Academics & Admission
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering conducts fundamental and applied research to advance the civil and environmental engineering profession, educate future academic and industry leaders, and prepare students for careers in professional practice.
What Is Civil & Environmental Engineering?
An increasingly multidisciplinary field, civil and environmental engineering (CEE) focuses on protecting and sustaining the natural environment while creating and maintaining a resilient, sustainable built environment that helps society to function. Civil and environmental engineers are essential to providing the necessities of human life, including water, air, shelter, the infrastructure, and energy, in increasingly more efficient and renewable ways.
Degree Programs
With an emphasis on engineering for sustainability, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering offers degree programs exploring the related themes of cities, energy, infrastructure, public health, and water.
Undergraduate Degrees
Undergraduate students may pursue a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Systems Engineering (ENVSE-BS) or in Civil Engineering, an ABET-accredited program (CE-BS in Environmental & Water Studies or Structures & Construction). The department is also home to the Architectural Design and Atmosphere/Energy majors, each of which leads to a BS in Engineering. Minors programs are available in Civil Engineering and in Environmental Systems Engineering, and Honors programs are offered by Architectural Design, Atmosphere/Energy, Civil Engineering, and Environmental Systems Engineering.
Coterminal Degrees
Stanford undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree may work concurrently toward a master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering if admitted to one of our four graduate programs. Qualifying bachelor’s degrees are from a variety of disciplines, predominantly (but not exclusively) engineering majors. The degrees may be granted simultaneously or the bachelor’s degree may be awarded first.
Graduate Degrees
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers three graduate degrees: Master’s (MS), Engineer, and Doctorate (PhD). Graduate students in any degree program may concentrate their studies in one of four subject areas: Atmosphere/Energy, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering & Geomechanics, and Sustainable Design & Construction.
Part-Time and Online Course Offerings
Grad Students |
Industry Professionals |
Part-time Study |
|---|---|---|
| For current and prospective Stanford students, the Civil & Environmental Engineering department offers three graduate certificate programs in the areas of Virtual Design & Construction, Project Risk & Finance, and general Civil & Environmental Engineering. | For industry practitioners, we offer professional certificates in Market Entrepreneurship, Product Management for the Real Economy, Cyber Security for the Real Economy, and more. | The Honors Cooperative Program can lead to a Master of Science or PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering while attending Stanford on a part-time basis. Most CEE courses in the HCP program are on campus. Admission is the same as Master’s and PhD admissions for full-time residential students. |
| Grad Certificates | Professional Certificates | Honors Cooperative Program |
Funding & Financial Aid
While aid for undergraduate students is managed through the Stanford University Financial Aid Office, graduate funding may be funded through fellowship awards, teaching or course assistantships, or loans through the university.
Student Voices & Stories
What’s it like to be a Stanford CEE graduate student?
Careers & Internships
Where can a degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering take you?
Our programs give graduates the ability to establish themselves as practicing professionals, pursue graduate study in civil engineering or other fields, and make original contributions in civil and environmental engineering and related fields.
Our Impact
Civil & Environmental Engineering research has immediate and significant value addressing today’s most critical problems, from mitigating climate change to improving public health and engineering smarter and more sustainable cities.