Phone: 703-993-1675
Web: civil.gmu.edu
Professors: Arciszewski, Bronzini (chair), Houck
Associate professors: deMonsabert, Flannery, Venigalla
Assistant professors: Casey, Urgessa
Research professor: Hero
Adjunct professors: Ali, Binning, Chase, Chipley, Choudhury, Donahue, Doyle, Furey, Gagne, Goode, Hartmann, Harrop-Williams, Kirby, Liner, Matusik, Miller, Rodriguez, Ward, Zobel
The Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) Department offers a BS and an MS in civil and infrastructure engineering. These degree programs complement the study of civil and environmental engineering with advances in information technology (IT), and they focus on the physical and organizational infrastructure essential to the functioning of an urban society. The bachelor’s program in civil and infrastructure engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4012; 410-347-7700. Students interested in pursuing doctoral education in civil and infrastructure engineering are encouraged to read the sections on the interdisciplinary PhD in information technology and PhD study in civil and infrastructure engineering.
Civil and infrastructure engineering is the study of land, transportation, water, environmental, structural, energy, and telecommunications systems from a civil engineering perspective and within a complex technological, social, political, economic, and environmental context. The focus is on how these systems are successfully conceived, developed, designed, built, operated, maintained, and renewed in the built environment such as the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
An urban society thrives and prospers when adequate, appropriate, reliable, robust, secure, and cost-effective infrastructure systems are provided. The investment in existing infrastructure and other urban systems in the United States is enormous. The investment required to maintain, operate, renew, and manage the evolution of these infrastructure systems in the future is even greater. The need for highly educated professionals to confront and solve these continuing vital problems is pressing. Examples of infrastructure systems include water supply and distribution; streets, roads, and highways; wastewater management; transit; storm water management; public utilities; energy supply and distribution; telecommunications; buildings, facilities, and structures; and solid waste management.
The department offers all courses designated CEIE and some of the ENGR and IT courses in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
BS-CEIE
The bachelor’s degree program provides a solid foundation in the theory of civil and infrastructure engineering. Students benefit from exposure to practical civil, environmental, and infrastructure engineering problems and their solutions in the classroom, lab, and field. Students also have the opportunity to work as engineering interns each summer. The goal of the department is to graduate students who are prepared to
Civil engineering students can look forward to a career in local, state, and federal government organizations and architectural and engineering firms that specialize in land development, transportation, water resources, environment, structures, construction, and other related fields. The program also prepares students for continuing graduate studies.
Degree requirements include 120 credits distributed in courses in three main areas: mathematics and basic science, humanities and social sciences, and civil engineering analysis and design.
The prerequisite structure for these courses is extensive. The sample schedule below provides a listing of major and general education course requirements, as well as a guide to the progression of the courses to satisfy all prerequisites.
Students are required to see their faculty advisor at least once each semester to plan for the next semester’s registration. Each student is expected to complete an approved plan of study, which constitutes a learning plan for the degree program.
A variety of classes will count for credit as CEIE technical electives. All electives must be selected with the advice and approval of the academic advisor. Paid internships during the summer (CEIE 197, 198, and 199; 297, 298, and 299; and 397, 398, and 399) may also be used as technical electives.
The university’s writing-intensive requirement for civil and infrastructure engineering majors is satisfied by the successful completion of CEIE 360.
