Online Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis
Advance your career with KU’s Online Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis. This flexible program helps working professionals build skills in construction leadership, project delivery, and risk management.
Online Graduate Certificate • Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
Online Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis
KU's online graduate certificates provide an affordable, flexible way to build specialized engineering expertise in just 12 credit hours. Coursework may be eligible to transfer toward a related KU graduate degree, though admission to a master's or doctoral program requires a separate application and approval.
Develop advanced analytical skills for evaluating structural systems through matrix analysis, finite element methods, dynamics, and structural performance assessment. This certificate is designed for engineers who want to strengthen their expertise in computational modeling and structural analysis while gaining knowledge that can support work in consulting, design, research, and infrastructure engineering.
See the Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis in the KU catalog for courses and requirements.
Program requirements verified against the 2026–27 KU Academic Catalog. Last reviewed August 2026.
Certificate at a Glance
Everything a practicing engineer usually scrolls to find, before you have to scroll.
Career outcomes
What Can You Do with a Graduate Certificate in Structural Analysis?
Advanced structural analysis is the capability that separates engineers who can run a model from engineers who can defend one. Lightcast counts 28,195 U.S. jobs in the occupations this field serves, with 2,310 openings projected every year through 2030 and median earnings of $124,231.
A graduate certificate in structural analysis is a short, focused post-baccalaureate credential covering the analytical evaluation of structural systems under load. At KU it requires four graduate courses and 12 credit hours, centered on matrix analysis of framed structures and finite element methods for solid mechanics, and it is awarded without the thesis or breadth requirements of a master’s degree.
Source for all labor market figures on this page: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set (August 2026), CIP 14.0803 Structural Engineering, United States, filtered to the share of the national workforce in these occupations holding a doctoral or professional degree. Figures are national aggregates, not KU outcomes, and no figure here is a guarantee of employment or salary.
Where structural analysis skills are hired
Four settings account for most of the hiring in this field. Each draws on the same analytical core and pairs it with a different load case, code environment, and client.
Buildings, bridges, and public infrastructure
Civil engineers in structural practice size members, check load paths, and certify that buildings and bridges perform under gravity, wind, and seismic demand. Matrix analysis and finite element methods are the daily tools, and state departments of transportation are among the largest single employers in the field.
- Civil EngineerDesign firms, DOTs, and public agencies17,528 jobs · 1,388 annual openings · $48.46/hr median · +8.9% by 2030
- Structural EngineerBuilding and infrastructure design2,511 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Bridge EngineerHighway, rail, and pedestrian crossings1,229 unique postings · 26-day median posting duration
- Transportation EngineerState and regional transportation programs542 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
Aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing
Airframe, launch, and defense structures are analyzed rather than prescribed by code, which makes finite element capability the entry ticket. Structural analysis engineer is the single most-posted job title in this field nationally, and the two largest posting employers are aerospace primes.
- Structural Analysis EngineerAirframe, launch vehicle, and defense structures4,335 unique postings · the most-posted title in this field
- Structural Dynamics EngineerVibration, shock, and transient response548 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Stress and Loads EngineerBoeing, Northrop Grumman, RTX, General AtomicsBoeing 6,794 · Northrop Grumman 5,397 unique postings
- Structural AnalystSimulation and model validation teams468 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
Consulting, forensics, and specialty analysis
Consulting firms sell analytical judgment: retrofit studies, failure investigation, peer review, and expert testimony. These roles reward engineers who can defend a model line by line, and postings from specialty consultancies fill faster than the market average.
- Project EngineerMultidisciplinary consulting practices1,539 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Geotechnical EngineerSoil-structure interaction and foundations1,685 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Forensic and Failure Analysis ConsultantExponent, WSP Global, AECOMExponent 967 postings · 12-day median duration, fastest in the set
- Civil/Structural EngineerIndustrial, energy, and process facilities612 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
Technical leadership and engineering management
Architectural and engineering managers carry the highest median earnings in this occupation set. The path runs through demonstrated technical depth, and a graduate credential in analysis is a common way for practicing engineers to evidence it before moving into principal or director roles.
- Architectural and Engineering ManagerDesign firm and program leadership10,667 jobs · 922 annual openings · $82.21/hr median · +9.5% by 2030
- Engineering ManagerTechnical team and portfolio leadership2,553 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Principal EngineerSenior individual-contributor technical authority2,242 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
- Director of EngineeringDivision and practice-area leadership1,737 unique job postings, Jan 2010–Jul 2026
Software employers ask for by name
Across 97,311 unique U.S. postings in these occupations, employers name a short list of analysis packages again and again. The required courses in this certificate teach the methods underneath them: matrix analysis and finite element formulation.
- Nastran 5,612 postings
- Python 5,856 postings
- Abaqus 3,554 postings
- Ansys 3,035 postings
- MATLAB 4,548 postings
- Femap 2,107 postings
Counts are unique U.S. job postings naming each package between January 2010 and July 2026. KU does not license or certify these products; the certificate teaches the analytical methods these tools implement.
Skills employers hire for
Each percentage is the share of postings in these occupations that names the skill. The two required courses in this certificate map directly to the top technical entries on this list.
- Project management 29%
- Computer science 21%
- Physics 18%
- Civil engineering 16%
- Mechanical engineering 11%
- Structural analysis 11%
- Finite element methods 10%
- Structural engineering 10%
- Engineering design process 7%
Organizations that hire these skills
Aerospace primes, national transportation agencies, and the largest engineering consultancies are the field’s most active recruiters. These ten posted the most unique U.S. openings in these occupations between January 2010 and July 2026.
