In a rapidly changing technological world, graduate degrees are highly desirable and very often, master’s degrees are required to hold professional civil and environmental engineering positions in the industry, and in federal, state and municipal government agencies. Our graduate programs are designed to educate the technological leaders of the future in civil and environmental engineering, and are structured to accommodate both full-time and part-time students.
Specialty areas in the program include coastal, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering in civil engineering, and sub-fields in environmental engineering including water quality, water and wastewater treatment, hydrologic processes, water resources, environmental engineering microbiology, air quality, hazardous and solid waste, biofuels, nutrient cycling, and pollution prevention. Programs in all speciality areas are available to on-campus students and online master's degree programs are available in the specialty areas of Coastal Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
For additional information, please request a departmental handbook from the Graduate Program Director (CEGPD@odu.edu).
Program Overview
The Master of Science in Engineering with a Concentration in Civil Engineering requires 30 credits and is available in three pathways – the Thesis Option, the Project Option, and the Coursework-Only Option. The curricular requirements for each of these options are describe in detail in this catalog. These pathways provide a range of options for pursuing advanced study. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with the Graduate Program Director (or a faculty advisor) if unsure which pathway is most suitable for their needs.
Additional Information
Graduate Student Program Handbook: For additional information, please request a departmental handbook from the Graduate Program Director (CEGPD@odu.edu).
Program Financial Aid: Our programs offer graduate assistantships with stipends that are awarded to students after a competitive review process. The level of award is determined on the basis of previous experience and performance as a graduate assistant and on the student’s academic achievement and potential in the field. In addition, a number of teaching and research positions are available for financial support of graduate assistants during the summer months (June and July).
Accelerated Study (Dual Dominion Program): Undergraduate students in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology can apply for entry into the Dual Dominion Program, which permits students to begin pursuit of a graduate degree in Civil Engineering while they are still pursuing their undergraduate degree in a complementary discipline. Subject to the approval of the undergraduate and graduate program directors, a student enrolled in the Dual Dominion program can count up to six credit hours of course work towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Full-time students may be able to complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree in four years and the master's degree in one additional year. Students who are matriculated in an undergraduate major in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology with a GPA of at least 3.00 overall and 3.00 in the major are eligible to apply for admission to a Dual Dominion Bachelor's/Master's program. Additional Undergraduate Catalog information on the Dual Dominion program can be found at https://catalog.odu.edu/undergraduate/registrationrequirementsandprocedures/linked_programs/.
Admission Information
Application Process
Summary: Applications for graduate study in the Master of Science in Engineering Program (Civil Engineering) should be made through the general ODU Application Portal. Additional materials supporting your application (outlined below) will be required. Once complete, your application package will be reviewed and forwarded to the Civil and Environmental Engineering Program's Graduate Program Director for consideration. Questions regarding the general application process can be directed to admissions@odu.edu (on-campus) or globaladmissions@odu.edu (online).
Application Deadlines: The Master of Science in Engineering Program uses a rolling admission process and does not have a formal application deadline. Entrance into the program and commencement of studies will be timed to begin with the start of the next academic term following admission.
General ODU Requirements
General ODU Requirements: General requirements for graduate admission to the Master of Science in Engineering Program (Civil Engineering) can be found on the ODU Graduate Admissions website. Additional details can be found in the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.
Additional Program Requirements:
Prior Degrees: Civil and Environmental Engineering master's degree applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably, in civil or environmental engineering with a strong background in mathematics and physical sciences. Provisional admission (see below) may also be possible for applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a related field other than the applicant’s intended graduate program.
Undergraduate GPA: Regular admission to a master’s program generally requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA may be considered for regular or provisional admission on the basis of successful engineering work experience or other credentials demonstrating potential for success in the graduate program.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are required.
Examination/Test Scores: Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is nominally required. However, this requirement is waived if the applicant holds an engineering degree from an ABET accredited institution in the USA.
Language Proficiency Requirements: TOEFL (or IELTS) scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English unless their BS degrees are from USA institutions. These applicants must meet University admission requirements (IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL iBT: 79); please refer to the website: https://www.odu.edu/admissions/proficiency for additional details.
Résumé: A résumé or CV detailing relevant experience is required.
Personal Statement: Each applicant must submit an essay of 500 words or less describing personal and academic goals, professional objectives, preparation for graduate study, and how the chosen program will help the applicant achieve these goals and objectives.
Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted from former or current professors, or employment supervisors.
Provisional Admission: Students not meeting the above requirements may be admitted provisionally. Only the Graduate Program Director (GPD) can waive an admission requirement. Please reach out directly to the GPD if you think you are eligible for a waiver from a requirement. The GPD may request additional information, including GRE scores. Provisionally admitted students may be required to complete additional prerequisite course requirements to prepare them for the graduate curriculum in the discipline.
