Structural Engineering Concentration

Current students in the American Society of Civil Engineers work in Cornell's High Voltage Lab on Mitchell Street to build new parts for the Flat Rock Bridge.

The Master of Engineering concentration in Structural Engineering is a forward-looking curriculum that offers state-of-the-art and emerging techniques in structural behavior and design. Our program is aimed at educating highly qualified engineers and preparing them to develop resilient, sustainable, and advanced structures for leading firms and governmental agencies.

  • Engineering Core Courses

    • CEE 5071 Professional Experience in Structural Engineering (3 credits)
    • MAE 5700 Finite Element Analysis for Mechanical and Aerospace Design (4 credits)
    • MSE 5820 Mechanical Properties of Materials, Processing, and Design (3 credits)
    • CEE 5760 Behavior and Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures (4 credits) (Recommended)
    • CEE 6780 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (3 credits) (Recommended)
    • CEE 6070 CI Fall Seminar Series (.5 credits) (Recommended)
  • Engineering Electives

    Students must complete additional credits from 5000-level or higher courses in engineering and supporting disciplinary areas that enhance technical skills. Course selection should align with the student’s background, career goals, and academic advisor’s guidance, ensuring a well-rounded professional foundation. Three tracks have been established to align courses with students targeted areas of development and professional interest.

Your Instructors

Structural Engineering Project Examples

M.Eng. Projects provide an unparalleled opportunity to work in a team to address a real engineering problem with the help of faculty, practicing engineers and consultants, integrating technical coursework and resulting in a final report. The Structural Engineering team will plan, develop and execute the structural engineering design for a real world, structure using state-of-the-art knowledge and toolsets. The project follows traditional design phases by schematically evaluating concepts, developing designs for the gravity and lateral systems, and detailing documents for construction. The selected design will be expected to consider sustainability and resiliency.

The Structural Engineering M.Eng. Project is team-based with teams of four individuals operating as a design firm. The course includes dedicated studio time, guest lectures, and consists of interim deliverables, presentations, and faculty review.

Sample ProjectScope
561 Greenwich StreetMixed Use Building in New York, NY (19-Story, 250,000 Square Feet)
Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information ScienceOffice Building on Cornell’s Ithaca Campus using CLT (4-Story, 135,000 Square Feet)
149 Newbury StreetMixed Use Building in Boston, MA (5-Story, 43,000 Square Feet)