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Dr. R. Andew Swartz is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering at Michigan Technological University. With expertise in structural engineering, he focuses on areas such as structural analysis, bridge engineering, and engineering education.
Dr. Swartz is dedicated to advancing the field through both research and teaching, preparing future engineers with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle complex infrastructure challenges.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Swartz is actively involved in applied engineering projects and collaborations with industry and government agencies. His commitment to mentorship and innovation in engineering education has made a lasting impact on students and the broader civil engineering community. He holds a BS in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University, as well as an MS in civil engineering, an MS in electrical engineering: systems, and a PhD in civil engineering—all from the University of Michigan.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What do you wish the public understood about online structural engineering degrees?
Dr. Swartz: Structural engineering is transitioning to be more like professions such as medicine or law, where the MS degree is becoming the new entry-level degree. This transition has been happening for a couple of decades now. There are still a lot of structural engineering firms that are looking to hire BS-level structural engineers, particularly small-city, regional firms that specialize in low-rise building design, adaptive reuse, inspections, and related services.
Another significant segment of the market is made up of large national and multinational firms that design and build landmark structures and tall buildings, as well as highly specialized or one-of-a-kind structural designs with elements that are not well described by building codes or complex forensic engineering activities. These firms look to hire almost exclusively either established engineers with years of experience or graduates with an MS degree or higher.
To serve these needs, a growing number of accelerated and online MS degree programs are being offered at Universities around the country, including Michigan Tech.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What advice would you give aspiring online structural engineering program students?
Dr. Swartz: While you are enrolled in a university, really try to take advantage of everything that you can learn and do there. Most structural engineering students instinctively understand the importance of courses that are practical in nature and that are directly and obviously vocational. These include the major code-based structural design courses such as steel design 1, loads for civil structures, or prestressed concrete design.
But the nature of our industry is such that, regardless of how many courses you take, you will always need to acquire additional on-the-job knowledge specific to the projects that you work on. Be sure to also include time to take courses that cover abstract topics that are, 1) very difficult to learn independently without regular faculty guidance, and 2) genuine differentiators in terms of technical skill levels between yourself and your engineering peers.
These courses include topics such as nonlinear structural analysis, finite element analysis, structural dynamics, and performance-based design. In addition, any course that helps you to communicate more effectively (interpersonally, orally, visually, in writing, or foreign language courses) will help you with your career advancement more than you could imagine.
Online structural engineering programs offer a flexible pathway to earning a marketable, high-quality education. But structural engineering and its parent, civil engineering, are deeply rooted in applied science and hands-on learning, and may require a blend of online coursework and in-person lab attendance. These programs deliver much of the foundational instruction — such as courses in physics, mathematics, and structural design — via online modules, making them accessible to students from anywhere. However, to gain essential hands-on experience, some programs include on-campus lab components or workshops, which may require periodic travel to the university.
For non-traditional students, such as working professionals, active military members, or those balancing family responsibilities, online programs can be an ideal option. These learners can complete most coursework remotely while coordinating any in-person requirements around their schedules. Some programs may even forgo physical attendance altogether, relying instead on comprehensive virtual labs, simulations, or project-based assessments to evaluate practical skills.
To succeed in an online structural engineering program, students need to manage their time effectively. While the flexibility of online learning is a significant advantage, balancing self-discipline with accountability is key — particularly for programs that include in-person components requiring advance planning.
Aspiring engineers who wish to enroll in online structural engineering programs must first meet the admissions requirements before being accepted. And while there is not a universal set of guidelines used by all online programs, in general, each of these institutions will employ a similar set of admissions criteria to determine who is offered acceptance for an upcoming cycle.
Almost every undergraduate program requires students to show proof of SAT scores and a copy of a high school diploma or GED. Prospective students will also often be asked to submit a personal essay about themselves and their aspirations as structural engineers, along with letters of recommendation from current teachers or employers who can attest to their capabilities as a student.
Graduate program candidates will likely encounter an application process that is similar to that of their undergraduate peers. Instead of SAT scores, they may be asked to submit the scores they received on the GRE (may be waived). Also, aspiring graduates will likely be asked to submit copies of their undergraduate transcripts and diplomas, in addition to letters of recommendation. Finally, they may be asked to submit personal essays on how their experience in work and school will aid them in their future studies.
For all online programs, students must submit their application packages on or before a specific deadline. And while the specific date may vary based on the institution, the deadline for a spring-start program may be in late fall, while the deadline for a fall-start program will likely be in the later months of winter. That being said, this shouldn’t serve as definitive information; instead, individuals interested in enrolling in online programs should speak to that program’s administration to learn more about relevant dates and deadlines.
Structural engineering programs may receive accreditation through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET), the national accreditation agency for programs focusing on technology and engineering. ABET acts as an umbrella organization with several member groups.