Curriculum Requirements
Curriculum requirements in the Master of Science in Engineering (Civil and Environmental Engineering Concentration) are in accordance with the general requirements for Ph.D. degrees at Old Dominion University as specified in the Requirements for Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.
Progression in the M.S. program is governed by a Plan of Study that is established by the student in conjunction with his/her advisor and guidance committee within the first nine credit hours of coursework. The Plan of Study will follow the established course requirements (below) unless a substitution to one or more courses is agreed upon between the student and their primary advisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director.
The plan of study is designed to prepare the student to undertake scholarly research in the particular field and specialization of their dissertation. The coursework selected will provide the student with (1) the requisite foundational knowledge of the selected field, and (2) the necessary research skills. A high degree of flexibility is provided to customize the plan of study, taking into account the diversity in the fields of study, the multidisciplinary nature and variety of research that is undertaken, as well as the different levels of preparation that individual students have upon entry to the program.
The Master of Science in Engineering with a Concentration in Civil Engineering can be focused into one of two directions: 1) General Emphasis, or 2) Transportation Engineering Emphasis. Within the emphasis areas, the M.S. can be earned through three possible Options with differing combinations of classwork, projects, and thesis requirements.
Coursework Option: 30 credit hours total (all credits coursework)*
*Note that completion of all three Options requires students to pass an examination. The Thesis Option requires students to complete a thesis, the Project Option requires students to pass an oral project defense examination, and the Coursework Option requires students to pass an oral (for civil engineering) or written (for environmental engineering) comprehensive examination at the end of all course work.
Degree requirements for each of the three Options are outlined below.
M.S. Thesis Option
Table CEE-1. Required Course Distributions for M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering (except for Transportation Engineering Emphasis)
Table CEE-1 Required Course Distro
Category
Credit Hours
A
12
A,B, or C (open electives)
9*
D: MATH/STAT
3
Thesis
6
Total
30**
* Double listing in A and B Category
** For thesis option, no more than 9 credit hours can be at the 500 level.
M. S. - Project Option
Table CEE-2. Required Course Distributions for M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering (except for Transportation Engineering Emphasis)
Table CEE-1 Required Course Distro
Category
Credit Hours
A
12
A, B, or C (open electives)
12*
D: MATH/STAT
3
Project
3
Total
30**
* Double listing in A and B Category
** For project option, no more than 9 credit hours can be at the 500 level.
M. S. - Course Option
Table CEE-3. Required Course Distributions for M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering (except for Transportation Engineering Emphasis)
Table CEE-1 Required Course Distro
Category
Credit Hours
A
12
A,B, or C
15*
D: MATH/STAT
3
Total
30**
* Double listing in A and B Category
** For project option, no more than 12 credit hours can be at the 500 level.
Category A - Core Courses (Except for Transportation Track). Select 12 credits from this Category:
Graduate-level courses in the M.S. in Environmental Engineering program, as well as courses offered by other departments that are approved by the student's academic advisor or the CEE Graduate Program Director.
Category D
CEE 700
CEE 701 or any graduate-level mathematics or statistics course.
Potential Prerequisite Courses for M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering (other than Transportation Engr. Emphasis)
Numerical Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering
1
M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering Course Requirements (in Transportation Engineering Emphasis)
The department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Engineering with a concentration in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Transportation Engineering. Table CEE-3 summarizes the requirements for the Transportation Engineering emphasis. Note that the M.S. Thesis option students must pass an oral thesis defense examination and submit thesis, Project option students must pass an oral project defense examination, and Course option students must pass an oral comprehensive examination at the end of all course work.
Table CEE-4. Required Course Distributions for M.S. Engineering - Civil Engineering – Transportation Engineering Emphasis
Numerical Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering
1
Additional Requirements
Responsible Conduct of Research
Prior to the completion of 12 credit hours in the Master of Science in Engineering (Civil Engineering Concentration) program, all graduate students must also complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) basic course, Responsible Conduct of Research for Engineers. The basic course includes the following modules: Misconduct (falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism); Data acquisition, management, sharing and ownership; Mentor/trainee relationships; Publication practice and responsible authorship; Peer review; Conflicts of interest; and Collaborative research. Students who fail to complete this requirement within the allotted time period will have a registration hold placed on their records. For additional details on this training, see the Responsible Conduct of Research Training website.
Colloquium/Seminar Requirement
The Master of Science in Engineering (Civil Engineering Concentration) program encourages but does not require students to attend or participate in research seminars on contemporary topics given by professionals in the field.
Foreign Language Requirement
There is no foreign language requirement for the Master of Science in Engineering with a Concentration in Civil Engineering.
Residency Requirement
There is no residency requirement for the Master of Science in Engineering with a Concentration in Civil Engineering.
