Required Credit Hours/Tuition and Fees
- Thesis Option: 30
- Non-Thesis Option: 31
- Visit the Paying for College website for detailed tuition information
Program of Study
After admission and before enrolling in any courses, students are required to meet with the Graduate Program Director, who appoints, in consultation with the student, an advisory committee suited to the student's background and interests.The advisory committee assists the student in planning a program of study. This plan is to be completed by the end of the first semester.
Because of the importance of communication to the engineering profession and the need for excellent writing skills to complete degree requirements, all students are required to satisfactorily complete a technical writing course. Students with good writing skills may elect to submit an essay to be evaluated for conditional exemption from the English course requirement. If conditional exemption is granted, the student will substitute another approved course in the plan of study.
At least 20 semester hours must be in courses taught in civil engineering, and at least 15 semester hours must be at the 500-level.
Thesis Option
Students selecting the thesis option must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours. Students will be guided in thesis work by a thesis advisor, with the assistance and concurrence of the advisory committee. The number of hours to be awarded for thesis credit (CE 599-up to six credit hours) is to be specified by the advisory committee prior to approval of the thesis proposal. Thesis credit counts as part of the 30 credits required for the degree. Writing a thesis involves an intensive research effort and may require about six months to complete. The thesis must be formally accepted by the Graduate School.
Non-Thesis Option
Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete a minimum of 31 semester hours. Students prepare a research paper, the topic of which is mutually agreed upon by the student and the advisory committee. One credit hour is awarded for non-thesis credit (CE 593) and counts as part of the 31 credits required for the degree. Guidelines are available on the department website.
In developing a plan of study, students need to consider which courses will enable them to reach their goals as a civil engineer. Students may wish to choose from a variety of courses available to assist them in the completion of their thesis or final research paper. Note that not all courses may be offered at all times and that course offerings do not guarantee availability of a spot in that class. It is up to students to review published schedules and consult with their advisor to find out when the courses are offered and how they will fit into their course of study schedules. In addition, it is up to students to assure that they have met the prerequisites for courses prior to enrollment.
Doctoral Degree
A doctoral degree requires a minimum of 26 semester hours of coursework, a qualifying exam and 24 semester hours of dissertation research.
