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:
- Construction Management and Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
- Urban Systems Engineering and Management
- Highway and Traffic Engineering
Students also may elect to follow a general program by taking two courses across several areas of concentration. The Department of Civil Engineering also offers graduate programs in transportation planning and engineering and transportation management (see the Transportation section in this catalog), environmental science and engineering (see Environmental Science and Engineering section in this catalog), construction management and engineering (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 program objectives 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 subdisciplines;
- 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; and
- 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 3.0 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 and architecture, or from a foreign university) have their qualifications reviewed by a graduate adviser. Admission may be granted and may include the requirement for additional undergraduate courses to correct deficiencies. These additional courses are not counted toward the MS degree, nor are undergraduate courses included in computing 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 700 on the quantitative section. They also must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a minimum grade of 550/213/79 (paper/CBT/IBT). In rare 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 a MS degree from NYU-Poly, students must maintain a B average (3.0 GPA) or better in (1) all graduate courses taken at NYU-Poly, (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, only the later grade counts toward the GPA. If a course is repeated more than once, only the first grade is dropped from the GPA computation.
In the event that an applicant is required to take undergraduate prerequisite courses as a condition of admission, a grade of B- or better is required for every prerequisite course taken, and the cumulative GPA of all required prerequisite courses must be at least 3.0.
Advising
Students are responsible for following the departmental rules outlined in this catalog. While academic advisers consult with and advise students, students are responsible for ensuring that all degree requirements are fulfilled and for submitting all proper forms and applications.
Students must meet with an academic adviser when they first enroll. Students must have a detailed program of study formally approved by an academic adviser before registration.
The academic adviser also handle requests for waivers of certain degree requirements, where warranted. Such waivers must be in writing and must be entered into the student’s departmental record. Where specific courses are waived, approval of the course instructor may also be 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 guided studies (readings, projects, theses) are assigned advisers for each such activity. To register for guided study, students must submit written proposals for the topic(s) to be covered to such advisers before registration. To register, students must obtain written approval of the project adviser and the academic adviser.
Transfer Credits
The residency requirement for the MS degree is 24 credits. Students may transfer up to 6 credits of acceptable courses toward a MS degree, subject to their academic adviser’s approval. To be transferred, the course(s) must relate to the student’s program and be from an accredited 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 detailed written evaluation by the course instructor. All transfer requests must be accompanied by an official transcript from the transferring institution. Applications for transfer credits are accepted only after the student has earned 9 credits at NYU-Poly.
Validation credits by examination may not be used toward any civil engineering graduate degree program.
