Graduate Programs
The goal of the graduate programs is to prepare students to be technical leaders in their field, including the ability to do original research. The department offers master of engineering, master of science, doctoral degrees, and the degree of civil engineer. The master’s degrees may be with or without thesis. Major areas of current research in civil engineering include wind engineering, multi-scale modeling and stochastic mechanics, nondestructive evaluation and damage identification, bridge and infrastructure evaluation and design, soil-structure interactions, soil mechanics, deep foundation systems, and green infrastructure for urban stormwater management. In environmental engineering we have been studying advanced oxidation of hazardous wastes, statistical process control of wastewater treatment, stabilization/solidification of contaminated soil, and physicochemical treatment of heavy metal contaminated wastes. Our ocean engineering group conducts research on hydrodynamic modeling of currents and the dispersion of effluents in the coastal zone, experimental and computational marine hydrodynamics, coastal sediment transport, climate change, port security, coastal hazards, inland and coastal flooding, storm surges, maritime transportation, and analysis of current and wave observations in the coastal ocean.
An undergraduate degree in engineering or related disciplines with a “B” average from an accredited college or university is generally required for graduate study in civil, environmental, and ocean engineering. It is required that any applicants requesting assistantship appointments, and applicants to the Ph.D. program, provide GRE scores as well as evidence of ability to carry out independent work. Examples of such evidence include a description of master’s degree thesis work and/or completed work-related projects. GRE scores are not otherwise required, but may be submitted in support of the application. International students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language prior to admission by scoring at least 550 (79 computer-based) on the TOEFL examination. Applications for admission from qualified students are accepted at any time.
Master’s degree programs build on baccalaureate degrees to provide the student with added depth and specialization. The Master of Engineering (M.E.) degree is offered with programs in civil, environmental, ocean engineering, and Construction Engineering and Management, and the Master of Science (M.S.) is offered in Construction Management, Construction Engineering and Management, and Sustainability Management. The programs require 30 credit-hours of course work. A thesis is optional and may be substituted for five to ten credit hours of course work. The thesis option is strongly recommended for full-time students, those receiving financial support, or those planning to pursue doctoral studies.