Civil Engineering - MS (Residential)

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering (Residential Program) – MS7252

Department Civil and Environmental Engineering
1 Ohio University
Stocker Center 231
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1465
civil@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer

Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None

Program Overview

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department offers a resident Master of Science degree program with focus areas of construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. The mission of the M.S. Program is to prepare graduates to successfully apply the principles of civil and environmental engineering. The M.S. program is designed to prepare graduates for a higher level of professional ability through coursework and a research project or thesis (supported students are normally required to complete a thesis). Graduates will be prepared to enter a Ph.D. program in Civil Engineering or enter professional practice in their recognized specialty. This is a full-time program. Normative time to completion is two academic years.

Program Learning Outcomes

Advance their knowledge base beyond the undergraduate level, particularly in their chosen specialty
Conduct research and interpret results using prior published knowledge as a foundation
Attain effective communication skills necessary to interact in a diverse professional environment
Employ modern engineering and computational tools

Opportunities for Graduates

Because of the broad nature of civil engineering, a wide range of career paths is available to graduates of the resident M.S. 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.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/engineering/civil/academics/graduate-programs/masters

Admission Requirements

A B.S. in engineering or a related area is a basic requirement for entrance to the resident M.S. program. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for unconditional admittance. Students who are not native speakers of English must meet the university’s English proficiency requirement before starting the graduate program in Civil Engineering. TOEFL score, transcripts from all previously attended universities, a resume, a letter of purpose, and at least three letters of reference must be submitted by the applicant for review by the Department Graduate Committee. GRE scores may be submitted to strengthen the application, but submission of GRE scores is not required. A majority vote of the Department Graduate Committee will determine whether the applicant will be admitted or denied admission. Supplementary work to remedy deficiencies of those without civil engineering degrees may be carried out in conjunction with the M.S. program.

International Students

This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of approved graduate work. Students in the resident M.S. program may choose either the thesis or the non-thesis option. Students who are supported by research funds are normally required to follow the thesis option. Supplementary requirements will depend on preparation in the applicant’s major field of study.

Core Courses

The following courses are required of all students:

Focus Areas

Students must select a focus area and complete the required courses below.

Construction Engineering and Management

Environmental Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Transportation Engineering

Water Resources Engineering

Other Course Requirements

Elective Courses

For all students, additional courses in the focus area and elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s major advisor. Up to 6 credit hours may be taken outside of civil engineering in addition to ET 6020.

Non-Thesis Option

Students selecting the non-thesis option must complete a minimum of 29 credit hours of courses and, in addition, a minimum of 3 hours of CE 5900.

CE 5900 - Special Topics in Civil Engineering

Thesis Option

Students selecting the thesis option must complete a minimum of 26 credit hours of courses and, in addition, a minimum of 6 hours from CE 6950 or CE 6940.

Additional Requirements

No grades less than a C (2.0) are acceptable in any course used to satisfy any graduate requirement.

Before assignment of a major advisor, the student must state his/her focus area. The student’s major advisor should be identified prior to the end of the first semester of enrollment. Until a major advisor is identified, the Department Graduate Chair will assist the student in course selection. A change of major advisor may be made only by a formal agreement by the faculty involved and the Department Graduate Chair.

By the end of the first semester, the student should form an M.S. Committee with the assistance of his/her major advisor, which is then approved by the Department Graduate Chair. The student’s M.S. committee supervises the student’s studies and research and monitors progress to graduation. The make-up of the committee will be determined according to College requirements, which stipulate that the committee will include at least four members, including the major advisor and a faculty member from outside the college of engineering. A change in the committee may be made only by formal agreement of the faculty involved in the current and proposed M.S. Committee and the Department Graduate Chair. The College’s ‘Committee Approval Form’ should be submitted after forming the M.S. Committee.

By the end of the first semester, the student must submit a completed Program of Study form which lists all classes to be taken towards completion of the degree. This Program of Study should be developed in collaboration with the student’s major advisor and must be approved by the M.S. Committee and the Department Graduate Chair. Changes in the Program of Study may be allowed, but only with the approval of the major advisor and the Department Graduate Chair.

At least 14 days before the scheduled oral examination, the College’s Oral Examination Arrangement Form must be submitted. In the thesis option, the oral examination is a defense of the thesis, while in the non-thesis option the oral examination includes an examination of the special investigation and the course work.

At least 14 days before the scheduled oral examination, the student must provide each member of the M.S. Committee a copy of the thesis or special investigation.

At least 14 days before the scheduled oral examination, the student must provide the Engineering College a Statement of Originality form and a PDF of the thesis for a plagiarism check.

The final oral examination on the thesis or special investigation must be taken and passed before a recommendation for the degree is made. Three members of the committee must vote yes to pass the candidate. A student who fails this examination will be given one more opportunity to pass within one month of the first attempt.

Following final approval of the thesis or special investigation the signed Oral Thesis Defense or Special Investigation Examination Form’ must be submitted.

No more than six years can be taken to complete the requirements of the M.S. degree program.

Culminating Experience

After completion of all coursework, a written thesis or project must be prepared and defended at an oral examination. In the thesis option, the oral examination is a defense of the thesis, while in the non-thesis option the oral examination includes an examination of the special investigation and the course work.