www.ent.ohiou.edu/ce

Program Overview: In civil engineering, programs for the Master of Science are offered in construction engineering & management, environmental engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, solid mechanics, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. A B.S. in civil engineering is a basic requirement for entrance to the M.S. program. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for unconditional admittance. Applications are invited from engineering and science graduates. Collateral work to remedy deficiencies of those without civil engineering degrees may be carried out in conjunction with the M.S. program. Collateral requirements will depend on preparation in the applicant’s major field of study. Students may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis plan. Students who are supported by research funds are normally required to follow the thesis option. Students must pass an oral examination before a recommendation for the degree is made. Students must obtain a minimum of 32 credit hours of approved graduate work. More detailed procedures are outlined below: 1. Students admitted with conditional status must obtain a 3.0 GPA after completing 10 semester hours, which should include a minimum of three civil engineering graduate courses. 2. Before assignment of an advisor, the student must state his/her area of interest. 3. The student’s advisor should be identified prior to the end of the first semester of enrollment. Until an advisor is identified, the Department Graduate Chair will assist the student in course selection. A change of advisor may only be made by a formal agreement of the faculty involved and the Department Graduate Chair. 4. By the end of the first semester, the student must submit a complete ‘Program of Study’ to the Graduate Committee for approval. This should be done in collaboration with the student’s advisor. Changes in the Program of Study may be allowed, but only with the approval of the advisor and the Graduate Committee. 5. The student may select either the thesis or non-thesis (special investigation) option. Students who are supported by research funds are normally required to choose the thesis option. 6. The student’s M.S. Thesis Committee will be recommended by the student and his/her advisor and then approved by the Graduate Committee. This needs to be done no later than the end of the second semester of graduate study. Make-up of the committee will be determined according to the College requirements. Only formal agreement of the faculty involved and the Graduate Committee may make a change in the committee. The College’s ‘Committee Arrangement Form’ should be submitted after forming the M.S. Thesis Committee. 7. At least 14 days before the date of the oral examination of the thesis or special investigation, the College’s Oral Examination Arrangement Form must be submitted. 8. The final oral examination must be taken and passed before a recommendation for the degree is made. The student must first provide, at least 2 weeks before the scheduled oral examination, each thesis committee member a copy of his/her thesis or special investigation. Three members of the committee must vote yes to pass the candidate. A student who fails this examination will be given one more opportunity within one month of the first attempt. Following final approval of thesis or special investigation the signed ‘Report of Examination Form’ must be submitted. 9. No more than six years can be taken to complete requirements of the master’s degree program. 10. A student must complete a minimum of thirty two credit hours of approved graduate work. No grades less than a C (2.0) are acceptable in any course work used to satisfy any graduate requirement. A successful completion of a M.S. thesis option can yield six credit hours toward the degree requirement.

Admissions Policy: A B.S. in civil engineering is a basic requirement for entrance to the M.S. program. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for unconditional admittance. International students must clear through the Ohio Program for Intensive English (OPIE) before starting the graduate program in Civil Engineering.

Change Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.

Transfer Policy: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities: Because of the broad nature of civil engineering, a wide range of career paths is available to graduates of the program. For example, some graduates can work for private firms as structural or geotechnical engineers. Some graduates may be hired by construction contractors as construction management professionals. Others may find opportunities in government agencies to work as transportation or environmental engineers. The program’s offering of advanced courses in various specialty areas of civil engineering and strong research track record assure that some graduates will be ready to pursue Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering related programs available throughout the U.S. and beyond.