Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Peter Savolainen, Chairperson


Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering. Each program is described below.

 

Civil Engineering

The civil engineering major is designed to provide graduates with a broad understanding of the physical factors involved in the planning, design, and operation of public and private facilities. The bachelor’s degree program in civil engineering is oriented to the application of engineering principles to several areas of specialization, including transportation, structures, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, water resources, and pavements and materials.

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Civil  Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 128 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Civil Engineering major is met by completing Civil Engineering 321 and 341. Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Engineering may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Engineering for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses (42 credits):
    CE 221 Statics 3
    CE 273 Civil and Environmental Engineering Measurements 2
    CE 274 Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineers 1
    CE 275 GIS for Civil and Environmental Engineers 1
    CE 305 Introduction to Structural Analysis 3
    CE 312 Soil Mechanics 4
    CE 321 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics 4
    CE 337 Civil Engineering Materials 4
    CE 341 Transportation Engineering 3
    CE 371 Sustainable Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems 3
    CE 372 Risk Analysis in Civil and Environmental Engineering 3
    CE 495 Senior Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering 4
    CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    ENE 280 Principles of Environmental Engineering and Science 3
    ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids 3
    b. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    GLG 201 The Dynamic Earth 4
    GLG 301 Geology of the Great Lakes Region 3
    c. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    CE 461 Computational Methods in Civil Engineering 3
    ME 361 Dynamics 3
    d. One of the following courses:
    BE 351 Thermodynamics for Biological Engineering 3
    ECE 345 Electronic Instrumentation and Systems 3
    ME 201 Thermodynamics 3
    MSE 250 Materials Science and Engineering 3
    e. Design-intensive Electives. Complete 12 or 13 credits of electives from the list below in at least four different areas (environmental, geotechnical, pavements, structures, transportation, and water resources).
    Environmental
    ENE 483 Water and Wastewater Engineering 4
    ENE 489 Air Pollution: Science and Engineering 3
    Geotechnical
    CE 418 Geotechnical Engineering 3
    CE 485 Landfill Design 3
    Pavements
    CE 431 Design and Analysis for New and Rehabilitated Pavements 4
    Structures
    CE 405 Design of Steel Structures 3
    CE 406 Design of Concrete Structures 3
    Transportation
    CE 444 Principles of Traffic Engineering 3
    CE 449 Highway Design 3
    Water Resources
    ENE 421 Engineering Hydrology 3
    ENE 422 Applied Hydraulics 3
    f. Technical Electives. Complete 6 additional credits in courses not used to fulfill areas above or from the following:
    CE 400 Structural Mechanics 3
       CE  407 Materials Engineering: Properties, Selection and Processing 3
       CE  432 Pavement Rehabilitation 3
       CE  448 Transportation Planning 3
       CE  471 Construction Engineering – Equipment, Methods and Planning 3
    CE 473 Smart and Sustainable Building Design and Operations 3
    ENE 472 Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies 3
    ENE 481 Environmental Chemistry: Equilibrium Concepts  3
       ENE 487 Microbiology for Environmental Science and Engineering 3

Environmental Engineering

The environmental engineering major is designed to provide graduates with the engineering and scientific principles to analyze, design, and manage environmental systems, including water supplies, wastewater treatment facilities, air pollution control systems, surface and groundwater resources, and landfills. The program offers a thorough background in engineering fundamentals, along with a broad understanding of mathematical, physical, chemical, and biological concepts as they relate to environmental engineering.

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Environmental  Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering

  1. The University requirements for bachelor’s degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 128 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering.

    The University’s Tier II writing requirement for the Environmental Engineering major is met by completing Civil Engineering 321.  That course is referenced in item 3. a. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Engineering may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Engineering for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major.

