engineering salary survey, the median salary for a civil engineer in 2018 was $109,000, and the median base salary (excluding bonuses, overtime, and the like) was $105,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the highest 10% of civil engineering professionals earn more than $132,880 per year
The Norwich Master of Civil Engineering program helps equip professionals working in civil engineering or related fields with the technical and management skills needed to advance into leadership roles or to run their own companies.
We have helped thousands of graduates pursue a variety of roles, including:
Career Roles
- CAD/BIM Operator
- Civil Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Engineering Project Manager
- Environmental Compliance Specialist
- Environmental Engineering Consultant
- Hydrology Consultant
- Marine Transportation Specialist
- Project Manager
- QA/QC Engineer
- Regulatory Development Manager
- Structural Engineer
- Transportation Engineer
- Water Quality Chemist
Our alumni have attained positions at top organizations, including*:
Places of Work
- Appledore Marine Engineering
- Consolidated Design Professionals
- Delaware Department of Transportation
- Brown Consultants
- FTN Associates
- Shell Techworks
- Giant Equatorial Construction Co. Ltd.
- P-Sqare Consulting Ltd.
- University of Iowa
- The Bell Company
- Source Architechnology Systems, Inc.
What our graduates have to say:
- 100% of responding Master of Civil Engineering graduates agree that our program gave them practical skills applicable to their job.*
- More than 85% of responding graduates were successful in advancing in their current field or career.*
- More than 90% of responding Master of Civil Engineering alumni would recommend our online program to someone they know.*
*Source: Norwich University Master of Civil Engineering Graduate Survey, fielded March 2016.

A passion for engineering is a lifelong venture, and a passion that we share here at Norwich University. Our online Master of Civil Engineering program is uniquely designed to combine current engineering principles and leadership best practices. It can help you gain greater proficiency as an engineer and enable you to be an engineering leader in your organization, community, and the nation.
Master of Civil Engineering
- Construction Management
- Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Learn from technically trained and active industry experts.
- Enhance your technical knowledge, management abilities and practical skills.
- Earn your degree with a curriculum aligned with recommendations from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
- Start with no GMAT or GRE
- Tailor your studies with four concentration options.
- Apply to one of two start dates per year.
- Benefit from a university recognized as offering Best Value with respect to high academic quality and low net cost of attendance, according to U.S. News & World Report.*
*Rankings are based on undergraduate programs and on students who received the average level of need-based financial aid.
Accreditation & Recognition
Norwich University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).

Recognized for academic excellence, U.S. News & World Report ranks Norwich University in the top 100 for Regional Universities in the North. Rankings are based on undergraduate programs.
Get to know the graduates of Norwich’s online Master of Civil Engineering program.
Resources
At a Glance
- No GRE/GMAT required
- Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
Contact Admissions
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT
Extended hours available by appointment
Call: 1-866-684-7237
Email: learn@norwich.edu
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Transfer CreditsYou may receive the equivalent of up to 12 semester credits for study conducted elsewhere. Norwich complies with VA regulations and guidelines as it pertains to transfer credits.
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Academic ScholarshipsThe Master of Civil Engineering program now offers an achievement scholarship for newly enrolled students! Complete your application to qualify for one of the scholarships.
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Norwich Alumni BenefitsReconnect with Norwich to complete your master's degree. As apart of our alumni community, you are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship and other benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, as evaluated by WES, IERF, SpanTran, or CED.
- If English is not your first language, proof of English language proficiency is required. This can be demonstrated in one of three ways:
Please Note: All eligibility requirements are expected to be met unless noted in specific articulation agreements or memoranda of understand (MOUs).
Application Process
We encourage you to contact an admissions advisor (see below) if you need help at any stage of the application process. You will be required to submit the following items:
- Application form
- Resume that includes 3 professional references with contact information
- Official transcript of your undergraduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university
- Letter of intent
- Proof of English language proficiency if applicable (TOEFL)
To contact an admissions advisor:
Call: 1-866-684-7237
Email: learn@norwich.edu
About
Norwich provides a top-notch educational experience; we also work hard to help make it affordable. There are many ways to get financial aid and several strategies to help you finance your education. Norwich is committed to making this often-difficult process easier for you.
Financial Aid Resources
Ways to Pay
Do You Qualify for a Tuition Discount?
We Accept Military Benefits
Fundamental Courses - Tuition Information
Tuition at a Glance
- Credit Hours: 36
- Cost Per Credit Hour: $808
Technology - $300/term
Library - $75/term
Graduation - $150/one-time
Featured Alumni



