Portland State University (PSU)’s Graduate Certificate in Engineering and Preservation of Existing Structures (EPES) is a 20-credit graduate credential that advances civil, structural, mechanical, and architectural engineers into work focused on existing structures. The EPES Graduate Certificate builds focused expertise in condition assessment, structural evaluation, sensing and monitoring, data-informed modeling, repair, rehabilitation, strengthening, and asset management.
Structural engineering education has traditionally emphasized the design of new buildings, bridges, roadways, and other structures. In practice, however, engineers are frequently asked to maintain, evaluate, repair, rehabilitate, preserve, and extend the service life of existing structures. This certificate is designed for working professionals, current Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) graduate students, and Bachelor’s plus Master’s students pursuing an MS or MEng who want specialized structural engineering expertise without committing to a full additional degree program. Note that PSU’s CEE Department also offers a full MS focused on EPES.
PSU’s urban research setting matters. Portland and Oregon rely on public agencies, transportation systems, infrastructure owners, and engineering firms that need engineers who can help communities make cost-conscious, resource-conscious, and sustainable decisions about the built environment. This graduate certificate supports career advancement in a high-demand area of structural engineering while connecting student learning to regional infrastructure needs.
Study at Oregon’s urban public research university. PSU is Oregon’s only urban public research university, and its location connects engineering education to the infrastructure needs of a major city, region, and state.
Build expertise for Oregon’s infrastructure needs. Oregon’s higher education strategy emphasizes workforce relevance, clear education-to-career pathways, affordable access, learner belonging, and economic development. This certificate applies those priorities to civil infrastructure by preparing engineers to assess, maintain, repair, preserve, and manage existing structures.
Learn near regional infrastructure partners. PSU’s Portland location places students near public agencies, transit systems, transportation organizations, and engineering consulting firms that work on buildings, bridges, roadways, and other civil infrastructure. Potential partners and employers identified for this field include the City of Portland, Multnomah County, TriMet, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and local engineering consulting firms.
Gain a credential designed for working professionals. The certificate serves full-time and part-time graduate students, including professionals in the private and public sectors who want career advancement but may not have the time or resources to pursue a multi-year full-time graduate degree.
Learn from faculty connected to the field. Courses are taught by faculty in CEE and Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), including tenured and tenure-track faculty with expertise in structural engineering, infrastructure management, sensing and monitoring, reliability, rehabilitation, and related areas.
Plan graduate study with support. Current CEE graduate students in the structural specialization may add the certificate to an MS or MEng plan. Bachelor’s plus Master’s students pursuing an MS or MEng may also be able to add the certificate. Students who later pursue a master’s degree should work with an advisor to determine how certificate credits may apply toward degree requirements.
This graduate certificate prepares engineers for careers with a Graduate Certificate in Engineering and Preservation of Existing Structures and for specialized jobs in structural engineering, infrastructure preservation, bridge inspection, structural assessment, non-destructive evaluation, repair, strengthening, and asset management.
Graduates can apply the certificate’s skills in public agencies, transportation organizations, infrastructure ownership and management, engineering consulting, forensic engineering, building rehabilitation, bridge evaluation, and civil infrastructure maintenance. The program is especially relevant for engineers who want to work on existing buildings, bridges, roadways, and other infrastructure rather than focus only on new construction.
What you'll study:
Students in the EPES Graduate Certificate learn how to assess, model, repair, strengthen, and manage existing structures.
The curriculum develops practical and analytical skills for engineers working with infrastructure that already exists. You will study the difference between designing new structures and preserving existing ones, learn how to evaluate structural condition, and apply methods used in professional practice to make informed decisions about maintenance, intervention, rehabilitation, and asset management. Coursework may include examples involving historic structures and cultural heritage structures, giving students opportunities to consider how engineering and preservation decisions affect local communities.
You will build skills in:
- Condition assessment of existing structures
- Sensors, data acquisition, and monitoring fundamentals
- Visual inspection, non-destructive testing, and structural monitoring
- Data analysis, statistical modeling, and reliability-based decision-making
- Structural modeling based on measured material properties and observed conditions
- Repair, rehabilitation, and strengthening of concrete, steel, and timber structures
- Infrastructure management and asset management
- Sustainable and resource-conscious preservation of the built environment
- Use of current standards and professional references for assessment, repair, rehabilitation, bridge evaluation, and structural reliability
Admissions Details:
Applicants to the EPES Graduate Certificate must be admitted to graduate status at PSU and must have a civil, structural, mechanical, or architectural engineering background.
Students should confirm that they meet the prerequisites for the courses they plan to take as part of the certificate. Prospective students may contact course instructors before enrollment to ask about course expectations and preparation.
The certificate follows PSU’s general graduate admission requirements unless otherwise specified by the CEE Department on the CEE Admission Details website. The program is effective Fall 2026, and students should apply in advance of their intended start term to allow time for advising and course sequencing.
FAQ:
Is the PSU Graduate Certificate in Engineering and Preservation of Existing Structures available online?
The program is designed for in-person study at PSU’s main Portland campus. Students should review current course schedules and talk with an advisor when planning enrollment.
How long does it take to complete the graduate certificate?
Students can complete the 20-credit certificate in 1 to 2 years, typically 3 to 6 academic terms depending on start term, course sequencing, and whether they study full time or part time. This estimate does not include summer.
Can I work while completing this structural engineering certificate?
Yes. The certificate is designed to serve working professionals as well as full-time graduate students. Because courses are delivered in person, working students should plan schedules carefully with an advisor.
What prerequisites do I need for the Engineering and Preservation of Existing Structures certificate?
Applicants need graduate status and a civil, structural, mechanical, or architectural engineering background. Students should also make sure they meet prerequisites for the specific courses they choose.
Can this certificate apply toward a master’s degree at PSU?
Current CEE graduate students may be able to add the certificate to an MS or MEng plan. Students should work with an advisor to determine how certificate credits may apply toward degree requirements.
Is this the same as a structural engineering degree in Portland?
No. This is a 20-credit graduate certificate, not a degree. It is a shorter, focused credential for students and professionals who want specialized expertise in the engineering and preservation of existing structures.