The online master’s degree offered through the Lyles School of Civil Engineering allows students to tailor their degree by matching their engineering interests with career goals. The program features interdisciplinary tracks in sustainable water, infrastructure resiliency and sustainability and smart mobility. With courses taught by the same world-renowned faculty who instruct on-campus students, it is no wonder our 30-credit Master of Science degree is consistently ranked the No. 2 online master’s in civil engineering in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Meet a recent graduate - John Joseph Wardlaw

Current position/employer:
Quality, Safety, Environment Coordinator at Tropical Bottling Company and Brouwerij Nacional Balashi Aruba

What interested you in an online program?
Purdue University is a world-renowned university and offers an online program. I would have loved to have attended in person, however, with a full-time job and living on the beautiful Caribbean island of Aruba, that was not possible. I am grateful that Purdue offers an online program because it allowed me to experience a first-class master’s education with the feeling of being part of the Boilermaker community without physically being on campus.

What made Purdue the right fit for you?
I had the option to attend other globally well-known programs, however when looking at the options of both core and elective courses I felt an immediate pull toward Purdue as it allowed me to select the courses that interested me most.

How will this degree transform your life?
The process of earning the degree has already transformed my life by the knowledge and learning experiences gained over the past two years. My Purdue degree gave me the key to open many doors and possibilities for my future career.

What’s your next giant leap?
To find the appropriate job that will allow me to use the knowledge gained while earning this degree to assist in making civil engineering more efficient, effective and sustainable.

What advice would you give someone considering the online civil engineering master’s program at Purdue?
To ensure that your family and work support your efforts because indeed you will need that support as you put in many hours of study for each course.