               
a. All of the following courses (53 credits):
BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
CE 221 Statics 3
CE 274 Graphics for Civil and Environmental Engineers 1
CE 275 GIS for Civil and Environmental Engineers 1
CE 321 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics 4
CE 371 Sustainable Civil Environmental Engineering Systems 3
CE 372 Risk Analysis in Civil and Environmental Engineering 3
CE 495 Senior Design in Civil and Environmental Engineering 4
CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
CHE 201 Material and Energy Balances 3
ENE 280 Principles of Environmental Engineering and Science 3
ENE 421 Engineering Hydrology 3
ENE 422 Applied Hydraulics 3
ENE 480 Environmental Measurements Laboratory 2
ENE 481 Environmental Chemistry: Equilibrium Concepts 3
ENE 483 Water and Wastewater Engineering 4
ENE 487 Microbiology for Environmental Science and Engineering 3
ENE 489 Air Pollution: Science and Engineering 3
b. One of the following courses (3 credits):
CEM 142 General and Inorganic Chemistry 3
CEM 152 Principles of Chemistry 3
c. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
CHE 321 Thermodynamics for Chemical Engineering 4
ME 201 Thermodynamics 3
d. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
GLG 201 The Dynamic Earth 4
GLG 301 Geology of the Great Lakes Region 3
e. Engineering Electives. Complete at least one course for a minimum of 3 credits of electives from the list below or by approval of the department. Students must contact the department for approval.
BE 449 Human, Health Risk Analysis for Engineering Controls 3
BE 469 Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3
BE 482 Engineering Ecological Treatment Systems 3
BE 484 Water Resource Recovery Engineering 3
CE 473 Smart and Sustainable Building Design and Operations 3
CE 485 Landfill Design 3
ENE 472 Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies 3
f. Technical Electives. Complete at least two courses for a minimum of 6 credits of electives from the list below, list above (e), or by approval of the department. Students may substitute a 3-credit experiential education experience for one of the three courses. The experience is obtained in a minimum of three out-of-classroom experiences through engineering cooperative education. Students must contact the department for approval.
ANS 427 Environmental Toxicology and Society 3
BE 469 Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3
BE 482 Diffuse-Source Pollution Engineering 3
CSS 455 Environmental Pollutants in Soil and Water 3
CSUS 320 Environmental Planning and Management 3
FW 414 Aquatic Ecosystem Management 3
FW 417 Wetland Ecology and Management 3
FW 420 Stream Ecology 3
FW 472 Limnology 3
GLG 303 Oceanography 4
GLG 411 Hydrogeology 3
GLG 412 Glacial Geology and the Record of Climate Change 4
GLG 421 Environmental Geochemistry 4
IBIO 353 Marine Biology (W) 4
IBIO 355 Ecology 3
IBIO 446 Environmental Issues and Public Policy 3
ISS 310 People and Environment (I) 4
PLB 443 Restoration Ecology 3

Linked Bachelor's-Master's Degree in Civil Engineering (this program is in moratorium effective Spring 2020 through Spring 2022)

Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering
Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering
The department welcomes applications from Michigan State University Civil Engineering undergraduate students in their junior and senior year.  Admission applications must be made during the prior spring semester for an anticipated spring graduation or the prior fall semester for an anticipated fall graduation to allow admission before the final semester as a Civil Engineering undergraduate.  Admission to the program requires a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.5 and an approved program of study for the Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the time of admission. Admission to the Linked Bachelor’s-Master’s program allows the application of up to 9 credits toward the master's program for qualifying 400-level and above course work taken at the undergraduate level at Michigan State University or an external accredited institution. The number of approved credits, not to exceed 9, are applied toward the credit requirement of the master's degree. Credits applied to the Linked Bachelor's-Master's program are not eligible to be applied to any other graduate degree program.

Linked Bachelor's-Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering (this program is in moratorium effective Spring 2020 through Spring 2022)

Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering
Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering
  
The department welcomes applications from Michigan State University Civil Engineering undergraduate students in their junior and senior year, who are pursuing an environmental engineering concentration within the Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  Admission applications must be made during the prior spring semester for an anticipated spring graduation or the prior fall semester for an anticipated fall graduation to allow admission before the final semester as a Civil Engineering undergraduate.  Admission to the program requires a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.5 and an approved program of study for the Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering at the time of admission. Admission to the Linked Bachelor’s-Master’s program allows the application of up to 9 credits toward the master's program for qualifying 400-level and above course work taken at the undergraduate level at Michigan State University or an external accredited institution. The number of approved credits, not to exceed 9, are applied toward the credit requirement of the master's degree. Credits applied to the Linked Bachelor's-Master's program are not eligible to be applied to any other graduate degree program.

Graduate Study

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers the graduate degree programs that are listed below:

Master of Science
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering

The civil engineering degrees offer tracks in structural, materials, pavement, and geotechnical engineering, and hydrology and water resources.  The environmental engineering degrees offer specializations in environmental chemistry and physical-chemical processes, environmental microbiology and biotechnology, and environmental hydrology and water resources.

The Master of Science degrees provide opportunities for students who seek to enter professional practice as specialists or to continue study in a doctoral program. The Doctor of Philosophy degrees are research focused, designed to prepare students for careers in teaching, research or advanced specialized practice.


Civil Engineering - Master of Science

Students in the master's and doctoral degree programs in civil engineering may pursue advanced study in the areas of geotechnical and pavement engineering, structural engineering, mechanics and materials; water resources; ad transportation engineering.

Master of Science

Courses are selected in consultation with the academic advisor based upon the student's background. The courses in the final program of study are subject to the approval of the guidance committee.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An applicant for admission to the master's degree program in civil engineering should have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field and should have a grade–point average that would indicate success in graduate study.  

