Graduate Program Planning Guides

This document is a general information publication only for planing assistance. It is not intended nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this document do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between and applicant, student, or faculty member, The Department of Civil Engineering, and The University of Texas At Arlington, or The University of Texas System. The University reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, change fees, rules, calendar, curriculum, degree programs, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled. Students are held individually responsible for complying with all requirements of the rules and regulations of the Department, the University and the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System. Failure to read and comply with policies, regulations and procedures will not exempt a student from whatever penalties he or she may incur.

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to assist graduate students in planning their program of study. It is the intent of the Department to follow the schedule as shown; however, students should recognize that changes might occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Normally, the class schedule for each semester is available six months prior to the beginning of the semester. Students are advised to check the departmental bulletin board to see if there has been a change in scheduling and/or times that a course will be offered.

Students should recognize the importance of registering early. If students do not register at the proper time, it is virtually impossible to forecast which courses will make. Continuing students who do not register during the early registration period are not permitted to register until much later. If you delay registering for courses in an attempt to see if a course makes, you and others doing the same will likely be forcing class cancellation due to an insufficient number of students showing on the rolls for the early registration period. The decision to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment is made approximately two weeks prior to the first day of class; i.e. enrollment of record at that time controls the cancellation of scheduled courses. Advising in the College of Engineering is generally held in March and October during the week immediately preceding the beginning of registration. Registration for continuing students normally begins in late March for the fall and summer semesters and in late October for the spring semester. Students should refer to the current Class Schedule to determine the exact time registration is scheduled.

The Department faculty is listed here. If you have questions concerning your area of interest, please contact an appropriate faculty member. If you have questions concerning admission to the Graduate School or rules of the Graduate School and/or Department, you should contact the Civil Engineering Student Records and Advising Office.

Degree Programs and Areas of Specialization

The Department of Civil Engineering offers an undergraduate B.S. degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and graduate degrees of Master of Engineering in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy in Civil & Environmental Engineering. At the graduate level, specialization is available in the areas of:

The Master of Science degree is a research-oriented program in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. The degree consists of a minimum of twenty four (24) credit hours of course work and an acceptable thesis (six (6) credit hours). Six (6) hours of thesis must be taken in the last semester (semester of graduation).

The Master of Engineering degree is an engineering practice-oriented program. The degree requires a minimum of thirty six (36) credit hours of which six (6) hours may be taken in a minor area. The courses must be cohesive, and the minor area must be supportive of the major. A maximum of six (6) hours may be a special project (CE 5695). Some of the areas of specialization require a three (3) hour project (CE 5395). Twenty four (24) credit hours must be taken in major area.

The Ph.D. degree is a research degree and, as such, requires the candidate to successfully carry out original, independent research in an area acceptable to the civil engineering faculty. Normally, this will require a minimum of one year of advanced course work beyond the master's degree in addition to the research. Students may pursue the Ph.D. in any of the areas of specialization offered. Nine (9) hours of dissertation must be taken in the last semester (semester of graduation).

Course Offerings Under Variable Subject Titles

Opportunities to take a formal course on a topic at the forefront of technology is provided through courses carrying numbers CE 5300 and CE 6300. These courses are provided as formal offerings in subjects of special interest to the student. These are formal courses and, as such, grades received will be consistent with formal course offerings. Any course taken under one of these numbers will appear on the student's transcript by subject title.

Distance Learning

Selected classes are offered via the Internet during the semester that they are scheduled to be taught on campus. All courses delivered by Internet may be taken for full credit only, audit is not available. Check the CE homepage (http://www.uta.edu/ce) for individual course requirements over the Internet.

Tentative Program of Work and Major Professor

A “Tentative Program of Work” must be filed during the first semester of full time work on a master’s degree, but no later than the first twelve (12) hours of graduate work. Approval of transfer credit requires the filing of a “Tentative Program of Work” during the first semester. A student must select a Major Professor before the end of the first semester.

Graduate School and Degree Deadlines

Calendars listing dates of particular importance to graduate students can be found on the UT Arlington website. GRADUATING STUDENTS should refer to this calendar and the final semester checklist in the Regulations/Information section of the Catalog DURING THE FIRST WEEK of their final semester. All Graduate School deadlines, unless otherwise specified, are final at 5:00 p.m. on the date specified in the Catalog, by which time all documents must be delivered to the Graduate School Office. Items requiring approval by graduate advisors, committees, instructors, department chairs, academic deans, etc. prior to delivery to the Graduate School should be initiated sufficiently in advance of the deadline for the required actions to be taken and approvals made before the deadline.

A final master's examination must be taken and passed to receive either the Master of Science or the Master of Engineering degree. Master of Science (thesis) candidates are required to successfully defend their thesis work through an oral examination. Master of Science candidate’s examinations may partially be devoted to questions covering course material. Master of Engineering candidates must successfully pass a comprehensive examination covering all course material. All Master of Engineering degree candidates must register for CE 5193, Master's Comprehensive Examination, in the semester they intend to graduate. Master of Engineering candidates cannot be examined unless they are enrolled in CE 5193.

The “Guide for Some Master Degree Form Deadlines” and “Guide for Some Doctoral Degree Form Deadlines” enclosed list pertinent actions required by the student to assist the student in meeting appropriate application deadlines.

Course Credit

With the approval of the student's Supervising Committee, the Committee on Graduate Studies, the Graduate Advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School, a maximum of nine (9) hours of graduate course work may be transferred from another US institution of recognized standing to a master’s degree program.

With the approval of the student's Supervising Committee, the Committee on Graduate Studies, the Graduate Advisor and the Dean of the Graduate School, a maximum of nine (9) hours of advanced undergraduate course work may be used toward a graduate degree provided they are not previously used to fulfill requirements for an undergraduate degree.

Unless specifically allowed by concentration areas, no course(s) required in the undergraduate Civil Engineering Degree Program at UT-Arlington can be used for graduate credit. Since a number of departments in the University double-list a single course with an undergraduate and graduate course number, the student should be aware that an undergraduate course double-listed as (or taught with) a required graduate course cannot be applied toward a graduate degree. In addition, courses with substantially the same content as required undergraduate courses, regardless of listing, cannot be applied toward a graduate degree.

Deficiency Courses

Students with ABET Accredited Civil Engineering Degrees: Students who have earned a civil engineering degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) are expected to have met all course requirements for pursuing a graduate degree. If any of the courses listed below as deficiency courses were not included in a student's undergraduate program, they must be taken as deficiency courses.

Students with ABET Accredited Engineering Degrees (Other than Civil), Non-ABET Accredited Engineering Degrees, and Non-Engineering Degrees: All students in this category must complete, as a minimum, course requirements listed below and those applicable to the area of specialization in which they wish to earn a graduate degree.

Minimum Undergraduate Course Requirements (1)

* Equivalent courses for Construction Management Students

(1) Prerequisites for deficiency courses are not listed. Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for prerequisite requirements.

(2) For Infrastructure - Student must have a Civil Engineering Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent degree.

Guide for Some Form Deadlines

Applications must be submitted to Civil Engineering Department at least one week prior to Graduate School deadline to insure reaching Graduate School in a timely manner. See catalog for additional deadlines.

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