Civil and Environmental Engineering Online (MS)

• Curriculum combines courses in civil engineering, management science, business and economics, and system dynamics.
• Highly customizable plans of study enable students to explore a wide range of topics including sustainable construction practices, fire protection, supply chain management, building information modeling, and systems thinking.
• Students learn from and work closely with expert WPI faculty members who have practical experience in construction project management and continue to be serve as consultants to leading corporations.

WPI also offers an online graduate certificate in Construction Project Management.  The Construction Project Management program is also available on-campus if you prefer a more traditional learning environment.

11 courses, 33 credit hours with 12 credits from core courses, at least 9 credits from breadth courses, and electives from engineering, science, business and/or system dynamics. You will work with a faculty advisor to develop a customized and relevant plan of study.  

Thesis option: Currently, WPI’s online graduate programs do not offer a thesis option, as theses cannot be completed online. If you wish to pursue a thesis on campus, it is the student’s responsibility to find an advisor. Please note that depending on the project’s subject and timeframe, there might not be a faculty member willing or able to advise.

View academic term start dates for online courses.

Depending on the student’s chosen plan of study, the MS in construction project management will prepare her/him to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1.     Obtain a rich toolset of skills to effectively manage human and capital resources through all phases of the construction process, including preconstruction interface with the customer, project costing, organization, time scheduling, contracting risk mitigation and contract administration.

2.     Learn the challenges of working with customers and company staff, including delivery systems, legal issues, contracts liability, dispute resolution, loss prevention, proposal development, professionalism and ethics.

3.     Perform in-depth cost and schedule analyses that include unit estimates, costing databases, values engineering, productivity, cost control, etc, that provide guidance for price bidding, negotiations and claims management.

4.     Develop a robust understanding of the importance and intricacy of local ordinances, laws and customs that impact a major project. This includes building codes, bylaws, zoning ordinances and labor laws. Learn the legal responsibilities along with prudent communication tones and protocols with owners, abutters and city/town officials.

5.     Understand how the use of Building Information Modeling, as the latest construction management tool, improves efficiency, communication and fosters real time collaboration between owners, investors, architects, engineers, contractors and any other stakeholder involved in the project. The Building Information Model serves as the central repository and dashboard for graphic information, specifications, delivery data, responsible supplier, etc. on each element of the project. Issues or errors can be caught early with this visualization tool.

6.     Identify and mitigate project risk through robust analytical methodology. A broad set of applications are covered including supply chain quality assurance, fire protection, environmental impacts and information security.

7.     Apply Systems Thinking tools to better understand how the project is impacted by the larger physical, social and commercial ecosystem that surrounds it. Concepts include causal loops and feedback, system leverage points, delays and oscillations, assumptions, unintended consequences, emergent properties, patterns, self-organization and more.

8.     Develop awareness and understanding on how the modern constructed facilities are designed, built and operated under sustainable practices and lean processes.

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Students with bachelor’s degrees in areas such as architecture, management engineering, and civil engineering technology are normally accepted to this program. Professional exposure to design and construction activities is highly desired. Additional requirements for international applicants as imposed by the department of civil and environmental engineering apply. Work history will be considered if you include a resume in your application.

Courses listed here are fully asynchronous and do not require campus visits.  Additional electives are available on-campus. Click here for additional math and management courses that are offered online. Course offerings are subject to change. If you are interested in enrolling, please contact us for the most up-to-date information.