Civil & Environmental Engineering Admissions
Master's
- Non-Thesis / Coursework Only: This is a coursework only based degree. Students in a MS non-thesis degree program must complete 30 hours of credit hours of graduate-level coursework. In the final semester of study the student is responsible for the completion of an essay-based comprehensive exam.
- Thesis: This is a research-based master degree. Students in this degree program must complete 24 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, and six hours of research. In the student's final semester there is a formal thesis defense, with supervising faculty members. This defense is an open forum.
Doctoral
- Direct Admit: Applicants are highly qualified students who have completed a BS. The direct admit PhD degree emphasizes scholarly research activities, can reduce course requirements, and expedite progress towards degree completion. This pathway requires a minimum of 30 hours of credit hours of graduate-level coursework and 14 credit hours of research.
- Traditional PhD: Applicants will have completed a MS prior. This pathway requires a minimum of 18 hours of credit hours of graduate-level coursework and 14 credit hours of research.
Application Deadlines
Applications for Spring 2026 will become available on August 1, 2025.
| Start Term | Review Begins | Submission Deadline | |
| Fall Semester (August): | The application period is now closed | ||
| The application period is now closed | The application period is now closed. | ||
| Spring Semester (January): | The application period is now closed | The application is now closed. |
Application Fees
- Domestic Applicant: $55.00
- International Applicant: $65.00
All application fees are considered non-refundable. This fee must be paid in order for the application to be considered complete and enter into consideration.
The Department and the College of Engineering do not currently have a way to waive the application fee, even for applicants experiencing financial hardship. Individuals who choose to submit a complete application will be thoughtfully reviewed.
Please note, applications will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received by the University.
Required Materials
Unofficial transcripts are those that you, the student, can obtain without the assistance of your University. The unofficial transcript is a record of the grades received and the classes that these correspond with. You likely can retrieve this information through a student service portal. If admitted, that is when official transcripts are required from all higher education institutions attended.
In this application system, once you click submit, an inquiry is sent to the contacts you have provided information for. It is at this time these individuals are prompted to provide information about you as a student and a professional. Please include a reference from the most recent institution attended.
Recommendation : Notify these individuals in advance of approximately when you expect to submit your application. This way these contacts can be aware of when to expect this prompt.
This statement may address why you have interest in studying at the University of Utah, or studying under the direction of a particular professor. If there's one professor of particular interest, explain why the research they conduct is valuable or interesting to you. Mention how will this degree help you to attain your professional goals.
Provide the review committee information about you at a glance. This should include education, publications, research or pertinent professional experience, awards received and any other information that helps the admission committee understand your qualifications as a student and a professional.
Details regarding testing requirements and exemptions can be found here.
The Office of Admissions has a wealth of information for applicants.
You can find answers to Many of your questions here.
Additional Information for International Applicants.
If you have further questions regarding the graduate program, please schedule an appointment with the graduate advisor.
What GPA is appropriate for applicants to this program?
For students applying for admission to the Masters and PhD program we seek a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on the 4.0 grading scale).
Should I submit GRE scores?
GRE is not required to apply to the programs within our department. If you choose to submit GRE, this information will be used in the consideration of your application. Some professors may request GRE scores if you would like to join their research group. If you are a strong test taker and believe your GRE scores would strengthen your application, you’re welcome to submit. I do not recommend taking the GRE for this graduate application alone simply due to the expense associated with this test. You can learn more about this test here.
What is tuition benefit?
Tuition benefit comes into play as the "funding available" to support students. Most often students will work as a research assistant to a faculty member on a specific project. There is a formal arrangement made that documents the work expected of the student and the financial support the student will receive in return. This compensations comes in the form of tuition benefit, health insurance coverage and salary. Students eligible for tuition benefit, must meet all of the criteria for the cost of tuition to be waived. These regulations are available here.
What if I do not know which faculty member I would like to work with?
We encourage all applicants to become familiar with research conducted by our faculty to identify research related to your own academic interests. The ApplyYourself application portal allows applicants to list three faculty members you have interest in studying with. This does not limit or bar you from the possibility of working with other faculty in a related academic area. This can be used to communicate which professors you have interest in working with.
I applied by January 1st, why have I not heard yet?
Applications that are complete on or before January 1 are evaluated beginning on January 2nd. This process takes a minimum of six weeks.
My prior education is not in civil engineering. May I still pursue a graduate degree in this field?
Yes! However, students with a bachelors degree in another academic area must complete the remedial coursework to meet the minimum course requirements. Coursework must be completed with a final grade of 'B' or better.
I understand I have remedial coursework to complete. How can I enroll in these?
Apply to the University of Utah as a "Non-matriculated student". This designation is used for students who are most often completing coursework as a prerequisite to a higher level program. It is important to know, the University of Utah limits graduate students to nine credit hours completed as a non-matriculated student that can be applied to a graduate degree.
Is there funding available for students applying to these graduate programs?
The non-thesis / coursework only master’s degree is a self-funded degree. Generally students in this degree-path pay for their own degree. Additionally these students may work in the community and have financial support from their employer. The masters thesis degree can be supported by a professor and/ or the academic department. These funded opportunities are few and far between at the master’s-level.