Department of Civil and Systems Engineering

Jump to Department & Program Websites

Department of Civil and Systems Engineering

Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is the Bachelors/Master's Program?

    The Bachelors/Master’s Program is a concurrent program designed for undergraduates currently enrolled at Johns Hopkins University.  If you already have a Bachelors degree, you will need to apply to our graduate program.  We offer a full-time Master’s of Science in Engineering (MSE) Program as well as the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program.

  • What areas of research do you offer?

    Structural engineering/structural mechanics: e.g., computational mechanics, stochastic mechanics, structural stability, performance-based structural design, structural systems reliability, structural fire engineering, damage mechanics and fatigue modeling, finite element modeling, and topology optimization. Resilience of civil systems: community resilience assessment, probabilistic modeling, hazard assessment, natural disaster modeling, mechanics of extreme events/environments, and risk assessment and mitigation. Multi-scale modeling of materials, structures and systems.

  • Are conditional admissions available?

    No.  Conditional admissions are not offered.  Admission is determined using an applicant’s complete application and the compatibility of research and academic interests.

  • When are decisions made?

    Review of applications by the departmental Admissions Committee begins after the application deadline has passed.  Decisions are not likely to be made until February or March.  You will be notified if you have been accepted, rejected, or waitlisted.  Please do not contact the department to inquire about the status of your application.  Due to the high volume of emails at this time of the year, it is not possible for us to read and respond to these inquiries.

  • Do I need to submit a Statement of Purpose AND a Personal Statement?

    You only need to submit a Statement of Purpose – typically 1-3 pages outlining your background and interests in civil engineering, why you chose to pursue it, events or places that inspired you, etc.  This Statement of Purpose will be read by the Admissions Committee.

  • Should I email faculty to determine if they have openings?

    No.  While the department is always looking for bright, highly motivated students, if you find a faculty member’s research particularly interesting it is best to indicate this on your application and in your personal statement.  Direct emails to faculty and staff attempting to identify ‘openings’ is discouraged – faculty receive several such emails from international students every day and it is not possible for us to read them all.

  • What is the acceptance rate for applications?

    The number of applications accepted varies from year to year and from  program to program.  The rate of application acceptance in previous years has no influence on the number of application acceptances in the current year as each application is considered on its own merits.

  • Will the department waive the admission fee?

    Our application fee is only $25 and this very minimal fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing applications in the Graduate Admissions Office. In most cases, the answer is “No”.  However there are a few instances when the application fee can be waived:

    1. The application fee may be waived for applicants with documented (must be uploaded within the application) registration/participation in one of the following programs: GEM, Department Request, SACNAS, MMUF, POSSE, JHU Grad Student, McNair, ABRCMS, Vietnam Education Foundation, IRT, Graduate Horizons, Chocktaw/Chickasaw Scholarship Advisement Program, Baltimore Scholars Program, Leadership Alliance, UMBC Meyerhoff Program, LSAMP, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, Project 1000, MARC and University of Puerto Rico Students.
    2. To request a waiver based on financial hardship please select the option on the application and upload one of the following: FAFSA SAR Report, a letter from a college/university financial aid office, unemployment verification. Do not send tax returns. All documents will be reviewed and verified for satisfactory evidence. If the uploaded document is not accepted you will be contacted to resubmit or to pay the application fee. For further information please contact the Whiting School’s Graduate Admissions team.  If you are requesting an application fee waiver, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.  Do not contact the department.

  • What is the minimum score required on the GRE?

    GRE scores are one of a number of factors taken into consideration when reviewing applications.  These include (but not limited to) personal statement, transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation.  Although there is no minimum requirement, we recommend a minimum combined score of 317.

  • What are the minimum scores required on the TOEFL or IELTs exams?

    TOEFL and IELTS scores are one of a number of factors taken into consideration when reviewing applications. These include (but not limited to) personal statement, transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation.  Although there is no minimum requirement, the Whiting School of Engineering recommends a minimum of 100 for the IBT, 250 for the CBT, and 600 for the PBT, and a score of 7.0 for IELTS.

  • Do I need to send in my OFFICIAL test scores now?

    You can enter and upload unofficial copies of your GRE, TOEFL and IELTS scores when you apply.  If your application is under serious consideration, or you have been admitted to the program, we may contact you to request that you provide official scores and documentation.

  • Is a Professional Credential Evaluation Required?

    For all foreign academic work we strongly recommend that you submit a professional credential evaluation from one of our recommended resources: One Earth, WES, or ECE. Credential evaluations allow the departments to better assess your academic records. These evaluations do not replace the transcript, you are still required to upload these documents as instructed.

  • Will the department waive the admission fee?

    Our application fee is only $25 and this very minimal fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing applications in the Graduate Admissions Office. In most cases, the answer is “No”.  However there are a few instances when the application fee can be waived:

    1. The application fee may be waived for applicants with documented (must be uploaded within the application) registration/participation in one of the following programs: GEM, Department Request, SACNAS, MMUF, POSSE, JHU Grad Student, McNair, ABRCMS, Vietnam Education Foundation, IRT, Graduate Horizons, Chocktaw/Chickasaw Scholarship Advisement Program, Baltimore Scholars Program, Leadership Alliance, UMBC Meyerhoff Program, LSAMP, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program, Project 1000, MARC and University of Puerto Rico Students.
    2. To request a waiver based on financial hardship please select the option on the application and upload one of the following: FAFSA SAR Report, a letter from a college/university financial aid office, unemployment verification. Do not send tax returns. All documents will be reviewed and verified for satisfactory evidence. If the uploaded document is not accepted you will be contacted to resubmit or to pay the application fee. For further information please contact the Whiting School’s Graduate Admissions team.  If you are requesting an application fee waiver, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office.  Do not contact the Department.

 

For the answers to MANY more questions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Graduate Admissions & Enrollment Website.

Back to top