Programs of graduate study leading to the master of science (M.S.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees may be arranged in a wide variety of areas. The fields of specialization available include structural analysis and design, computational mechanics, structural reliability, structural optimization, structural dynamics, concrete structures, experimental mechanics, soil mechanics and foundations, soil dynamics, soil composite materials, constitutive modeling of geomaterials, nondestructive evaluation of transportation infrastructure, air quality engineering, problems of dynamics of soil structure, hydraulic engineering, hydromechanics, coastal studies, water and wastewater treatment, environmental fluid mechanics, water resource systems, transportation engineering, intelligent transportation systems, transportation infrastructure design operations, construction engineering, and management.
Students with a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree from an accredited civil engineering field may apply for direct admission to the graduate program. Students with backgrounds in engineering programs other than civil engineering are required to complete certain prerequisite undergraduate courses in civil engineering.
Master of science degree candidates may elect either a thesis or nonthesis option. The thesis option consists of 24 credits of coursework, 6 credits of research in a specialized area, and a final thesis presentation. In the nonthesis option, a candidate must complete 27 credits of coursework, do a 3-credit special project with a report, and pass an oral final examination.
Requirements for the M.S. degree may be satisfied for all options in a part-time evening program, which is designed for students employed in industry and other students whose obligations preclude full-time study. Admission and academic standards for part-time students are the same as for full-time students. This arrangement makes it possible for students to combine day and evening schedules simultaneously or at different periods in their academic careers.
The master of philosophy degree is available to doctoral students.
The Ph.D. is primarily a research degree and is not conferred solely for completion of a series of prescribed courses. The requirements for the Ph.D. degree include a minimum of 48 credits of coursework beyond the baccalaureate, a minimum of 24 credits of research beyond the M.S. degree, and successful completion of a research dissertation. There is no language requirement. Ph.D. candidates normally are required to register for at least two consecutive terms as full-time students in residence. Exceptions to this requirement may be made in special situations.
Significant computing and experimental laboratory resources are available to graduate students. The computer resources of the School of Engineering include a design, simulation, and visualization (DSV) lab. Located within the School of Engineering is the Supercomputer Remote Access and Graphics Center, which provides facilities for developing large-scale computational programs, for high-speed access to the National Science Foundation's Supercomputer Centers, and for graphical processing and display. Students in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have access to a graduate civil engineering laboratory and to the Rutgers Intelligent Transportation Systems (RITS) computing laboratories. The laboratories provide excellent computational capabilities, software packages specific to civil/environmental engineering, and access to supercomputing resources. A number of research laboratories are used to complement theoretical and analytical coursework and for doctoral and master's thesis research. These laboratories include the Concrete Structures and Materials Laboratory, the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Fluid Mechanics and Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory, the Large-Scale Structural Laboratory, the Rutgers Asphalt Pavement Laboratory (RAPL), the Soil Dynamics and Highway Materials Laboratory, the Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory, and the Soil Mechanics Laboratory. Additional research opportunities are provided through the closely associated Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT).
Degree programs in civil and environmental engineering may be arranged with the program director. Details may be found in the Program Information Manual for Graduate Students, available on request from the program office.