Here, it is essential to realize that a degree from an accredited institution is not a prerequisite to obtaining future employment as a structural engineer. But a degree from an accredited institution and at least four years of work experience as an engineer is necessary to qualify for the exam to receive a Professional Engineer license. Engineering licensure is regulated state-by-state and offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). A PE license allows the holder to take on a greater degree of responsibility in his or her work and may be a requirement for certain types of advanced positions as well.
For a full listing of engineering licensing boards in each state, visit the NCEES website.
Generally, the curriculum for civil and structural engineering degrees will remain consistent across institutions, albeit with slight variations based on the specific school. Prospective students should expect to complete courses such as structural concrete design; structural timber design; loads for civil structures; finite element analysis; structural dynamics; and bridge design and construction.
As structural engineering is a subfield of civil engineering, there are few program options concentrated entirely on this sub-discipline. However, there are many more online programs available in civil engineering more broadly.
Any prospective students interested in completing a structural engineering degree online should consider one of the following schools as a highly competitive option.
The University of Southern California offers an online master of science program in civil engineering that focuses on structural engineering. This online program emphasizes experimental and analytical studies of the behavior of structures such as buildings, dams, and bridges under service loads such as traffic and environmental loads such as wind and earthquake.
Made up of 28 credits, the program includes courses such as advanced mechanics; dynamics of structures; data analytics in engineering; finite element analysis; structural instability & failure; structural mechanics of composite materials; geotechnical earthquake engineering; and advanced steel structures.
At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities in the areas of building maintenance, construction design, architecture, environmental engineering, project management, project planning, and surveying.
Michigan Technological University offers an online master of science program in civil engineering that prepares students in designing, building, analyzing, and leading advanced structural and civil engineering projects anywhere in the world. Focusing on structural engineering, this program helps students expand their capabilities as civil engineers. Students in this program will examine structural dynamics, dig deeper into building code, and further examine the materials that create our world.
As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as probabilistic analysis and reliability; bridge design and construction; structural dynamics; structural timber design; steel design; concrete and masonry building systems; prestressed concrete design; finite element analysis; loads for civil structures; and matrix structural analysis.
Michigan Tech also offers several online graduate certificates in structural engineering: advanced analysis; bridge analysis and design; building design; hazard analysis; and timber building design.
University of Central Florida’s College of Engineering and Computer Science offers a master of science program in civil engineering focused on structural engineering preparing students to create solutions to the infrastructure challenges faced by our community. Students learn to evaluate the framework of structures and design them with security, sustainability, and safety in mind.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as soil dynamics; matrix methods for structural analysis; bridge engineering; advanced steel structures; advanced reinforced concrete; masonry and timber design; structural reliability; finite element structural analysis; dynamics of structures; and composite steel concrete structures.
Graduates can take up positions such as architectural engineers, bridge engineers, construction engineers, consulting engineers, public works managers, and structural project engineers.
Ohio University’s online civil engineering master’s degree is delivered completely online. This online program focuses on teaching students how to address sustainability, emerging technologies, and globalization using advanced principles and techniques of physical science and mathematics. With four unique concentration options, students can specialize their studies to align with their desired career path. They can choose from environmental engineering; construction engineering and management; transportation engineering; and structural engineering.
In the structural engineering concentration, students will be able to investigate the technical and practical aspects of maintaining and designing reliable and safe structures with various materials. They will also be prepared best to use these materials in transportation design and bridge engineering.
The program’s core courses include engineering writing; project management; and a civil engineering seminar. Courses in the structural engineering concentration include advanced steel design; prestressed concrete design; timber design; bridge engineering; structural reliability; structural dynamics; and masonry design.
Graduates of the University of North Dakota’s civil engineering program can expect various job opportunities in many specialties such as structural engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, soil engineering, transportation engineering, waste management engineering, and water resource engineering.
The university offers two civil engineering master’s degrees: a master of science program and a master of engineering program. Students can research their chosen area of interest by specializing in structural, environmental, transportation, or water resources, or choose the general civil engineering option.
The structural engineering option includes courses such as structural stability; structural dynamics; prestressed concrete analysis and design; and a design project. The program is made up of 30 credits.
Purdue University’s online master of science program in civil engineering prepares students for leadership roles in the engineering industry. Its flexible curriculum is designed for beginners as well as experienced professionals. Students in this program study civil engineering in depth and choose from three interdisciplinary tracks: infrastructure, resilience, & sustainability; smart mobility; and sustainable water. The program is taught by the same expert faculty members that teach on-campus and students will complete the same coursework.
The infrastructure, resiliency, and sustainability (IRS) track focuses on the latest advancements in the design, construction, and analysis of civil infrastructure including bridges, buildings, industrial facilities, power plants, and roadways. These advancements include digital twinning for planning and construction; design for natural hazards and resilience; and sustainable materials and non-destructive evaluation.
