POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY 2005-2007

CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
PREVIOUS CURRICULA
It is a generally accepted rule that students
are subject to the requirements of the catalog
that was in effect when they initially
enrolled at the Polytechnic. Academic
advisers work with students to make sure
that they fulfill the proper requirements.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
PROGRAM IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING
The Master of Science in Civil
Engineering allows students to specialize
in one of the following six areas of
concentration:
• Structural Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Environmental and Water Resource
Engineering
• Highway and Traffic Engineering
• Construction Management and
Engineering
• Urban Systems Engineering and
Management
Students may also elect to follow a general
program by taking courses across several
areas of concentration.
The Department of Civil Engineering
also offers graduate programs in transportation
planning, management and
engineering (see the Transportation section
in this catalog), environmental science
and engineering (see Environmental
Science and Engineering section in this
catalog), construction management (see
the Construction Management section of
this catalog) and urban systems engineering
and management (see Urban Systems
Engineering and Management section in
this catalog).
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The degree MS in Civil Engineering prepares
graduates to practice their profession
at an advanced level. Specific objectives
of the program are to provide the
skills and knowledge necessary to:
• Specialize in one of the primary subdisciplines
of civil engineering or to
achieve depth across a number of the
sub-disciplines
• Design and analyze civil engineering
infrastructure
• Understand civil engineering materials,
technologies and processes as
applied to modern civil engineering
infrastructure
• Obtain civil engineering project management
skills
• Provide a basis for continued, lifelong
learning in the civil engineering profession
ADMISSION
Students seeking admission to the MS
program should hold a bachelor’s degree
in civil engineering from a program
accredited by the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology (ABET)
and have a 2.75 GPA or better. Applicants
lacking a BS from an ABET-accredited
program in civil engineering (including
those possessing undergraduate degrees
in other engineering disciplines, engineering
science, engineering technology,
architecture or from a foreign university)
will have their qualifications reviewed by
a graduate adviser. Admission may be
granted and may include the requirement
for additional undergraduate courses to
make up deficiencies. These additional
courses are not counted toward the MS
degree, nor are undergraduate courses
included in the computation of graduate
grade-point averages.
Applicants from universities outside
the United States should take the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE
advanced tests) and achieve a minimum
grade of 550 on the quantitative section
and 550 on the verbal section. They must
also take the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) and achieve a minimum
grade of 550. In some cases, the
department head may waive the GRE
and/or TOEFL after a graduate adviser
examines the student’s transcripts and
interviews the candidate.
Foreign candidates who meet all other
admission requirements but who fail to
satisfy the TOEFL requirement may be
required to take one or more remedial
courses in English before admission.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS
To earn an MS degree from Polytechnic,
students must maintain a B average (3.0
GPA) or better in (1) all graduate courses
taken at Polytechnic, (2) all graduate
courses taken in the Department of Civil
Engineering and (3) all graduate guided
studies (readings, project, thesis).
Poor scholastic performance (under
3.0 GPA) may lead to a student being
placed on graduate probation. If students’
grades do not improve, they may be disqualified
from further graduate study in
the department. Students may repeat a
course with their adviser’s approval.
When a course is repeated, the latest
grade counts toward the GPA. In the rare
case where a course is repeated more than
once, only the first grade is dropped from
the GPA computation.
ADVISING
Graduate students are assigned a faculty
adviser. It is important that students maintain
frequent contact with their adviser
throughout the course of their studies.
Students must meet with their academic
adviser prior to each registration
and at any other time they need advice or
consultation. Students must have a
detailed program of study formally
approved by their adviser prior to registration.
Advisers also handle requests for
waivers of certain degree requirements,
where warranted. Such waivers must be
approved in writing and must be entered
into the student’s departmental file.
Where specific courses are waived, the
approval of the course instructor is also
required. When waivers are granted, students
may be required to take other specific
courses in their place or to select
additional electives.
Students registering for any guided
studies (readings, projects, theses) are
assigned advisers for each such activity.
The guided studies adviser may or may
not be the same as the student’s academic
adviser, depending upon the subject
matter selected. To register for any guided
study activity, a student must submit
written proposals for the topic(s) to be
covered to an appropriate project adviser
before registration. To register, students
must obtain the written approval of the
project adviser and the academic adviser.
While academic advisers consult with
and advise students, it is the student’s
responsibility to ensure that all degree
requirements are fulfilled and to submit
all proper forms and applications when
required.
TRANSFER CREDITS
The residency requirement for MS
degrees is 27 units. Students may transfer
up to 9 units of acceptable courses toward
an MS degree, subject to their academic
adviser’s approval. To be transferred, the
course(s) must be relevant to the student’s
program and from an acceptable institution.
A grade of B or better is required for
granting of transfer credit. Courses graded
on a pass/fail basis are not considered
for transfer unless accompanied by a
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