{"id":32656,"date":"2026-09-04T16:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T16:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?page_id=32656---aa08c56b-65d7-412d-9bec-c616fdea3f28"},"modified":"2026-09-30T14:46:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T14:46:53","slug":"if-my-undergrad-degree-isnt-in-civil-engineering-can-i-still-be-successful-in-the-masters-program-if-i-am-strong-in-math-and-science","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/engineering-degrees\/if-my-undergrad-degree-isnt-in-civil-engineering-can-i-still-be-successful-in-the-masters-program-if-i-am-strong-in-math-and-science\/","title":{"rendered":"If My Undergrad Degree Isn’t in Civil Engineering, Can I Still Be Successful in the Master’s Program If I Am Strong in Math and Science?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you pursue a master\u2019s degree in civil engineering, one of the highest paying master\u2019s degrees<\/a>, if you didn\u2019t major in civil engineering as an undergraduate? Prospective students will be relieved to learn that, although a bachelor\u2019s degree is required to get into a master\u2019s degree program in civil engineering, a precise major is not. Students who studied the subject as undergraduates will have the easiest time with the curriculum, but students may also be accepted into a civil engineering program from a different engineering major or a major in an area of science or mathematics.<\/p>\n

Changing Your Field of Study From Another Branch of Engineering<\/h2>\n

Engineering is a multidisciplinary field as it is, one that encompasses a breadth of skills and knowledge, according to professional engineering organization IEEE<\/a> (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). All branches of engineering generally use the principles of science and mathematics to design solutions, whether those solutions are mechanical, electrical, chemical or structural in nature.<\/p>\n

Further, many engineering colleges have students complete coursework across different disciplines of engineering, not just in their own declared major. If you earned your bachelor\u2019s degree in a different branch of engineering but now want to transition to civil engineering as a graduate student, you likely won\u2019t have a problem doing so.<\/p>\n

Changing engineering disciplines without going back to school would be a lot more difficult than getting into a master\u2019s degree in a different field of engineering, because regular on-the-job training won\u2019t cover the foundations and basic applications of civil engineering. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Earning a Civil Engineering Master\u2019s Degree When You Didn\u2019t Major in Engineering<\/h2>\n

Perhaps you didn\u2019t major in engineering, but you did major in math or one of the natural or physical sciences. Getting into and succeeding in a master\u2019s degree in civil engineering is a little harder in this instance. You\u2019ve got plenty of knowledge in the foundations on which engineering designs are based, but you don\u2019t have as much knowledge of the design process and the hands-on skills needed to work in civil engineering.<\/p>\n

The work you did as an undergraduate may be all you really need to get into a civil engineering master\u2019s program<\/a>, since some programs only require students to have a strong background in math and science. However, without a background in engineering, you may be more likely to struggle in your graduate-level coursework. You should give yourself plenty of time to devote to your studies and, if you find that you\u2019re falling behind or not understanding the material, proactively reach out to your instructor, your academic advisor and tutoring services for help.<\/p>\n

Some master\u2019s in civil engineering programs<\/a> require students without an engineering background to take make-up courses in the fundamentals of chemical engineering. You won\u2019t have to make up years of engineering coursework, but you may need an extra semester to complete these make-up requirements. Although taking these extra classes adds to the time and expense of earning your degree, it also allows you to be better prepared for the curriculum of a graduate program in civil engineering.<\/p>\n

Even if you may need to take make-up courses in engineering, start comparing college programs and understanding the application process first. Some programs may accept you to the graduate program early and add this extra coursework to your curriculum. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Catching Up on Math and Science Coursework<\/h2>\n

You will have the hardest time earning a master\u2019s degree in civil engineering if you don\u2019t have a strong foundation in the math and science principles and applications underlying the field of engineering. Students of the arts, humanities, social sciences and communication may complete only basic college-level math and laboratory science coursework as part of their curriculum. If they decide later that they want to study engineering, they\u2019re going to be behind their peers in terms of their math and science knowledge.<\/p>\n

That said, it\u2019s not impossible to change paths to engineering. Doing so just takes more time and work in this situation than it would require if you had a stronger background in math and science. If you don\u2019t have a strong science and math background, you may need to take extra courses before you get started.<\/p>\n

Some students without a science or mathematics background meet the prerequisites of a civil engineering master\u2019s program by earning a second bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a>. When you earn a second bachelor\u2019s degree, you\u2019re not starting from scratch. Your general education courses should all still count toward your degree. What you need to complete is your major coursework, which often translates to one to two years of full-time study in your new major. If you don\u2019t want to pursue a second bachelor\u2019s degree, look for a master\u2019s in engineering program specifically designed for adults with non-engineering backgrounds, like a Late Entry Accelerated Program (LEAP)<\/a> option.<\/p>\n

Boston University\u2019s LEAP program<\/strong><\/a> is the best-known program for non-engineering majors to transition into graduate studies in engineering. Schools like <\/strong>Northeastern University<\/strong><\/a> and the <\/strong>University of Alabama in Huntsville<\/strong><\/a> offer programs with a similar purpose. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What Degree Do You Need to Be a Civil Engineer?<\/a><\/p>\n

Who Would I Want to Get Letters of Recommendation From for my Application for a Civil Engineering Master\u2019s?<\/a><\/p>\n

Will a School Care More About My Math Scores on the GRE Since I Am Going to Study Civil Engineering?<\/a><\/p>\n

Are There Any Computer Programs or Languages I Should Know to Make My Studies in Civil Engineering Any Easier?<\/a><\/p>\n

What Civil Engineering Courses Will I Have to Take for a Degree in Civil Engineering?<\/a><\/p>\n

For Further Reading:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can you pursue a master\u2019s degree in civil engineering, one of the highest paying master\u2019s degrees, if you didn\u2019t major in civil engineering as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":12464,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"mobius_hide_qdf":false,"mobius_hide_el":false,"mobius_limit":"","mobius_degree":"masters","mobius_category":"science-and-engineering","mobius_subject":"civil-engineering","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-32656","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIf My Undergrad Degree Isn't in Civil Engineering, Can I Still Be Successful in the Master's Program If I Am Strong in Math and Science? - DegreeQuery.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/engineering-degrees\/if-my-undergrad-degree-isnt-in-civil-engineering-can-i-still-be-successful-in-the-masters-program-if-i-am-strong-in-math-and-science\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"If My Undergrad Degree Isn't in Civil Engineering, Can I Still Be Successful in the Master's Program If I Am Strong in Math and Science? 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