MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) DEGREE

Admissions

Students with Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Civil Engineering are eligible to enter the M.S. degree program. Students with engineering degrees in areas other than civil engineering may be required to complete deficiency/prerequisite undergraduate courses. As a minimum, the following deficiency/prerequisite courses or equivalent will be required: MATH 141, 142 and 242; CHEM 111; PHYS 211 and 212; ECIV 200; ECIV 201; STAT 509. Students will also be required to take all undergraduate courses that are listed as prerequisites for courses taken for graduate credit. In general, deficiency/prerequisite courses must be completed with a B average. Specific Program Areas (Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Water Resources Engineering) may require additional course work.

An undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on any graduate course work is required for students wishing to enter the M.S. degree programs with B.S. degrees in engineering.

For students with non-engineering baccalaureate degrees, or engineering degrees from programs not accredited by ABET, the minimum grade requirement is a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on their undergraduate coursework, and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on any graduate course work.

The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all students requesting financial aid, students with non-engineering baccalaureate degrees, or students with engineering degrees from programs not accredited by ABET. Typically, successful applicants have combined scores of at least 1100 on the Verbal and Quantitative (V + Q) sections, and 500 on the Analytical (A) section or 3.5 on the Analytical Writing section.

International students must obtain a minimum score of 570 (paper-based) or 80 (internet-based) on the TOEFL exam. In addition, students whose native language is not English are required to take a diagnostic test in English when they arrive at the University. Students with deficiencies are provided an opportunity for further study in reading, writing and speaking English.

A combined B.S./M.S. degree program is available to undergraduate Civil and Environmental Engineering students with GPAs of 3.5 or above and 90 or more hours earned toward their baccalaureate degrees. Up to six credit hours of 500-level or above courses may be applied toward both the B.S. and M.S. or M.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering degree requirements. The approval of the student’s advisor and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Director are required. Questions about this program may be directed to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Director.

Degree Requirements

The requirements for M.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering conform to the regulations of the Graduate School which includes a minimum of 30 credit hours. Students are required to take 24 semester hours of coursework as approved by student’s thesis committee and the Graduate Director and 6 semester hours of Thesis Preparation (ECIV 799). At least 15 hours of coursework must be 700-level or higher. Up to 9 semester hours of coursework may be taken outside of the department for degree credit with the approval of the student's advisor and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Director. Prescribed Core Courses are required for each area of study. The student is responsible for satisfying both departmental and Graduate School requirements. Questions may be directed to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Director.

Graduate courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering are numbered 700 or higher. A limited number of courses numbered between 500 and 699 may be taken for graduate degree credit.

A maximum of 6 credits of ECIV 797 and graduate coursework used towards a baccalaureate degree may be used toward the student’s program of study.

In addition to the above requirements, all students are required to attend the Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar in each semester in which they are full-time students. Full-time is defined as those on an assistantship and/or enrolled in 9 or more credit hours.