The certificate in Professional Practice in Civil Engineering Infrastructure offers an opportunity for practicing engineers seeking professional growth to pursue graduate education on a flexible part-time or full-time basis. The program of study is individualized to accommodate the many different focus areas in Civil and Environmental Engineering. This five-course graduate-level program will allow a student to broaden and strengthen knowledge in the areas of engineering mechanics, or environmental, geotechnical, structures, transportation, or water resource engineering by learning the most up-to-date engineering theory and techniques taught by UWM’s renowned faculty.    

Certificate Features

  • Student will work with the department chair and program coordinator to design a program tailored to meet the student's individual goals.
  • No GRE is required for admission into the certificate program. Credits and courses required for the certificate can count towards meeting the MS degree requirements (See Requirements tab).
  • Addresses the gap between the curriculum completed at the undergraduate level and the required knowledge required in licensure in civil engineering.
  • Learn the latest theory and practice methods using the most up-to-date design codes and practices.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

The minimum GPA for admission is 2.75 in the prior bachelor’s or post-baccalaureate degree. Applicants should generally have a prior degree in civil engineering or related fields. Applicants with other prior degrees will be considered via holistic assessment of the academic record and professional experience, with a focus on substantial work experience in the areas related to the certificate focus areas in engineering.

Application

  • Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
  • All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School through the Panthera Admission Application.
  • Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
  • Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.

Credits and Courses

Select 15 credits of electives from any graduate level (G or U/G) courses offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. A minimum of 6 credits are required at the 700-level or above.15
Total Credits15

Additional Requirements

Transfer Credit

No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.

Grade Point Average Requirement

A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.

Articulation with Degree Programs

  1. Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
    • Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
    • All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
    • Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
  2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
  3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
  4. Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.

Time Limit

Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:

  • 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
  • 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.

For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.