Concentrations (Required) and Options Available

Construction Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams

Geotechnical/Materials Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams

Public Works Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams

Structural Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams

Transportation Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams (Knoxville Campus Only)

Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering — Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams (Distance Education only)

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus — All concentrations (except Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering)

Distance Education

• Geotechnical/Materials Engineering — Thesis, Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exams
• Public Works Engineering — Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exam
• Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering — Course Work Only without Comprehensive Exam

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• International applicants and graduates of non-ABET accredited programs must submit scores from the General Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Academic Standards

• It is the policy of the department that students supported by graduate teaching or research assistantship complete an integrated project, which is defined as a Thesis (CE 500 ) or Special Problems (CE 590 ). The appointment letter may specify which of the two options must be selected.
• Departmental requirements are that for a major in civil engineering, the bachelor’s degree must be in civil engineering, or certain undergraduate prerequisite courses must be taken before Admission to Candidacy.
• The major professor must approve the student’s choice of option (Thesis or Course Work only without comprehensive exams).

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• A minimum of 15 graduate credit hours in Civil Engineering (CE) or Environmental Engineering (ENVE) courses excluding CE 500 or ENVE 500 Thesis. For the Geotechnical/Materials Engineering concentration (for either Knoxville Campus or DE option) requires a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours of CE or ENVE courses.

• Option Requirements
  • Thesis Option: CE 500  (minimum 6 credit hours)
  • Course Work only without Comprehensive Exam Option

Additional Course Requirements

• 24 (thesis option) or 30 (course work only without comprehensive exam) credit hours of graduate courses selected in consultation with the major professor and/or committee.

• Within the course work only option, students may include 3 credit hours of CE 590  (Special Problems in Civil Engineering), to pursue a project-oriented MS in consultation with the major professor.

• Concentration Specific Courses (included in the above 24 or 30 credit hours). In consultation with the major professor, select courses from the following:

  • Construction Engineering
    • For Course Work only students:
      • Required Courses:
        • Take 3 from the following courses: CE 581 , CE 582 , CE 583 , CE 586 , and CE 521  or CE 522 .
        • Take 3 from the following courses: CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 525 , CE 530 , CE 535 , CE 547 , CE 548 , CE 551  CE 552 , CE 553 , CE 554 , CE 556 , CE 557 , CE 559 , CE 560 , CE 562 , CE 565 , CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576 , CE 581 , CE 582 , CE 583 , CE 586 , CE 590  (Special Problems in Civil Engineering), CE 595  (Special Topics in Construction Engineering), CE 632 , CE 653 , CE 671 , CE 674 , CE 680 , CE 681 .
      • Elective Courses: Take 4 elective courses related to the concentration with consent of the advisor and/or committee.
    • For Thesis Option students:
      • Required Courses:
        • Take 3 from the following courses: CE 581 , CE 582 , CE 583 , CE 586 , and CE 521  or CE 522 .
        • Take 3 from the following courses: CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 525 , CE 530 , CE 535 , CE 547 , CE 548 , CE 551 , CE 552 , CE 553 , CE 554 , CE 556 , CE 557 , CE 559 , CE 560 , CE 562 , CE 565 , CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576 , CE 581 , CE 582 , CE 583 , CE 586 , CE 595  (Special Topics in Construction Engineering), CE 632 , CE 653 , CE 671 , CE 674 , CE 680 , CE 681 .
      • Elective Courses:
        • Take 2 elective courses related to the concentration with consent of the advisor and/or committee.
      • Take 6 credit hours of CE 500 .
  • Geotechnical/Materials Engineering
    • Students take a minimum 2 of the following core courses
      • CE 530 , CE 535 , CE 538  (or ME 517 )
      • In addition, students take a minimum of 3 of the following concentration courses
        • CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 525 , CE 531 , CE 532 , CE 539 , CE 630 , CE 632 , CE 633 , CE 634 , CE 691  
      • Other recommended courses: CE 529 , STAT 537  
      • Four to five elective graduate courses related to the concentration in consultation with the major professor and/or committee.
  • Geotechnical/Materials Engineering Concentration - Distance Education Option
    • For Course Work only students:
      • Required Courses:
        • Take a minimum 2 of the following courses: CE 530 , CE 535 , CE 538  (or ME 517 )
        • In addition, students take a minimum of 3 of the following concentration courses: CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 531 , CE 532 , CE 529  (or STAT 537 ), CE 563 , CE 565 .
      •  Recommended Courses:
        • Take 2 courses from one or two of the following technical focuses:
          • Structural Engineering: CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576  
          • Construction Engineering: CE 581 , CE 582  
          • Environmental Engineering: ENVE 525 , ENVE 530  
      • Elective Courses:
        • Remaining courses can be satisfied with approval of their committee.
    • For Thesis option students
      • Required Courses:
        • Take a minimum 2 of the following courses: CE 530 , CE 535 , CE 538  (or ME 517 )
        • In addition, students take a minimum of 3 of the following concentration courses: CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 531 , CE 532 , CE 529  (or STAT 537 ), CE 563 , CE 565 .
      • Recommended Courses:
        • Take 2 courses from one or two of the following technical focuses:
          • Structural Engineering: CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576  
          • Construction Engineering: CE 581 , CE 582  
          • Environmental Engineering: ENVE 525 , ENVE 530  
      • Elective Courses:
        • Remaining courses can be satisfied with approval of their committee.
      • Students take 6 credit hours of CE 500 .
  • Public Works Engineering
    • Students take 8 Civil Engineering (CE) and 2 elective graduate courses related to the concentration.
      • Core Courses: The core course requirements provide the student with the basic tools needed by the public works engineer.
        • Transportation Engineering (3 courses). Select from CE 521 , CE 551 , CE 552 , CE 553 , CE 554 , CE 558 , CE 559   
        • Construction Engineering (1 course). Select from CE 581  or CE 582  
        • Environmental Engineering (2 courses). Select from ENVE 525 , ENVE 530 , or ENVE 558  
      • Technical Focus
        • Affords the student the opportunity to tailor the course content to an area of specialized technical interest. Six credit hours of graduate courses are required in structural engineering, geotechnical and materials engineering, construction engineering, transportation engineering, or environmental engineering. These courses should be selected in consultation with and have the approval of the Public Works Committee.
      • General Focus
        • Allows the student to broaden their program by providing 6 credit hours of additional instruction in areas outside of civil and environmental engineering. Typical courses include, but are not limited to, IE 533 , IE 534 , IE 536 , IE 537 , IE 543  and IE 518 . The courses for this focus must meet the approval of the Public Works Committee.
  • Structural Engineering
    • For Course Work only students:
      • Required Courses:
        • Take at least 6 courses from: CE 472 , CE 474 , CE 535 , CE 560 , CE 561 , CE 562 , CE 565 , CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576 , CE 671 , CE 674 , CE 590  (Special Problems in Civil Engineering), CE 595  (Special Topics in Construction Engineering).
      • Elective Courses:
        • Take up to 4 elective courses related to the concentration in consultation with the advisor and/or committee.
    • For Thesis Option students:
      • Required Courses:
        • Take at least 4 courses from: CE 472 , CE 474 , CE 535 , CE 560 , CE 561 , CE 562 , CE 565 , CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 576 , CE 671 , CE 674 , CE 595  (Special Topics in Construction Engineering).
      • Elective Courses:
        • Take up to 4 elective courses related to the concentration in consultation with the advisor and/or committee.
      • Take 6 credit hours of CE 500 . 

