Applicants must have completed a bachelor's in civil engineering or another related engineering discipline. Candidates wishing to pursue acceptance into the program with a non-Civil/Environmental Engineering background are welcome to apply and should request specific detailed information regarding admission policy and possible leveling courses with the graduate advisor. Students need at least a 2.5 undergraduate grade point average to be considered for admission. Applicants from countries where English is not the first language are required to demonstrate English proficiency.

If you did not attend high school in the United States and your most recent institution of learning was not located in an English-speaking country, UTEP requires you to provide evidence of English-language proficiency. Minimum score 550 on the paper-based (pBT) TOEFL. Some programs require 600 or better. Minimum score of 79 on the internet-based test (iBT), and minimum of 6.5 on IELTS.