Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about the MSST program, admission requirements, curriculum, internships and more.

Program Information

The MSST program is 45 credits. See the course catalog for more information. Courses occur on a rotating schedule. 

The program takes six academic quarters to complete—approximately 21 months, including breaks over the summer quarter in which courses are not offered for the MSST program.

Students take two classes per quarter either Mon-Wed-Fri from 7:45-10:45 a.m., or Tue-Thu from 8:05 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Courses occur on a rotating schedule.

Yes, scholarships are available for students enrolled in the Master of Science in Structural Engineering program. Scholarships are open to all applicants, including international applicants. Learn more about scholarship opportunities for graduate students.

The College of Science and Engineering does not offer any assistantships or 100-percent tuition scholarships.

Admissions Requirements

Typically, successful applicants to the MS in Structural Engineering program have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited institution or its equivalent.

Students from backgrounds other than civil engineering can also be considered for entry into the MSST program, but they will need to complete the following prerequisite courses: Structural Analysis, Reinforced Concrete Design and Steel Design.

Please review the full MSST admission requirements for more detail.

No, the GRE is not required for most applicants. Please review the MSST admission requirements for more detail. 

Students with international transcripts and students who require a visa to study in the United States should visit  International Admissions for more detail.

Seattle University can evaluate international transcripts—international applicants are not required to submit an external agency evaluation (e.g. a WES evaluation).

Courses and Internships

Please visit the course catalog for a full list of courses in the Master of Science in Structural Engineering program. MSST courses are offered on a rotating schedule depending on the calendar year.

Internships are not required for the program, but students with a suitable internship can register the experience to earn academic credit. Internship credits do not count toward MSST degree requirements or the credits needed for graduation. Please visit the College of Science and Engineering Advising Center for more information regarding internships.

Internships are not required for the MSST program, though students who are eligible to work in the US can choose to participate in internships beginning in the first enrolled quarter of the program. Students are responsible for securing their own internship opportunities.

Students can receive academic credit for an internship. Please visit the College of Science and Engineering Advising Center for information on registering an internship for credit.

F-1 students must be in enrolled status on their visas for one academic year before they are eligible for curricular practical training (CPT) and internships. Internship credits do not count toward any MSST degree requirements or the 45 credits needed for graduation.

Course Registration

Course registration occurs on a quarterly basis. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific dates regarding registration.

You will be assigned a specific registration time based on the number of credits you've earned. You can register for classes online during your assigned registration time. 

Once your registration window has opened, you should log in to MySeattleU to register for courses. Add courses to your course plan and click the "Accept Terms & Register" button. Visit the MySeattleU Student Planning page for detailed instructions on course registrations.

Students can make changes to their schedule through the end of the first week of the academic quarter.

F-1 Visa International Student Information

Graduate students on F-1 visas are required to be enrolled in at least six credits per academic quarter to maintain the required full-time status.

Please contact the International Student Center for details on optional practical training (OPT) and curricular practical training (CPT) regulations. Please note that academic faculty are generally not familiar with OPT or CPT regulations.

Students interested in CPT are required to have their internship offer approved by the department in order to register for CPT. Please visit the College of Science and Engineering Advising Center for more information about registering internships for credit.

Yes, the MS in Structural Engineering program is a STEM program.

Yes, international students are eligible for scholarships. Find more information regarding tuition and scholarships. Please note that we do not offer assistantships in the College of Science and Engineering.