 

• Transportation Engineering
  • For Course Work only students:
    • Required Courses:
      • Take 3 of the following courses: CE 551 , CE 558 , and CE 552  or CE 553 .
      • Take at least 3 additional Transportation Engineering courses from the following: CE 547 , CE 548 , CE 552 , CE 553 , CE 554 , CE 556 , CE 557 , CE 559 , CE 651 , CE 652 , CE 653 , CE 590  (Special Problems in Civil Engineering), CE 595  (Special Topics in Transportation Engineering).
    • Elective Courses:
      • Take 4 elective courses related to the concentration with consent of the advisor and/or committee.
  • For Thesis Option students:
    • Required Courses:
      • Take 3 of the following courses: CE 551 , CE 558 , and CE 552  or CE 553 .
      • Take at least 3 additional Transportation Engineering courses from the following: CE 547 , CE 548 , CE 552 , CE 553 , CE 554 , CE 556 , CE 557 , CE 559 , CE 651 , CE 652 , CE 653 , CE 590  (Special Problems in Civil Engineering), CE 595  (Special Topics in Transportation Engineering).
    • Elective Courses:
      • Take 2 elective courses related to the concentration with consent of the advisor and/or committee.
    • Take 6 credit hours of CE 500 .

 

• Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering

Students take 6 Civil Engineering (CE) and 4 elective graduate courses related to the concentration.

Course work only option without comprehensive exams.

• Required Courses:
  • Take 2 Transportation Engineering: CE 551 , CE 553 .
  • Take 3 Construction/Geotechnical/Structural Engineering courses from the following: CE 521  or CE 522 , CE 581 , and CE 573  or CE 574 .
  • Take 1 Environmental Engineering course: ENVE 525 .
• Elective Courses:
  • Take 4 additional elective courses based on interest and schedule availability from the following courses. CE 521 , CE 522 , CE 530 , CE 531 , CE 532 , CE 535 , CE 552 , CE 554 , CE 556 , CE 558 , CE 559 , CE 561 , CE 565 , CE 571 , CE 573 , CE 574 , CE 582 , CE 595 , ENVE 530 , ENVE 533 , ENVE 558 .

Non-Course Requirements

• Thesis Option: Defense of the thesis
• Project Option: A comprehensive exam is not required.

Five-Year BS/MS Program - Civil Engineering Major, MS

The department offers a 5-year BS-MS program with a BS (major in civil engineering) and an MS (major in civil engineering) for qualified students. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 6 credit hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UT. This program is designed for students attending UT for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Significant components of the program are:

• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.40 in required course work. Conditional admission to the 5-year program may be granted after completion of 64 credit hours of required course work, while full admission may be granted after the completion of 96 credit hours of required course work with a minimum GPA of 3.40.
• Admission must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
• Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking courses that receive credit for both the BS and MS degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the director of graduate studies. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School.
• Students will not be eligible for assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.