Civil Engineering (MS)

Faculty research interests include geotechnical studies of subsurface conditions, soil testing "superpave" mix design, intelligent transportation systems, traffic safety, structural dynamics, nonlinear structural analysis and software development, reinforced concrete, construction engineering, hydraulic modeling, coastal ocean modeling, stormwater management, and watershed management. Students completing the program find positions in consulting firms, construction, and construction-related industries, in city, county, state, and federal government agencies, and academic institutions.

The MS degree offers both thesis and nonthesis options with each requiring 30 credit hours of acceptable graduate work. The thesis option requires a 6 credit hour thesis project and the nonthesis option requires an additional 6 credit hours of electives and an end-of-program portfolio submission.

Make sure and contact your track/program’s coordinator early in your graduating semester to find out when the portfolios are to be turned in for evaluation. The Graduate Student Services Coordinator (Arvin Cortez) should be able to tell you who the coordinator is for your degree program if you do not already know.

Individual, independent research studies may be required in one or more courses. The research study and report will focus on reviewing and analyzing contemporary research in a student's particular specialization within the profession in order to help students acquire knowledge and skills pertaining to research-based best practices in that specialization area. In addition, students may engage in six credit hours of independent study during their studies.

Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree