2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, MS


Banner Code: VS-MS-CEIE

School: Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department: Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering 

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.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the program, a candidate must:

  • Satisfy general university requirements for admission to a graduate program.
  • Have earned a baccalaureate degree in engineering, physical sciences, economics, or other civil and infrastructure engineering-related field.
  • Provide three letters of reference, submitted by former professors or supervisors.

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 (especially upper division coursework), any previous graduate work, professional work experience, and reference letters. Well-qualified students with minor admission deficiencies may be provisionally admitted subject to completing an articulation program. Prescribed courses taken in the articulation program extend the minimum requirements for the MS degree and constitute a contract for which the student is obliged to complete.

Degree Requirements


The program includes two 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).

Core Courses


Students must complete the following two 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.

Emphases


Students must select an additional six or seven 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:

  • Water and environmental systems
  • IT in civil engineering
  • Infrastructure management
  • Civil infrastructure and security engineering
  • Construction engineering and management
  • Transportation engineering

Project or Thesis


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.

Students are advised of the university’s continuous registration requirement for thesis and dissertation research credits. Upon first enrolling in CEIE 799, the student must continue registration for each fall and spring semester until the thesis is successfully completed.

Seminar Requirement


All degree candidates must attend a minimum of ten graduate seminars approved by the CEIE Department for the degree program. Further, they are required to present the results of their project or thesis research as part of the Department seminar series. Students should enroll in CEIE 795 in their terminal semester. This course is used to verify the seminar attendance requirement.

Total: 30 credits