This means that they focus on both technical and theoretical areas within engineering to provide students with a renewed basis of expert knowledge, as well as the opportunity to specialize. Civil Engineering Master’s Program OverviewĪt most colleges and universities, civil engineering programs provide a generalized course structure with the opportunity or requirement to concentrate within an area of study. A master’s degree can significantly cut down the amount of time and experience gathering that it takes to reach senior positions. The average age of civil engineers across the United States is 41 years old, while the percentage of civil engineers with a master’s degree in civil engineering is just 12 percent. Advancement within certain civil engineering fields can be difficult to achieve, as the roles that civil engineers support are typically long-term positions, requiring significant amounts of specific expertise and knowledge. To effectively answer the question, whether you need to get a master’s degree in civil engineering, you ultimately need to weigh where you are in your career and where you want to be. Specialization and expertise are highly valued in senior engineering roles, and so overall a civil engineering master’s degree can provide the added boost to your resume to secure these positions. After multiple years of work experience as a junior civil engineer, master’s students typically know the area of civil engineering that they want to specialize in for the future of their career. This opportunity to specialize during a master’s program is a highly valuable aspect of civil engineering masters’ programs. These programs assist students in elevating their general civil engineering knowledge, while also focusing on one particular element of civil engineering. So how does a potential student make the final decision to start a graduate program?Ĭivil engineering master’s degrees are designed to prepare the next generation of civil engineering experts in the engineering sector. These roles typically demand higher pay and more responsibility in an organization. Why Get a Master’s in Civil Engineering?Īs previously discussed, many civil engineers make the decision to start a civil engineering graduate degree in order to qualify for more senior engineering roles. Students often find that specialization can lead to a specific job within their current field that they’ve been reaching for, while others utilize specialization to move into adjacent fields. These programs are not intended to be generalist degrees and students do not typically come from outside undergraduate majors. Specialization is a key aspect of civil engineering degrees. A master’s ultimately qualifies a civil engineer to serve in senior engineering positions, resulting in higher salary and the opportunity to specialize.
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So what does the master’s degree really qualify a civil engineer to do? Typically, civil engineers with bachelor’s degrees work on teams led by senior engineers, while those with a master’s degree, experience, and the correct licenses will serve as the senior engineers. Read the complete career profile to more about how to become a civil engineer.Įssentially, a master’s degree in civil engineering is a form of advanced education that builds upon a bachelor’s degree and provides a deeper understanding of civil engineering. Their job is challenging and highly important and to get started doing it requires a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Typically, a master’s program provides college graduates and experienced professionals with the opportunity to certify and increase their knowledge in their profession.Ĭivil engineers design, build, and maintain the infrastructure all around us.
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Master’s degrees are post-secondary education programs that build upon undergraduate and professional knowledge through two to three years of concentrated study.
A civil engineering master’s degree can be considered a piece of the pie that makes up a senior civil engineer. Experience and licensure also hold significant weight within the profession, and just because someone has a master’s degree it does not mean they will automatically get promoted or placed in senior positions. A master’s in civil engineering is just one of the many elements that make a civil engineer qualified for positions of higher responsibility.