Rose-Hulman is answering a surging demand for structural engineers in a unique and creative way with the latest addition to its Rose Squared (R²) program that will allow students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering specializing in Structures in just four years – and at no additional cost. 

With aging infrastructure, regulatory changes, and increased population, demand for civil engineers continues to be incredibly high. National projections show the field growing nearly 10% over the next decade, and those estimates were made prior to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

That bill provides $550 billion in new spending in the coming years to improve the U.S. infrastructure, including bridges, ports, airports, and electric vehicle charging – all areas where structural engineers will be in great demand, particularly those with master’s degrees which allow for more professional opportunities and higher profile projects.

“Rose-Hulman civil engineering majors are in high demand because of their hands-on experience in classrooms and internships,” said President Robert A. Coons. “A full 100% of our civil engineering majors are placed after graduation, working for some of the top companies in the world. This latest dual degree offering only enhances the value of our civil engineering graduates in the marketplace, and equips them with the skills they need to make an immediate impact for employers and in their communities.”

The Master of Civil Engineering degree specializing in Structures at Rose-Hulman is the latest in the R² program, which allows eligible students to put their Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and other earned college credits to work for them. The program also offers a Master of Engineering Management degree track to all majors.

In the structural engineering track, civil engineering students will have the flexibility to take graduate-level structural engineering courses during the final two years of their four-year Rose-Hulman education. 

The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting 25,000 new civil engineers will be needed each year throughout the rest of this decade, and that number doesn’t consider the impact of IIJA bill. 

“These degrees offer incredible opportunities for civil engineers to play a major role in designing and building infrastructure and other facilities that will shape our future,” said Department Head and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Jim Hanson, PhD. “With more than half of our civil engineering majors going on to get their master’s at some point in their careers, and that often taking two years or more, this program offers students an accelerated path to earning a master’s degree and expanding their professional possibilities and earning potential.”

The R² program will be available to new students beginning in Fall 2023. Current Rose-Hulman students are eligible to apply to the program now.

Learn more about the R² Master of Civil Engineering in Structures and Master of Engineering Management programs at www.rose-hulman.edu/r2.