Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Civil Engineering, M.S.C.E.


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The M.S.C.E. offers four areas of emphasis, construction management, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering and transportation systems management, while offering breadth in the areas of environmental engineering and water resources. A minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree is required. For full-time graduate students, six credit hours may involve research and completion of a thesis, with approval from the student’s adviser, with an additional 24 credit hours of coursework. The program also has the flexibility to meet the needs of part-time students, already working in industry, who typically take the nonthesis route with 30 credit hours of coursework. All civil engineering graduate courses are offered with evening class times or via distance learning to accommodate the schedule of working professionals.

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the Lyle School of Engineering admission requirements for an M.S. degree, applicants are required to satisfy the following additional requirement: a B.S. in civil engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.

Degree Requirements


In addition to meeting the Lyle School of Engineering degree requirements for an M.S. degree, candidates are required to satisfy these additional requirements:

  1. A total of 30 credit hours, with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale. Additional articulation courses may be required for students without a civil engineering undergraduate degree.
  2. Given the multidisciplinary nature of civil engineering, the core curriculum and elective courses comprising the degree plans for M.S. students will vary, depending on the student’s undergraduate background and his or her desired area of specialization.

The following sample degree plans are for students who have a civil engineering undergraduate degree and want a primary specialty in construction management, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering or transportation systems management:

Primary Specialty: Construction Management


Primary Specialty: Geotechnical Engineering


Primary Specialty: Structural Engineering


Primary Specialty: Transportation Systems Management


Secondary Specialties


Students can choose to group at least three elective courses (nine credit hours) into the following secondary specialties: smart and resilient infrastructure, environmental health and compliance, or global and sustainable development. Secondary specialties are optional. If a student wishes to pursue this option, he/she must complete the core courses from one CEE primary specialty and at least 9 credit hours in one of the secondary specialties as follows:

Smart and Resilient Infrastructure


Environmental Health and Compliance


Global and Sustainable Development


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