About Graduate Program
Graduate Students
The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, which is ranked in the top 10 accredited civil and environmental engineering departments by the US News and World Report, is one of the largest programs in the United States. The department currently has over 70 faculty, 500 undergraduates and almost 400 graduate students.
Civil engineers are the principal designers, constructors, operators and caretakers of many of the constructed facilities and systems that contribute to the high quality of life enjoyed in the United States. The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers educational programs in all areas of civil engineering practice, including Construction Engineering and Management, Environmental and Water Resources, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering and Materials, Transportation Infrastructure and Systems Engineering, Civil Infrastructure Engineering, and Geospatial Engineering.
The department is home to over 15 centers and laboratories that are used for instruction and research. These facilities help to contribute to the mission statement of the department. The mission is to:
- Provide a high quality learning environment for students to gain fundamental and specialized engineering knowledge while they develop skills in critical thinking, communication, learning and leadership.
- Create opportunities for students and faculty to conduct basic and applied research that contributes to society by advancing sustainable engineering principles and practices.
- Provide civil and environmental engineering leadership and service to the state, the profession and society at large.
Our master’s program is a 30 hour program. Our PhD program is a 90 hour program. We accept both part-time and full-time students. Financial aid is available through assistantships and fellowships. All applicants are reviewed for possible funding in our department. It is important to apply early since financial offers begin many months before the beginning of the semester. Other financial aid may be available through Virginia Tech’s office of Scholarship and Financial Aid.
As a graduate student in the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, you will have the opportunity to join a variety of graduate student organizations. Among these are the Construction Management Association of America, The North American Society for Trenchless Technology, Geotechnical Student Organization, the Alliance of Transportation Engineering Students, the Environmental and Water Resources/Coast Oceans Ports & Rivers Institute, and the Structural Engineering Institute.