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Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

About the Program

This department supervises the following degree programs:

        • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
        • Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering
        • Master of Science in Civil Engineering
        • Master of Environmental Engineering
        • Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering

Dual-Degree/Joint Program

  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering / Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Mission. The mission of the department has three elements:

        • To provide excellent instruction and design experiences essential for graduates to enter the practice of civil engineering and pursue lifelong professional development.
        • To provide research opportunities for students that generate, communicate, and apply new knowledge for the betterment of society.
        • To foster a spirit of service and leadership among students and faculty and assist the public in addressing issues concerning using our resources, protecting our environment, and developing our infrastructure.

Program Educational Objectives. The faculty members strive to achieve the following objectives for their graduates:

        • Graduates will progress to professional registration.
        • Graduates will develop professionally through participation and leadership in professional organizations.
        • Graduates will pursue lifelong learning through continuing education or postgraduate education.
        • Graduates will be capable of diverse career paths in industry, consulting, and government.

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Undergraduate Program

Students in a lab.

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department supports the concept of the Dynamic Enrollment Management Plan and has adopted the following version of it. Prior to the third year of the curriculum shown below and before enrolling in subsequent civil engineering courses, each student must file an application for admission to the civil engineering degree program by submitting a degree plan. To obtain approval of the degree plan, students must acquire a C or better in all courses. To graduate, the student must maintain the above standards in subsequent courses, complete the specified minimum number of hours in each of these subject areas, and have a C or better in all degree program courses. Changes in the degree plan or exceptions to the above conditions require written approval of the chairperson of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Forms and information pertaining to departmental regulations are available in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering office. Professors and instructors reserve the right to restrict the use and type of
calculators used during class hours and tests.

Students interested in obtaining both the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and the Master of Architecture degrees should refer to the dual-degree curriculum listed in the College of Architecture section of this catalog.

Transfer Admission. Students applying for transfer into Civil and Environmental Engineering from another institution or from another department at Texas Tech must have completed a minimum of 30 hours of transferable college work that includes Calculus I and II (MATH 1351 and 1352), Chemistry I (CHEM 1307/1107), and English I and II (ENGL 1301 and 1302) with a GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Curriculum Tables

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Graduate Program

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 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.Back to Top

 

Course Descriptions

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

H. Scott Norville, Ph.D., Chairperson

Horn Professor: Mehta
Professors: Fedler, Kiesling, Norville, Rainwater, J. Smith, Swift
Associate Professors: Cleveland, Jackson, Jayawickrama, Liu, Morse, Ramsey, Senadheera, D. Smith, Song, Won
Assistant Professors: Bae, Chen, Hernandez, Lawson, Rice, ZuoBack to Top

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