The program’s 30-credit curriculum includes courses such as advanced structural mechanics; design of prestressed concrete structures; advanced steel design; finite elements in elasticity; structural stability and design; and seismic design of steel structures.
The School of Engineering and the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham offers students a unique opportunity to earn a master of engineering program with a structural engineering concentration. This program is particularly designed for qualified working professionals who hold an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree from a U.S. university or college. This fully online 30-credit program can be completed in just 19 months.
Some topics students will delve into include advanced mechanics for structural engineering; advanced design of steel structures; advanced reinforced concrete; prestressed concrete behavior and design; advanced structural analysis; bridge engineering; structural dynamics and earthquake engineering; and design of structural steel connections.
GRE or GMAT scores are required for domestic students; however, international candidates with undergraduate degrees will be required to submit TOEFL and GRE scores in addition to degree transcripts.
New Jersey Institute of Technology’s online master of science program in civil engineering can be completed online or through hybrid learning. This program also offers several areas of specialization, each with its list of required and elective courses. Structural engineering is one such specialization offered within this program.
Applicants who do not possess a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, but wish to obtain a master's in civil engineering must complete a bridge program for their chosen area of specialization. These courses are not counted for degree credit. The bridge courses required in the structural engineering specialization include reinforced concrete design; soil mechanics; steel design; differential equations; and strength of materials.
Consisting of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as matrix analysis of structures; structural dynamics; mechanics and stability of structures; advanced reinforced concrete design; short span bridge design; design of tall buildings and space structures; and design of metal structures.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger College of Engineering offers an online master of science degree in civil engineering with a specialization in structural engineering. This non-thesis civil engineering program can be completed entirely online.
The structural engineering specialization comprises 36 credits and incurs core courses such as structural analysis; structural mechanics; structural dynamics; steel structures; reinforced concrete; and finite element methods. Structural electives include decision and risk analysis; highway bridge design; earthquake engineering; and fracture and fatigue.
Applicants to the program must hold a bachelor of science degree or the equivalent from an accredited college with a minimum GPA of 3.0. GRE test scores are optional and are not required for admission. Application requirements include Three letters of reference, a statement of purpose, a current resume, most current transcripts, and proof of English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English.
Johns Hopkins University’s online master’s in civil engineering program provides graduate instruction in geotechnical, structural, preservation, and ocean and coastal engineering. Designed mainly for working professionals, this online part-time civil engineering program features practice-oriented courses in small classes taught by industry experts.
Students in this program can choose a focus area that provides tailored education for those looking to specialize in a specific field. The structural engineering focus area includes courses such as mathematical methods for engineers; structural mechanics; applied finite element methods; advanced steel design; advanced reinforced concrete design; bridge design and evaluation; and design of wood structures, among others.
The University of Oklahoma offers an online master of science program in civil engineering that can be completed in just 21 months. Focusing on analytical and technical civil engineering knowledge, the program offers the choice between structural, transportation, or geotechnical tracks.
The structural engineering track provides students with advanced practical designing skills and a basis for experimental or analytical research. Students who wish to pursue this track must hold a BS in civil engineering or a related field with a strong background in differential equations, calculus, soil mechanics, structural analysis, rigid body mechanics, and design with steel and concrete.
Made up of 32 credits, the program includes courses such as advanced mechanics of materials; prestressed concrete structures; structural design – wood; structural design - concrete; structural design – steel; soil-structure interaction; dynamics of structures; a capstone design experience.
Not all online structural engineering programs consistently and actively report how many campus visits may be required to complete their programs. However, it is possible to give an overview of some different possibilities.
Because online structural engineering programs are largely targeted toward working engineers, they can generally be completed without ever setting foot on campus. This is true of programs as varied as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and New Jersey Institute of Technology.
For students who are looking for a more hybrid option, Johns Hopkins University offers many courses that are available both online and on-campus, allowing students to choose whether or not they want that type of personal interaction.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), the career outlook for civil engineers, a broad category that includes structural engineers, is promising, with overall employment in projected to grow 6 percent in the next decade, which is faster than the average of 4 percent for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.
On average, civil engineers earn $107,050 per year, according to the BLS (May 2024)—the latest data available as of April 2025. The percentiles for wages for civil engineers were:
With a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in higher education, Kimmy Gustafson regularly contributes insightful articles to OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com, providing readers with a comprehensive view on the evolving landscape of engineering education since 2019. She has intervi...
Farheen Gani has researched a wide array of topics related to engineering since 2018. She has written about electrical and computer engineering programs, structural engineering programs, mechanical engineer salaries, environmental engineering programs, and many other subfields of engineering. She...
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