Depending on their undergraduate programs and their specialties within civil engineering, students who are admitted to the master's degree program with bachelor's degrees in fields related to civil engineering may be required to complete collateral courses.

All applicants are encouraged to submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering

The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis).

A student under Plan A must complete at least 20 credits at the 800-level or above, including 4 credits of Civil Engineering 899, but not more than 6 credits. Up to 10 credits of 400-level course work may be counted toward the degree. The student's program must be approved by the guidance committee.

A student under Plan B must complete at least 18 credits at the 800-level or above, including the completion of a research or design project through enrollment of at least 1 credit, but no more than 4 credits in Civil Engineering 892. Up to 12 credits of 400-level course work may be counted toward the degree. The student's program must be approved by the guidance committee.

 


Civil Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy

Admission

An applicant for admission to the Ph.D. degree program in civil engineering should have a bachelor's or master's degree in civil engineering or a related field and should have a grade-point average that would indicate success in graduate study.

All applicants are encouraged to submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified by their guidance committees.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering

These general criteria are the same for all students, the specific requirements for each student are developed in consultation with the advisor and the guidance committee.
1. Students with a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering must complete 12 credits of course work at the 800-level or above in consultation with their advisor and guidance committee.
2. Students admitted directly to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering must also complete the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering as part of the doctoral plan of study.
3. Students entering the program with a bachelor's or master's degree in a field other than civil engineering may be required to complete additional collateral course work to fulfil deficiencies in their academic background as specified by the guidance committee. This course work will not count towards the requirements for the doctoral degree program.
4. Complete the following course during the first year of study:
     CE  900 Research Strategies and Methods in Civil Engineering     1
5. Complete 24 to 36 credits of CE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
6. Complete a qualifying examination comprised of a written examination and an oral examination.
7. Complete a comprehensive examination comprised of a written thesis proposal and oral presentation. This examination must be completed at least six months prior to the doctoral dissertation defense.
8. Complete and successfully defend the dissertation and present the results of the dissertation research in a public seminar.

Environmental Engineering - Master of Science

Students in the master's and doctoral degree programs in environmental engineering may pursue advanced study in the areas of environmental chemistry and physical-chemical processes, environmental microbiology and biotechnology, and environmental hydrology and water resources.

Master of Science

Courses are selected in consultation with the academic advisor based upon the student's background. The courses in the finall program of study are subject to the approval of the guidance committee.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants for admission are expected to have a level of competency equivalent to that achieved by earning an undergraduate degree in environmental engineering, or in civil engineering with an environmental engineering specialization.  The undergraduate program should have included courses in mathematics through differential equations, chemistry, physics (mechanics), fluid mechanics, computer programming, and the design of water and wastewater treatment processes.

Depending on their undergraduate programs and their specialties within environmental engineering, students who are admitted to the master's degree program with bachelor's degrees in fields related to environmental engineering may be required to complete collateral courses.

All applicants are encouraged to provide their scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering

The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis).

A student under Plan A must complete at least 20 credits at the 800-level or above, including 4 credits of Environmental Engineering 899. Up to 10 credits of 400-level course work may be counted toward the degree. The student's program must be approved by the guidance committee.

A student under Plan B must complete at least 18 credits at the 800-level or above, including the completion of a research or design project through enrollment of at least 1 credit, but no more than 4 credits in Environmental Engineering 892. Up to 12 credits of 400-level course work may be counted toward the degree. The student's program must be approved by the guidance committee.

 


Environmental Engineering - Doctor of Philosophy

Admission
An applicant for admission to the Ph.D. degree program in environmental engineering should have a bachelor's or master's degree in environmental engineering or a related field and should have a grade-point average that would indicate success in graduate study.

All applicants are encouraged to submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified by their guidance committees.        

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Environmental Engineering

These general criteria are the same for all students, the specific requirements for each student are developed in consultation with the advisor and the guidance committee.
1. Students with a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering must complete 15 credits of course work at the 800-level or above in consultation with their advisor and guidance committee.
2. Students admitted directly to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Engineering must also complete the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering as part of the doctoral plan of study.
3. Students entering the program with a bachelor's or master's degree in a field other than environmental engineering may be required to complete additional collateral course work to fulfil deficiencies in their academic background as specified by the guidance committee. This course work will not count towards the requirements for the doctoral degree program.
4. Complete the following course during the first year of study:
     ENE  900 Research Strategies and Methods in Environmental Engineering and Science 1
5. Complete 24 to 36 credits of ENE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
6. Complete a qualifying examination comprised of a written examination and an oral examination.
7. Complete a comprehensive examination comprised of a written thesis proposal and oral presentation. This examination must be completed at least six months prior to the doctoral dissertation defense.
8. Complete and successfully defend the dissertation and present the results of the dissertation research in a public seminar.