Civil Engineering, M.S.

(Major Code: 09081) (SIMS Code: 442001)

General information

The Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering offers graduate study leading to the Master of Science degree in civil engineering. Available areas of study include a concentration in environmental engineering and specializations in construction engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. Programs of study may also include combinations of the above areas and related courses from other disciplines subject to the approval of the graduate adviser. Selected students in the program may be offered graduate teaching associateships. Experience as a graduate teaching associate can help prepare students for part-time or full-time teaching careers.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in an approved non-engineering curriculum must make up the deficiencies in biology, calculus, chemistry, computer skills, differential equations, fluid mechanics and hydraulics, physics, statics and dynamics, statistics, and thermodynamics, as determined by the graduate adviser.

The following materials should be mailed or delivered to:

Dr. Thais da Costa Alves, Graduate Adviser
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-1324

1. Personal statement of graduate program goals;
2. Letters of recommendation (optional).

Specific Requirements for the Degree

The student’s program, prepared in conference with and approved by the graduate adviser, must satisfy the following requirements:

1. General requirements: 21 units of coursework.
   1. A minimum of 12 units selected from one of the areas of specialization in civil engineering; in exceptional cases, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the graduate adviser, provided the substitute course is in the College of Engineering and enhances a coherent program in a specific professional area.
   2. Eighteen units of 600- and 700-level courses in civil engineering and/or construction engineering. No more than three units from courses numbered 797, 798, and 799 may be used to satisfy this requirement.
2. Culminating experience (nine additional units):
   1. Thesis students: Three units of 797, three units of 798, and three units of 799A.
   2. Non-thesis students: Six units of 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses and three units of 797 or 798 (additional units of 797 or 798 may be completed with approval of graduate adviser).
3. The total number of 500-, 600-, or 700-level units may not exceed 12 units outside the department.