Master of Science

This research degree is open to students with undergraduate degrees in engineering or the physical or natural sciences. In addition to the satisfactory completion of an approved set of advanced courses, candidates for this degree must complete a six-credit thesis.

In the civil engineering discipline, this thesis must provide documentation of an independent research-related effort and be approved by the student's faculty adviser. Listed below are recommended core courses in each of the five civil engineering areas of concentration. M.S. candidates typically take all the courses listed below in their chosen area of concentration.

Computational Mechanics
CIVL-6170	Mechanics of Solids
CIVL-6660	Fundamentals of Finite Elements
CIVL-6670	Nonlinear Finite Element Methods
CIVL-6680	Finite Element Programming
Geotechnical/Earthquake Engineering
CIVL-6490	Earthquake Engineering
CIVL-6510	Advanced Soil Mechanics
CIVL-6520	Advanced Foundations of Earth Structures
CIVL-6550	Advanced Geoenvironmental Engineering
CIVL-6450	Structural Dynamics
CIVL-6540	Dynamics of Soil and Soil-Foundations Systems
Structural/Earthquake Engineering
CIVL-6490	Earthquake Engineering
CIVL-4240	Introduction to Finite Elements
CIVL-6200	Plates and Shells
CIVL-6210	Structural Stability
CIVL-6310	Advanced Concrete Structures
CIVL-6320	Advanced Steel Design
CIVL-6450	Structural Dynamics
CIVL-6540	Dynamics of Soil and Soil Foundation
Infrastructure Engineering
CIVL-4580	Infrastructure Engineering
CIVL-4570	Analytical Methods in Infrastructure Engineering
CIVL-4670	Highway Engineering or equivalent
CIVL-6280	Infrastructure Asset Management
ENGR-4760	Engineering Economics or equivalent
DSES-6020	Design of Experiments or equivalent
DSES-6090	Decision Analysis or equivalent
Transportation Engineering
CIVL-6230	Transportation Economics
CIVL-6250	Transportation Systems Planning
CIVL-6260	Transportation Algorithms
CIVL-6270	Traffic Control Systems

M.S. candidates in the environmental engineering discipline must also provide documentation of an independent research-related effort. In addition to approval of this written work, they are also required to give an oral presentation of the thesis work.

Master of Engineering

This is a 30-credit structured program of advanced professional study aimed at preparing students for professional practice. Except for computational mechanics, candidates for this degree in the civil engineering discipline must have an accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering. In environmental engineering, a B.S. in the physical or natural sciences is also acceptable. There is no project or thesis requirement, but students may elect to do one, at either the three- or six-credit level, in consultation with their advisers.

Advanced study and research are conducted under the guidance of an adviser. Usually 45 to 60 course credits beyond the bachelor’s degree are required in addition to the residence and thesis requirements. Each doctoral candidate must have at least 90 credits (course work plus thesis/project) beyond the bachelor’s degree. Environmental candidates are required to submit a draft of a journal article prior to graduation.

Doctor of Philosophy

This is a research-oriented degree focused on the development of new knowledge in the student’s chosen area of study. It includes the preparation of a dissertation that carefully documents the original contribution of the student’s research. The dissertation can represent up to 30 credits of the student’s approved plan of study. In addition to the examination processes required of all Rensselaer doctoral students, civil engineering and environmental students working toward this degree must pass a preliminary examination during their first year of doctoral study.

Environmental engineering students must also take a candidacy examination within two semesters after passing the preliminary examination. This is an oral examination based on a thesis proposal submitted by the student at least two weeks prior to the examination. The student’s thesis committee will administer the candidacy examination.

Doctor of Engineering

This is a specialized program aimed at advanced engineering problem solving. The degree includes the preparation of a dissertation that poses a significant engineering problem and develops a solution. The dissertation for this degree can also represent up to 30 credits of the student’s approved plan of study. The examination requirements for both disciplines are the same as those noted under the Doctor of Philosophy.