| First Semester | |
|
CHEM 251 General Chemistry for Engineers |
4 |
|
ENGL 101 Composition |
3 |
|
ENGR 107 Introduction to Engineering |
2 |
|
ENGR 183 Engineering Computer Graphics |
3 |
|
MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I |
4 |
|
Total |
16 |
| Second Semester | |
|
CS 112 Computer Science I |
4 |
|
ECON 103 Microeconomic Principles |
3 |
|
MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II |
4 |
|
PHYS 160 University Physics I |
3 |
|
PHYS 161 University Physics I Laboratory |
1 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Third Semester | |
|
CEIE 290 Engineering Computation and Design |
3 |
|
MATH 213 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III |
3 |
|
PHYS 260 University Physics II |
3 |
|
PHYS 261 University Physics II Laboratory |
1 |
|
General education literature course |
3 |
|
Total |
13 |
| Fourth Semester | |
|
CEIE 230 Hydraulics |
3 |
|
COMM 100 Oral Communication |
3 |
|
ENGR 210 Statics and Dynamics |
3 |
|
MATH 214 Elementary Differential Equations |
3 |
|
STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engrs and Sci I |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Fifth Semester | |
|
CEIE 301 Engr and Economic Models in Civil Engineering |
3 |
|
CEIE 340 Water Resources Engineering |
3 |
|
ENGL 302 Advanced Composition |
3 |
|
ENGR 310 Mechanics of Materials |
3 |
|
HIST 100 History of Western Civilization |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Sixth Semester | |
|
CEIE 305 Soil Mechanics |
3 |
|
CEIE 311 Structural Analysis |
3 |
|
CEIE 360 Introduction to Transportation Engineering |
3 |
|
PHYS 266 Introduction to Thermodynamics |
1 |
|
General education arts course |
3 |
|
General education global understanding course |
3 |
|
Total |
16 |
| Seventh Semester | |
|
CEIE 367 Behavior of Concrete and Steel Structures |
3 |
|
CEIE 400 Civil Engineering Planning and Management |
3 |
|
CEIE 440 Water Supply and Distribution |
3 |
|
CEIE 455 Introduction to Environmental Engineering |
3 |
|
CEIE technical elective* |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
| Eighth Semester | |
|
CEIE 463 Construction Systems |
3 |
|
CEIE 490 Senior Design Project |
3 |
|
CEIE technical elective* |
3 |
|
CEIE technical elective* |
3 |
|
CEIE technical elective* |
3 |
|
Total |
15 |
* Of the 12 technical elective credits, 3 credits of a CEIE transportation elective and 3 credits of a CEIE environmental elective are required.
This option provides a way for Mason students to earn an MS in civil and infrastructure engineering in less time than if they graduated from the BS program and then applied to the MS program. This program can be completed in 144 credits.
Mason students in the BS in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Program may apply for the BS/accelerated MS if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30 or their GPA in ENGR and CEIE courses is at least 3.30. Students who have not yet finished 90 credits may be accepted provisionally subject to satisfactory completion of 90 credits. All other criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission into the MS program.
Students must complete 144 credits that satisfy requirements for both the BS and MS programs. Students register for 6 credits of CEIE 500-level courses in place of undergraduate technical elective courses. The CEIE 500-level courses selected for this purpose must be approved by the academic advisor. Students complete all MS requirements and may apply the two CEIE 500-level courses included in the BS program toward satisfaction of these requirements.
Students must apply to have the BS degree conferred the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements. The master’s degree is granted on completion of MS requirements.
MS-CEIE
The MS program educates students in the theory and practice of civil, environmental, and infrastructure engineering. IT and automated tools for analyzing and solving urban systems problems are important components of the program. The civil and infrastructure engineer can look forward to pursuing a career in the private or public sector or continuing graduate study toward the PhD.
To be considered for admission to the program, a candidate must:
Acceptance to the degree program is based on an assessment of the applicant’s capacity to pursue these graduate studies successfully. Consideration is given to the undergraduate record, any previous graduate work, professional work experience, reference letters, and any recent GRE scores, which are required for international students. Well-qualified students with minor admission deficiencies may be admitted subject to completing an articulation program. Courses taken in the articulation program extend the minimum requirements for the degree.
The program includes three core courses, electives selected by the student with the aid of a faculty advisor, a thesis or civil and infrastructure engineering project, and a seminar requirement. Students must complete a faculty-approved plan of study with a minimum of 30 credits of graduate work, including the thesis (6 credits) or the research project (3 credits).
