International Students
The GRE is required for all PhD applicants and MS applicants who earned their undergraduate degrees from non-US institutions. Minimum GRE scores for admission are Q = 155 and Q+V = 300. Students receiving financial aid generally have higher scores. In addition, international students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination. (Visit UT’s Graduate School Admissions page for international students.)
Graduate programs leading to MS and PhD degrees in Civil Engineering and MS and PhD degrees in Environmental Engineering are offered to graduates of recognized undergraduate curricula.
A minimum of a 3.0/4.0 is required for the MS; individual evaluations are made for admission to the PhD program. Admission to the MS program is evaluated on a case by case basis for applicants with less than a 3.0/4.0 GPA. The evaluation will consider scholastic performance and supplemental information such as GRE scores, FE and PE test performance, professional experience, letters of recommendation, and other pertinent information. Please note taking the GRE test is optional for US applicants.
The department also offers a dual MS-MBA in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Contractual and Legal Affairs in Engineering and Construction Graduate Certificate. View a full list of graduate degrees and certificates offered by the department.
Applicants with Degrees in Engineering
For advanced degrees in civil or environmental engineering, the bachelor’s degree may be in engineering fields other than civil engineering. In some cases prerequisite undergraduate courses may be specified, and in general these must be completed before courses for graduate credit can be taken.
- For civil engineering, the faculty require a proficiency level in math, basic engineering, and basic analysis and design courses in the area of interest equivalent to that required at the BS level in civil engineering.
- For environmental engineering, the faculty require a proficiency level in math, basic engineering, fluids/hydraulics, hydrology, and statistics equivalent to that required at the BS level in civil engineering.
Applicants with Degrees in Other Fields
For students with degrees in fields other than engineering, prerequisite coursework is required prior to beginning the graduate level work. These must be completed with a “B” or better average before the student will be accepted as a graduate student in civil or environmental engineering. Students with more than one year of prerequisites are encouraged to take these as an undergraduate student. Students are generally admitted as Non-Degree graduate students when they have less than one year of prerequisite courses. Once these courses are completed with a composite 3.0 average, students are admitted to the MS degree status.
Note: A non-engineering student who wants to pursue possible registration as a professional engineer should discuss the current requirements of the Tennessee State Board of Registration with his/her advisor.
Applicants with Degrees in Engineering Technology
Applicants will be evaluated on an equivalency basis and prerequisites may be required.