Master's in Structural Engineering

Master's in Structural Engineering highlights

• The department is consistently ranked among the top 10 civil engineering departments by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
• The department has a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
• Fully online options are available for all master's programs.

Structural Engineering salary and career outlook

The skills and knowledge gained from the Structural Engineering master's degree programs give graduates a true advantage, whether they choose to use their M.S. degree as a step toward higher level graduate study or to leverage their expansive expertise gained in the M.Eng. program to perform tasks that other engineers from traditional master's programs could only do after weeks of on-the-job training. As a result, the programs have a strong track record for placement with highly competitive salaries. Graduates are prepared for careers in structural analysis and design for buildings, bridges, and heavy civil projects, as well as forensic engineering, protective design, and construction management. Graduate placements include:

• Thornton Tomasetti
• DeSimone Consulting Engineers
• Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
• WSP

Structural Engineering program format

The department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and a design-focused Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Structural Engineering. Both programs are available full-time and part-time, on-campus and online. The M.S. curriculum comprises rigorous core coursework with ample flexibility to pursue technical interests and the choice of a thesis, project, or customized coursework-only path. The M.Eng. curriculum involves a year-long design project, advanced study in Lehigh's state-of-the-art structural behavior laboratory, coursework in structural dynamics and analysis, and flexibility to choose numerous technical courses to customize the degree toward career goals.

Structural Engineering collaborations

Lehigh's Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center includes two world-class structural testing facilities, the ATLSS Multi-Directional Experimental Testing Laboratory and the Fritz Engineering Laboratory. These labs allow for the study of large-scale structural subassemblies under various loading conditions. ATLSS facilitates broad programs of graduate study and collaborative research in the fields of structures and materials.

Structural Engineering external funding

The department's research is supported by a variety of public and private sponsors and collaborators, including the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance and the National Science Foundation. Both merit-based and alumni scholarships are available.

Master's in Structural Engineering admissions requirements

To be considered for admission to the master's program, candidates must hold at least a Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) degree in a related field. A complete application must include:

• A candidate's personal statement detailing their motivation for graduate study and research interests.
• The candidate's resume summarizing background relevant to graduate study.
• Complete transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Unofficial copies may be uploaded initially, but official transcripts are required upon accepting an offer of admission.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from qualified individuals.
• For international students whose first language is not English who have not studied in the US or countries where English is an official and widely spoken language, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Cambridge English Qualification test scores are required.
• A non-refundable application fee of $50.
• GRE test scores are not required.