Students must complete the following three core courses. These courses provide a common background for understanding the breadth and complexity of civil and infrastructure engineering, and introducing the application of IT and the systems approach to analyzing and solving problems in civil and infrastructure engineering.
Students must select an additional five or six electives that together constitute an emphasis area. With prior approval of a faculty advisor, students may design their own emphasis or select from one of several standard emphases, including the following:
Students must complete a project (3 credits) or thesis (6 credits) under the direction of a CEIE faculty member. Under the project option, students complete 3 credits of CEIE 798, during which they prepare and present a scholarly paper. The scholarly paper is a technical report on an independent study, laboratory or computer experimentation, or literature search on a current civil and infrastructure engineering topic selected under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students must demonstrate knowledge of the topic and make a satisfactory technical presentation of the paper in the CEIE graduate seminar (CEIE 795).
Under the thesis option, students complete 6 credits of CEIE 799. The master’s thesis should reflect a significant independent research effort. The work is conducted under the guidance of a faculty thesis advisor, and the final written thesis and oral defense are approved by a three-member faculty committee. In addition, students must make a satisfactory presentation of the thesis in the CEIE graduate seminar. The thesis is particularly recommended for those students who wish to develop and document their research skills, or contemplate subsequent enrollment in a PhD program.
All degree candidates must attend a minimum of 10 graduate seminars approved by the CEIE Department for the degree program.
CERG-CISE
This program is appropriate for civil infrastructure (such as transportation, water and wastewater, and utilities) owners and operators, designers, planners, maintenance staff, and other technical workers in the public and private sectors who are responsible for improving facility and equipment performance, reliability, security, efficiency, and management practices.
New approaches to civil infrastructure problems are emerging that use traditional civil engineering domain knowledge in the context of IT with a systems approach to analyze the complexity of and interaction among various infrastructure components and their performance. Currently, the most important challenge to infrastructure engineering is to improve the quality of stewardship, which falls far short of public expectations, and improve immediately the security of critical civil infrastructure. The certificate is intended to respond uniquely to the need for broad training in the holistic and systems approach to the long-term management of infrastructure, with specific attention to risk and vulnerability assessments, and creative solutions to providing improved system security. The certificate program is flexible and can be tailored to the needs of students within the infrastructure engineering community, but it is also intended to be responsive to the needs of infrastructure owners, operators, and other technical staff.
Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, mathematics, science, or other related technical field, and must be computer literate. Candidates should inquire with the certificate coordinator for details of program planning. Courses are offered in late afternoon and evening and are particularly suitable for part-time students.
The certificate program consists of 15 credits (five courses) selected from certificate program courses and elective courses. The certificate courses are aimed at building the foundations of asset management methods based on a holistic and systems approach. The certificate program courses consist of the following:
| One core course | Credits |
|---|---|
CEIE 680 Introduction to Infrastructure and Security Engineering |
3 |
| Minimum of two of the following specific sector courses: | |
|
CEIE 681 Security of Structural Systems |
3 |
|
CEIE 683 Water and Wastewater Systems Security |
3 |
|
CEIE 686 Transportation System Security and Safety |
3 |
Remaining elective credits selected from the following:
|
Selection of courses is subject to approval of the certificate coordinator to ensure cohesiveness and compatibility. Some courses may have prerequisites for which the student must qualify or seek a waiver from the appropriate instructor. A cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required, and no more than one course with a grade of C may be applied toward the certificate.
CERG-DDI
This program responds to the growing need for professional knowledge in innovation. It provides students with a balanced understanding of the entire process from the discovery of knowledge, its use in inventive problem solving and the development of inventions, and familiarity with the use of various inventive design methods and tools. The program is available to students who hold a master’s degree in engineering and scientific disciplines or are currently in such graduate programs. Students may pursue the certificate concurrently with any of the graduate programs in the Volgenau School; however, the certificate is not awarded until all requirements have been completed.