All students in the civil engineering program have the opportunity to master project management techniques, tools, and management, along with engineering mathematics. The remaining courses that civil engineering master’s students take depend upon the concentration chosen.
Students can choose from one of four concentrations: structural, geotechnical, construction management, or environmental/water resources.
Entry into the Master of Civil Engineering program is available two times per year: in March or September.
Our civil engineering alumni, in addition to owning their own firms, have found employment with notable organizations including URS Corporation, the Army Corps of Engineers, Colby Company Engineering, Northrop Grumman, AMEC, and American Water.
Civil engineering program instructors all have advanced degrees and are licensed Professional Engineers. They must demonstrate university/college-level teaching experience, and solid, practical experience in civil engineering consulting and design.
Norwich University has a legacy of engineering excellence, and was the first private institution in the United States to offer civil engineering courses. The David Crawford School of Engineering is home to three ABET-accredited* bachelor’s programs including the BS in Civil Engineering (BSCE), the BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the BS in Mechanical Engineering.
While our BSCE program is ABET-accredited, our MCE program is not. Our Master of Civil Engineering program was designed by the same full-time faculty who designed and teach in the ABET-accredited Norwich University BSCE. There are numerous high-quality graduate programs available today that do not bear the ABET accreditation.
At Norwich University we are proud of our online Master of Civil Engineering program and the relevant curriculum that offers in-demand skills for today’s public and private sector civil engineering leaders. Our students and alumni can be found in some of the top construction management, civil engineering, and consulting firms across the world.
If you have any additional questions about ABET accreditation and the MCE program, please feel free to contact an admissions advisor.
*ABET is a non-for-profit, non-governmental accrediting agency for programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. Types of programs accredited include, industrial hygiene, bioengineering, chemical engineering, and systems engineering.
The program’s six courses (each six credits) take approximately 18 months to complete. In some cases, students may be required to take a fundamentals course. Depending on when you start the program, you can expect your degree to be conferred in 18-24 months.
Students are strongly encouraged to utilize programs that run Microsoft software. They will also need use of a scanner, and the programs Autodesk, Adobe Acrobat, and Skype. Some courses will also require specific software. Upon acceptance, students will be provided list of required hardware and software programs.
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, as evaluated by WES, IERF, or SpanTran.
- The GRE is not required to apply, but may be requested based upon an applicant's undergraduate GPA.
- If English was not the language of degree study, proof of English language proficiency and a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 80 (Internet-based test, or iBT) on the TOEFL are required, unless otherwise noted in specific articulation agreements.
- Price per credit: $808
- Term tuition: $4,848
- Library fee: $75/term
- Technology fee: $300/term
- Graduation fee (one-time): $150
- Total program cost: $31,488
When you apply for admission to the civil engineering program, you can submit transcripts and course outlines from previously attended institutions of higher education to be considered for transfer credits. Transfer credits will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and up to 12 credits may be accepted. Norwich complies with VA regulations and guidelines as they pertain to transfer credits.
Learn more about Norwich University’s transfer credit policy.
Scholarship Opportunities
Norwich University offers a range of opportunities to help you lower your overall tuition costs. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about the below options. Please note that scholarships are not additive. In addition to the below scholarships, students may also be eligible for discounts if their organization partners with Norwich University.
Achievement Scholarship
Recognizing your past academic and professional achievements, the Achievement Scholarship is for newly enrolled students. You could receive a $4,200 scholarship, which will be distributed equally over the courses of the program. To be considered for this scholarship opportunity, submit your application package (application form, resume, letter of intent, and essay (if applicable)) for your program of interest at least one week prior to the upcoming application deadline. The Scholarship Selection Committee will review all application materials and select the recipient.
Norwich Alumni Scholarship
Norwich University alumni and their spouses, parents, and children are eligible to receive our Alumni Scholarship. The scholarship is award for each term of enrollment at $425 per term.
Active Duty Military Scholarship
Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel are eligible to receive a $250 award for each term of enrollment in an online master’s degree program.
Learn more about our Civil Engineering program
- Construction Management
- Environmental/Water Resources Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering