Graduate Program / Civil Engineering (Back to Top)

For master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering, students may choose one or more of several areas of specialization including environmental engineering, water resources engineering, structural engineering, wind engineering, engineering mechanics, geoenvironmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, and highway engineering.

Professors and instructors reserve the right to restrict the use and type of calculators used during class hours and tests.

Admission. Students with a baccalaureate degree in engineering may enter the graduate program by having their entrance credentials evaluated by both the Graduate School and the department. For applicants with a baccalaureate degree in science or mathematics, certain leveling courses in engineering normally are required. Persons entering the graduate program in civil engineering should consult with a graduate advisor.

Master’s Degree Programs

Two general plans of study are available for the Master of
Science degree: a 30-hour plan that includes 6 hours credit for the master’s thesis and a 36-hour plan that includes 3 hours credit for the master’s report. The decision regarding which plan to follow is made jointly by the student and faculty advisor.

Master of Environmental Technology Management. Students in the master’s program in environmental technology management may choose one or more of six areas of specialization: environmental technology management, land quality, water quality, hazardous and toxic waste, solid waste, and air quality. Course selection will be from several engineering and science disciplines. Certain leveling courses may be required for students entering the environmental technology and management program with a baccalaureate degree in science, mathematics, or technology. For acceptance into the degree program, students must have their entrance credentials evaluated by both the Graduate School and the department. The required undergraduate course prerequisites are MATH 1351, 2350, BIOL 1403, CHEM 1307 and 1107, 1308 and 1108, and ECO 2301 or their equivalents. In addition, students should have the computer skills necessary to do the analytical work required in the program.

Master of Environmental Engineering. The master’s degree in environmental engineering is an ABET accredited freshman-to-master’s degree program specializing in environmental engineering. It is a design-oriented program that culminates in a comprehensive design problem rather than a research-oriented thesis. The traditional path to becoming an environmental engineer involves completing the B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. (with environmental engineering specialization) degrees or B.S.Ch.E. and M.S.Ch.E. degrees.

Although the traditional path produces graduates in high demand by employers, certain parts of the environmental engineering spectrum demand graduates with a more specialized degree program. The M.Env.E. program is a five-year “freshman-to-master’s degree” program. The M.Env.E. program provides graduates with strong preparation in biology, chemistry, and environmental engineering. Students choosing the M.Env.E. degree are B.S.C.E. majors until formally admitted to the M.Env.E. program at the end of the second curriculum year. Students must pass the Graduate Record Examination and meet the university’s graduate school admission requirements before enrolling in graduate level courses.

The original intentions of the curriculum and program standards may be stated as follows:

• The graduates of the M.Env.E. program will be prepared for environmental engineering practice through a curriculum that stresses design and application of engineering principles, rather than research.
• The inclusion of a broad background in biology, chemistry, and geology will make M.Env.E. graduates able to interact directly with environmental scientists in regulatory agencies, consulting firms, and industrial organizations.
• The M.Env.E. graduates will be attractive employees for petrochemical industries, as well as more traditional consulting and regulatory positions, through combining basic engineering principles with a strong environmental engineering foundation.

The Engineering Criteria 2000 established requirements for major focus areas and proficiencies to be included in an accredited program in environmental engineering. The major focus areas of water supply and resources, environmental systems modeling, environmental chemistry, wastewater management, solid waste management, hazardous waste management, air pollution control, and environmental health are included in specific advanced and graduate level courses within the curriculum. Further information about the curriculum and assessment procedures can be found at www.ce.ttu.edu.