Certificate candidates must complete at least 15 credits with an average grade of B or higher. To obtain the certificate, students must take SYST 520 and IT 894 and IT/OR/SYST 944. Students also must take two of the following: CEIE 601 or 670; SYST 512 (recommended courses if continuing for MS in civil and infrastructure engineering) or 573; STAT 664/SYST664; SYST 781/STAT 781; STAT 652, 700, and 701; or 671/SYST 671; or IT 819.
CERG-FRED
The principal focus of the certificate is to provide a fundamental understanding of real estate concepts. The graduate certificate will educate the student in the following: leadership and management challenges in real estate development, fundamentals of construction management, and economic evolution and development concepts.
The Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship, in conjunction with the Volgenau School of Information Technology and Engineering, the School of Public Policy, and the School of Management, offers this foundations in real estate development certificate. The certificate is offered in conjunction with the school’s master of science in civil engineering at Mason.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Admissions decisions are based on holistic consideration of the applicant’s work experience, letters of recommendation, and application materials.
Students must complete five courses, with an average grade of B or better, for a total of 15 credits of graduate study.
| Required Courses | |
|---|---|
| REAL 500 | Real Estate Development Fundamentals |
| Any four of the following five courses listed below: | |
| REAL 502 | Real Estate Client Leadership and Project Management |
| CEIE 610 | Development and Construction Systems Management |
| GSOM 740 | Real Estate Analysis and Valuation |
| PUBP 781 | Entrepreneurship and Economic Development |
| PUBP 785 | Evolution of the Washington Metropolitan Economy |
CERG-SENV
The principal focus of this advanced certificate is to provide a detailed understanding of evolving real estate concepts, particularly as relating to land development, sustainability, and the impact of evolving development on the environment. The five course series will give the student a detailed understanding of land analysis and valuation, engineering concepts related to land development, the impact of the environment on development, and the key concepts of sustainable development. The degree is offered in conjunction with the school’s master of science in civil engineering at Mason.
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher. In addition, this civil engineering/real estate graduate certificate requires students to have a basic understanding of real estate development, significant experience in the real estate industry, and/or completion of REAL 500 Real Estate Development Fundamentals.
Students must complete five courses, with an average grade of B or better, for a total of 15 credits of graduate study.
| Required Courses | |
|---|---|
| REAL 502 | Real Estate Client Leadership and Project Management |
| CEIE 500 | Land Development Engineering |
| CEIE 555 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering |
| CEIE 501 | Sustainable Development |
| CEIE 673 | Leading Engineering Innovation |
Students currently enrolled in degree programs at Mason who desire to earn this certificate should contact the Civil Engineering Department in Science and Technology II, Room 109, 703-993-1675.
Doctoral studies in civil and infrastructure engineering may be pursued in two ways.
Doctoral study in civil and infrastructure engineering is available through the PhD in Information Technology Program, which offers advanced courses in this discipline. Pending approval of the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV), the CEIE Department will be offering a PhD in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Program beginning fall 2008.
PHD-INFT
Students who pursue a concentration in this doctoral program will have the concentration noted on their transcript. The degree conferred on a graduating student is a PhD in information technology with a concentration in civil and infrastructure engineering. Students may also pursue such doctoral studies without designating a concentration.
Requirements
Students seeking this concentration must satisfy all the requirements for the PhD in information technology degree. In addition, the following requirements must be met:
Plan of Study
All decisions concerning the student’s course requirements and plan of study must be approved by the advisor or director, with the consent of the CEIE Department chair.
Doctoral Supervisory Committee
The dissertation director must be a CEIE Department faculty member. The composition of the doctoral supervisory committee is to be approved by the CEIE Department chair and the Volgenau School associate dean for research and graduate studies. Permission for the comprehensive exam and the dissertation defense is requested from the Volgenau School associate dean on the basis of a written request and plan approved by the supervisory committee and the CEIE Department chair.
(pending SCHEV approval)
PHD-CEIE
The doctoral program offered by the CEIE Department is unique in Virginia, incorporating the varied areas of civil engineering with a focus on infrastructure operation and management. The program is structured to prepare students for advanced leadership positions in research and development in the public or private sector, academics, and government. Students may elect to study in the areas of IT and computing in civil engineering, environmental engineering, water and wastewater engineering, construction engineering and management, infrastructure security and engineering, structural engineering, or transportation engineering. Requirements include course work, qualifying exams, a teaching requirement, dissertation proposal defense, and dissertation research and defense.
All general Mason and specific Volgenau School admission requirements apply. In addition, all applicants, including Mason undergraduates, must submit the following:
Applicants will be encouraged to schedule an interview with the graduate coordinator or faculty member in their proposed area of research. Admission decisions will be based on the student’s qualifications and the availability of a faculty advisor. The application material will be reviewed by the department doctoral committee and decisions made with input from appropriate faculty members.
The application material will be reviewed by the graduate admissions officer for the department and decisions made with input from appropriate faculty members and/or the department chair.
A dissertation committee is recommended to be formed within the first semester following successful completion of the qualifying exams. The dissertation committee is to consist of the CEIE Department dissertation director, two or more CEIE Department faculty members, and at least one committee member from outside the department. At least three members of the committee are to be members of the Mason graduate faculty. The composition of the dissertation committee must be approved by the CEIE Department chair.
With the completion of a BS degree, 72 additional credits are required to complete a PhD in civil and infrastructure engineering. Of these 72 credits, 24 are required for dissertation research. Students may apply up to 24 credits from their MS degree toward their required 72 credits beyond the BS subject to the approval of the dissertation committee and the CEIE Department chair. Students with degrees earned outside the United States may use some course credit toward the required 72 credits but not more than 24 credits.
Of the 72 credits beyond the BS, 48 credits of course work are required. Of these 48 hours, a maximum of 18 credits (normally part of the MS or equivalent program) may be at the 500 level, and a minimum of 9 credits at the 700 level or higher must be completed. For courses taken elsewhere, the PhD director must determine equivalent levels and obtain approval from the CEIE Department chair to apply these courses to the required 48 credits of course work. Individualized reading courses at any level cannot exceed 6 credits. A minimum GPA of 3.50 is required and no C grades are allowed for the 24 credits earned beyond the MS.
Students are also required to take a minimum of 3 credits of statistics at the 500 level or above outside the CEIE Department. Substitution of quantitative or scientific course work in some other discipline that is more relevant to the intended doctoral research may be approved by the dissertation committee and the department chair.
Research work in the PhD program is to be completed in courses CEIE 998 and CEIE 999. A minimum of 12 credits of CEIE 998 (Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Preparation) and 12 credits of CEIE 999 (Doctoral Dissertation) are to be completed. Students cannot enroll in CEIE 999 before the research proposal is presented and approved by the dissertation committee.
Qualifying exams will be offered twice a year prior to the start of the fall and spring semesters. The qualifying exam is intended to test the student’s familiarity with concepts presented at the MS level or post-BS level and serve as guidance for the dissertation director to help shape the student’s course work needs at the PhD level.
Students entering with an MS degree must take the qualifying exam on completion of 18 credits of study. Students entering without an MS degree must take the qualifying exam on completion of 24 credits. The qualifying exam consists of a written exam taken in an eight-hour period and an oral interview attended by an examining committee of at least five members of the CEIE faculty. The qualifying exam may be repeated once. A student failing the qualifying exam twice will be removed from the program.
The qualifying exam includes information from the following focus areas::
Prior to the exam, students are required to select two focus areas for examination. Candidates for the PhD in information technology and engineer degree in information technology who wish to transfer to the PHD-CEIE program who have successfully completed two qualifying exams based on CEIE courses are not required to take the CEIE qualifying exam.
A dissertation committee is recommended to be formed within the first semester following successful completion of the qualifying exams. The dissertation committee is to consist of the CEIE Department dissertation director, two or more CEIE Department faculty members, and at least one committee member from outside the department. At least three members of the committee are to be members of the Mason graduate faculty. The composition of the dissertation committee must be approved by the CEIE Department chair.
Students may not schedule their dissertation proposal defense (research competency exam) before successful completion of the qualifying exam. On completing all course work and successfully passing the qualifying exam, students are to present their written dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee. The dissertation proposal defense includes a written proposal and presentation of the intended direction of the dissertation research. The dissertation proposal defense is not to include completed research because the dissertation committee is to use the dissertation proposal defense to provide input and guidance to the student prior to beginning dissertation research. The dissertation proposal defense is also an opportunity for dissertation committee members to examine the student’s knowledge in higher-level course work and familiarity with existing and emerging research related to the student’s research area. The exam is administered by the student’s dissertation committee and must be attended by all dissertation committee members and the department chair.
In preparation for the dissertation proposal defense, the student shall prepare a written dissertation proposal outlining the intended direction of the research and the review of existing research previously published on the topic. The dissertation proposal shall be submitted to the dissertation committee for review at least two weeks prior to the dissertation proposal defense date. The dissertation proposal is then presented by the student as part of the research competency exam. If a student fails the competency exam, the student may request to take the exam again through a formal written request to the doctoral dissertation director within 60 days of receiving notice of the exam result. If the student fails the competency exam and does not request to take the exam again within 60 days of the original date, the student will be dismissed from the PhD program. After successful completion of this requirement, the student is formally admitted as a PhD candidate.
Because one of the characteristics of a good researcher and scholar is the ability to express ideas and concepts to a broader audience in a clear manner, each doctoral candidate will be required to organize and deliver a series of lectures and recitations in the CEIE Department to undergraduate students. Working with his or her doctoral dissertation advisor, the candidate will gain experience in the classroom that will benefit the student should he or she decide to pursue an academic or an advanced research career.
On successful completion of the dissertation proposal, students are to conduct research under the guidance of their dissertation director and dissertation committee members. Students are not to schedule their dissertation defense sooner than two semesters after a successful proposal defense. During the dissertation research period, students must present their research at least once in the form of a department seminar. The dissertation must represent achievement in research, must be a significant contribution to the field of civil engineering, and should be deemed publishable in refereed journals. When the majority of the research has been completed, the candidate is to submit a written draft dissertation to the doctoral dissertation committee and schedule an oral predefense with the doctoral dissertation committee. The predefense is to be attended by the doctoral dissertation committee and the department chair.
A final public oral defense may be scheduled no sooner than one month after the conclusion of the predefense, which will allow for a minimum of two weeks to advertise the defense. The final defense is to be attended by the doctoral dissertation committee and the department chair. On successful completion of the oral defense, students must submit a final publishable dissertation that meets the guidelines specified by the Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects. If the student fails to defend the dissertation successfully, the student may request a second defense following the same procedures as the initial defense. This request has no time limit, other than the general time limits for the doctoral degree as per Mason policy. An additional predefense is not required; however, the student is strongly advised to consult with the committee before scheduling the second defense. If the student fails on the second attempt to defend the dissertation, the student will be dismissed from the PhD program. Following a successful public defense and completion of the final form of the dissertation, the dissertation committee recommends the candidate for the degree of doctor of philosophy.
The CEIE Department is the administrative home for the university-wide Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship, which draws on the resources and expertise of the Volgenau School, the School of Public Policy, and the School of Management. The center is designing undergraduate and graduate programs that encompass the entire real estate development continuum from land use and environmental considerations to acquisition dynamics and construction management. For further details, see the center’s web site at realestate.gmu.edu.