Civil and Environmental Engineering
Only on Campus. Only at GW.
Pursue Your Graduate Degree or Certificate in GW's Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
For those seeking to develop innovative solutions in civil infrastructure, ensure healthy water and clean air in our communities and more, GW Engineering is a place of true discovery.
GW Engineering has the infrastructure and expertise to empower the field’s future leaders: Those who pursue their graduate education in person, take full advantage of all GW Engineering’s invaluable opportunities in DC and beyond, from unparalleled hands-on learning experiences within nationally recognized research centers and labs to working side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty mentors within a proudly diverse campus community (In fact, women enrolled at GW Engineering nearly double the national average).
Whether you’re engaged in helping design intelligent transportation systems or designing bridges that are more earthquake-resistant (among many other projects), at GW Engineering you will be prepared to conduct interdisciplinary research and introduce yourself to new careers and subjects while developing job-ready skills.
As you prepare to assume your role as a problem-solving leader in a rapidly evolving global society — whether in engineering, research and medicine or law, policy, regulatory expertise and more — you will soon discover: For those ready to get a head start on their career, there is no place quite like GW Engineering.
Rev Up Your STEM Skills
Take advantage of abundant opportunities at GW Engineering to engage in skill-building STEM work that will set you apart. Use one of the world's largest wastewater treatment plants as a real-world laboratory to improve the water quality of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This is just one example of GW’s student training and innovation programs specifically designed to help you develop job-ready expertise and serve as a direct pipeline to rewarding careers.
Work on Leading Research
From developing innovative solutions in civil infrastructure in GW’S Transportation Engineering Program to pushing the AI revolution forward at GW’s Co-Design of Trustworthy AI Systems (DTAIS) program, gain unparalleled opportunities to conduct cutting-edge, interdisciplinary STEM research side-by-side with internationally renowned faculty. Plus, you will gain direct access to many of the world’s most influential science and technology organizations in D.C. and beyond.
Join a Global Network
Upon arrival, you’ll immediately tap into a professional network of leading alumni in many of the world’s most influential companies, from the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation — just to name a few. This, along with numerous opportunities to gain internships and apprenticeships throughout both the federal government and private sector alike gives you a head start in advancing your career.
35% Tuition Discount for Displaced Federal Workers and Contractors
GW Engineering is committed to supporting federal employees and contractors affected by workforce reductions. To help those affected, GW Engineering will offer a 35% tuition discount to those eligible who enroll in an on-campus master's degree or graduate certificate during the upcoming academic year. Qualified applicants must complete an application by December 1st for the Spring 2026 term or by August 1st for the Fall 2026 term.
Pursuing your GW Engineering graduate degree or certificate on campus opens a wide range of career options across a variety of sectors. Find the graduate program that is right for your career interests:
- M.S. in Civil Engineering
The Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering helps students approach, evaluate and devise solutions to some of the largest problems facing modern infrastructure and the environment today.
- Environmental Engineering Graduate Certificate
Offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the graduate certificate in Environmental Engineering offers students the opportunity to learn the principles of environmental chemistry and microbiology to assess environmental quality and impacts, as well as the basic concepts of water, air and terrestrial environments. Students will also learn the commonly used processes for water and wastewater treatment, such as sedimentation, coagulation and filtration.
- Geoenvironmental Engineering Graduate Certificate
Offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the graduate certificate program in Geoenvironmental Engineering is designed for civil engineers to develop a deeper understanding of the practice of geoenvironmental engineering.
Students can expect to learn about soil mineralogy, clay-water-electrolyte systems, soil composition, fabric, structure, and more. In addition, students acquire understanding of hazardous waste regulations, including RCRA and Superfund, as well as design techniques for waste minimization and containment systems for waste disposal and remediation.
- Structural Engineering Graduate Certificate
Offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the graduate certificate in Structural Engineering focuses on four main areas: earthquake engineering design, concrete bridge design, extreme event design of structures, and building design. Upon completion of the certificate program in structural engineering, students will be able to design, analyze, and evaluate systems in structural engineering.
- Transportation Engineering Graduate Certificate
Offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the graduate certificate in Transportation Engineering allows students to pursue coursework in one of two focus areas: intelligent transportation systems and congestion mitigation or transportation safety.
- Smart Cities & Transportation Graduate Certificate
Offered through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the graduate certificate in Smart Cities and Transportation provides students with the key knowledge and skills required to understand and apply smart technology for operating a data-rich smart urban environment. Coursework is supplemented by hands-on modules on different software and technology tools available in GW's Transportation Program laboratories, including driving simulation, mobile robotics, sustainable urban mobility, traffic equity and safety, and vehicle instrumentation and automation.
Credit earned in this program may be applied to the requirements for the master of science civil and environmental engineering degree.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: SAMER HAMDAR
UTILIZING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MAKE CITIES SMARTER
What lies at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, interdisciplinary models, and a focus on real-world applications? Smarter cities, for one. In controlled and naturalistic testing environments, Prof. Samer Hamdar is deploying connected and automated vehicles to gather information on their interactions with surrounding bicyclists, drivers, pedestrians, and scooterists.
As a result, he aims to produce new automation and connectivity protocols that will enhance roadway safety and efficiency via new models rooted in AI, microeconomics, physics, and psychology. It’s just one element of GW Engineering’s Transportation Engineering Program, ensuring that the next generation of transportation systems is safer and more accessible for all.
WHERE GW ENGINEERING’S CAMPUS MOST OFTEN LEADS TO? SUCCESS.
From our campus, GW Engineering produces leaders in STEM fields in practically every country around the world. By applying your array of foundational knowledge, hands-on experience and a rapidly expanding professional network, you will soon find yourself in high demand.
In fact, 86% of GW Engineering alumni reported significant career advancement within five years post-graduation — often at top private corporations, government agencies, and national labs including Amazon, Boeing, Raytheon, Dell, Microsoft, Deloitte, the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, NIST and more.
Learn More Today
If anything, you’ll soon discover that there’s nothing quite like pursuing your master's degree or graduate certificate right here on campus at GW Engineering. Fill out your contact information to attend an info session and get your questions answered by our faculty and admissions team.