FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What if I don't have a bachelors degree in civil engineering?
  2. Can I get the application fee waived?
  3. What are our program requirements?
  4. Masters Thesis Option
  5. Masters NonThesis Option
  6. PhD Degree Program

1. What if I don't have a bachelors degree in civil engineering?

Students can be admitted into the Civil Engineering graduate program without having an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering. These students are usually admitted under provisional status, given that they do not have a background within the intended field of graduate study. Applicants admitted under provisional status must meet specific criteria. Generally, this criteria includes the completion of undergraduate civil engineering coursework, stated at the time of admission. Provisional admission can be changed to regular graduate student status once all requirements have been fulfilled.

2. Can I get the application fee waived?

No. Applications are not processed until the application fee has been recieved.

3. What are our program requirements?

Specific program requirements can be found on the requirements page.

4. Masters Thesis Option:

Students are required to take 24 credit hours of regular coursework (approximately 8 courses), 6 credit hours of thesis work, and a one credit seminar course, for a total of 31 credits. In addition, students will be required to conduct research and defend a thesis to the public and thesis committee. This option generally takes two years to complete.

5. Masters Nonthesis Option:

Students enrolled in the Masters non-thesis option are required to take 30 hours of regular coursework (approximately 10 courses) and a 1 credit seminar course. Additionally, students are required to complete a project, write a final report, and complete a final examination. On average, this option takes two years to complete.

6. PhD Degree Program:

There are no set courses or numbers of hours required for a Ph.D. Each student's particular program is decided upon by a guidance committee. After a certain amount of coursework is undertaken, a qualifying exam must be taken. The qualifying exam generally consists of three parts: a written exam, an oral exam, and the writing of a research proposal. After the qualifying exam is taken and passed, a student goes from doctoral student to doctoral candidate and the candidate proceeds to complete his or her doctoral research under a doctoral committee. The student finally presents his or her dissertation to the public and defends it to the committee. It generally takes about four years after the masters degree to receive a doctoral degree.