Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering)

Program Description [back to top]

Structural Engineering is a Civil Engineering discipline which emphasizes analytical and experimental studies of the behavior of structures (e.g., buildings, bridges, and dams) under service loads (e.g., traffic) and environmental loads (e.g., wind and earthquake).  Emphasis is placed on response predictions or computations for these structures and their constituent materials (e.g., steel, reinforced concrete, and composites).  Study is made of the nature of these loadings, both static and dynamic, with implications being drawn for design. 

Application Criteria [back to top]

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.
  
  
• Satisfactory general GRE scores (quantitative 650, verbal 400)
  
  
• Statement of Purpose
  
  
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  
  
• International students whose native language is not English must earn a satisfactory score on the TOEFL (600 on the paper-based test; 250 on the computer-based test) or take the on-campus International Student English Examination (ISE) prior to initial registration.

Note: Students with a degree in Mathematics or Physics are required to take additional engineering courses covering the basics of strength of materials, structural analysis, and design.

Graduation Requirements [back to top]

A minimum of 27 units is required for the M.S. in Civil Engineering (Structural Engineering) degree.

• Required Courses: 15 units
  
  
• Elective Courses: 12 units
  
  
• Elective courses are selected after consultation with an academic advisor.
  
   
• Additional courses needed for graduation may also be selected from any other area related to structural engineering with the approval of an advisor. 
  
  
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation. 

Course Descriptions [back to top]

How To Apply [back to top]

In order to evaluate any application for admission, application materials must be submitted by the deadlines listed:

June 15th Fall admission
October 1st Spring admission

Please submit the following to the USC Office of Graduate Admission via the online application system by clicking here.

• Statement of Purpose
  • The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.




• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. They should be written on official letterhead.

Please arrange to have the following sent to the USC Office of Admission as a hard copy (USC Graduate Office of Admission, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA  90089-0915):

• Official Transcript(s) from all post-secondary schools you have attended, and official translations if they are not in English.
  
  
• General GRE scores (no older than 5 years). Official scores must be sent through ETS to the University of Southern California, ETS code 4852)
  
  
• TOEFL scores (required for international students)

Contact Information [back to top]

For the USC Civil and Environmental Engineering Department:

Irene Soloff
Student Services Advisor
Civil Engineering
Tel: (213) 740-0589
Email: soloff@usc.edu

For the USC Distance Education Network (DEN):

Maria Mansfeld
Student Services Advisor
USC Viterbi School of Engineering Distance Education Network (DEN)
Tel: (213) 740-4832
Fax: (213) 821-0851
Email: info@den.usc.edu