- Boeing 6,794
- Northrop Grumman 5,397
- HNTB 3,449
- RTX 1,302
- General Atomics 1,087
- Exponent 967
- State of Louisiana 965
- WSP Global 902
- U.S. Department of Transportation 820
- AECOM 794
Figures are unique job postings per organization. Employer listings reflect national hiring activity and are not placement guarantees or KU partnerships. Full methodology at Lightcast (opens in a new tab).
Curriculum
Four Courses. Two Required, Two You Choose.
The certificate is anchored by two required courses in computational structural analysis, then you select two electives from advanced analysis areas. Every course applied toward the certificate requires a minimum grade of B, and no credits transfer in from another institution.
Required • CE 761 • 3 credits
Matrix Analysis of Framed Structures
Systematic matrix methods for analyzing framed structural systems: the computational foundation every modern structural analysis package is built on.
Required • CE 861 • 3 credits
Finite Element Methods for Solid Mechanics
Theory and application of finite element analysis for solid mechanics, the method underneath Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, and Femap workflows.
Elective courses: select two
Dynamic response of structural systems and vibration behavior under time-varying loads. Foundational for machine foundations, wind-sensitive structures, and aerospace transient analysis.
Advanced mechanics of structural components and systems, extending the theoretical base that specialized analysis work depends on.
Energy-based formulations for structural analysis and the theoretical basis for approximate and computational solution techniques, including the variational roots of the finite element method.
Buckling and stability of structural members and systems, essential wherever slender geometry or compression governs the design.
Structural behavior and performance evaluation under earthquake loading, from seismic demand characterization through performance-based assessment.
Course list from the 2026–27 KU Academic Catalog. The official catalog entry is the authoritative source for requirements.
Admissions
Who Can Apply
This is a graduate-level analysis sequence, so admission assumes an engineering foundation already in place.
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering with a GPA of 3.0 or better, from a regionally accredited institution or a foreign university with equivalent requirements.
- Official transcripts showing the bachelor’s degree and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees.
- Proof of English proficiency for non-native English speakers. Applicants to online programs need Full proficiency.
- All applicants must meet the requirements in KU’s Admission to Graduate Study policy.
To complete the certificate, earn a minimum grade of B in every course applied toward it. No credits may be transferred from another institution for this certificate.
Next step
How to Apply
Three steps from where you are now to your first course.
Gather your materials
Official transcripts showing your engineering bachelor’s degree, plus English proficiency documentation if it applies to you.
Apply online
Submit the KU graduate application as a certificate-seeking student through the graduate application portal.
Plan your four courses
Work with the Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering department to sequence your two required courses and two electives.
Not sure whether the certificate or the master’s fits?
That is the most common question we get, and the answer usually depends on how much of the analysis work you expect to own in the next two years. Tell us where you are and we will map both paths against it, including how certificate credits would carry forward.
Keep exploring
Related KU Engineering Graduate Certificates
Three more 12-credit CEAE certificates share this admission standard and the same stackable structure.
Learn more about this online program
Get more info on admission, deadlines, tuition and financial aid, career paths, and more when you fill out the form below. We’ll be in touch to answer any questions and help you get started.
Before you apply
Structural Analysis Certificate Questions, Answered
The questions practicing engineers ask most — including the two everybody looks up: whether the credits carry toward a master’s, and whether a certificate is worth it mid-career.
It is a four-course, 12-credit-hour graduate credential from the University of Kansas focused on the analytical evaluation of structural systems. Coursework covers matrix analysis and finite element methods, with electives in dynamics, stability, and seismic performance, so practicing engineers build advanced analysis capability without a full master’s degree.
The certificate requires four graduate courses totaling 12 credit hours. Your timeline depends on course load. Many working engineers take one course per semester and finish in about two years, while a heavier load compresses that. The CEAE department can help you build a realistic sequence.
Yes. Graduate courses taken for this certificate may be eligible to transfer for credit toward a KU graduate degree program. Many engineers complete the certificate first, then carry those 12 credit hours toward a master’s in civil engineering, subject to the degree program’s admission and transfer policies.
You need a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a GPA of 3.0 or better from a regionally accredited institution, official transcripts, and proof of English proficiency if you are a non-native speaker. All applicants must also meet KU’s Admission to Graduate Study policy for certificate-seeking students.
The published admission requirements for this certificate do not list a GRE score. Admission rests on your engineering bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 or better GPA, transcripts, and English proficiency where applicable. Confirm current requirements with the CEAE department, since policies can change between catalog years.
It depends on whether analysis work is where you want to grow. Structural analysis engineer is the most-posted job title in this field, with 4,335 unique U.S. postings between 2010 and 2026, and the aligned occupations carry median earnings of $124,231 per the Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set.
The certificate teaches the methods that commercial analysis packages implement rather than training on one vendor tool. Employers most often name Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, Femap, MATLAB, and Python in postings for these roles, and all of them rest on the matrix analysis and finite element theory in the two required courses.
Every course applied toward the certificate requires a minimum grade of B. No credits may be transferred in from another institution, so all four courses are completed at the University of Kansas. Plan your course load with both standards in mind from your first semester.
The certificate is a focused, four-course credential in structural analysis. A master’s requires substantially more coursework across a broader curriculum. The certificate builds a targeted specialty quickly, and because its credits may transfer toward a KU graduate degree, it also works as a lower-risk on-ramp to the master’s.
KU’s CEAE department offers three companion 12-credit certificates: Structural Design, Structural Forensics, and Water Resources. Each shares the same admission standard and stackable structure, so engineers often pair analysis with design or forensics.