Civil Engineering, M.S.

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(30 UNITS)

Master of Science Civil Engineering

The Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering is intended to meet the needs of students who wish to prepare for careers in areas such as construction and project management, design and analysis of complex systems (including structures, such as tall buildings and bridges), environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, consulting and research; as well as doctoral studies.

The program provides advanced study within the area of civil engineering and allows students to select coursework, with adviser approval, in the areas of construction engineering and management, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering and structural engineering.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, to qualify for admission with conditionally classified standing, applicants must meet the following departmental requirements:

Minimum GPA of 2.5 for applicants graduated from domestic (U.S.) institutions with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 2.5 for applicants graduated from ABET-accredited international institutions with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 3.0 for applicants graduated from domestic (U.S.) institutions with undergraduate degrees other than engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 3.0 for applicants with undergraduate degrees from non-ABET accredited international institutions

Applicants meeting these requirements will be admitted to the graduate program in Civil Engineering and will advance to classified standing immediately after filing an adviser-approved study plan in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department office. Students not meeting the above requirements may be admitted and will be required to take additional prerequisite coursework.

Any student entering the M.S. degree program without a B.S. in Civil Engineering will be required to complete deficiency courses prior to beginning coursework for the master’s degree. All deficiency courses must be completed before the final semester of coursework.

Students who possess a bachelor’s degree from a postsecondary institution where English is not the principal language should submit a TOEFL/IELTS/PET score (minimum score: TOEFL Internet 80/Paper 550, IELTS 6.5 or PTE 58). The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department does not require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Application Deadlines

Refer to: fullerton.edu/ecs for application information.

Classified Standing

Students will be advanced to classified standing and are eligible to take graduate courses for which they are qualified by meeting the following requirements.

Complete all deficiency work specified by the graduate adviser with a “B-” (2.7) or better before starting graduate courses (unless approved by the chair);
meet with an adviser prior to completing 13 units toward the M.S. degree at CSUF to develop a study plan, which must be approved by the department chair and Office of Graduate Studies; and
fulfill the university writing requirement prior to completing nine units at CSUF toward the M.S. Degree by successfully completing one of the following:

An upper-division writing requirement at any CSU campus
An upper-division writing course from another university that is equivalent to a course satisfying the CSUF Upper-Division Writing Requirement. Equivalency must be certified by the department chair
Cal State Fullerton Examination in Writing Proficiency (EWP)
CSUF upper-division or graduate-level course that is certified as meeting the writing requirement and is approved by the department chair. A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.

Study Plan

The study plan consists of adviser-approved upper-division or graduate-level coursework, which must be completed with an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0. At least half the units required for the degree must be in approved graduate (500-level) courses.

Required Courses (6 units)

EGGN 403 and an additional three-unit, adviser-approved math-oriented course, or six units adviser-approved electives (for those focusing on environmental and construction areas).

Course Tracks (15 units)

Students are required to select a minimum of 15 units in Civil Engineering. These units may be 400- (subject to approval by the department chair) and 500-level courses and are selected according to each student’s area of interest. Coursework may focus on the following areas: Construction Engineering and Management; Geotechnical Engineering; Structural Engineering; and Water Resources Engineering. Upon graduation, students will receive a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. Environmental Engineering track students will receive a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Engineering.

Other Courses (9 units)

Elective units should be taken in Civil Engineering or a related engineering field and are subject to adviser approval.

Culminating Experience

Subject to approval by the department head, students may select one of the following three options for final review by a department committee:

Students enrolling in less than six units of Independent Study/Thesis/Project will be required to take a comprehensive examination. Students enrolling in six units of thesis or project may defend their thesis or project instead of taking a comprehensive exam.