Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

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.