Requirements

The general requirements for the option for the Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering Area degree (thesis and professional) are detailed below:

Thesis Option: 24 course credits (eight courses) minimum and thesis (6 credits), with thesis defense

Professional Option: 30 course credits (10 courses) minimum

Students supported as graduate research assistants and all students intending to continue for a PhD degree are required to pursue the thesis option. The professional option is not available to students supported as graduate research or teaching assistants.

The detailed course requirements for the two degree options are as follows:

MS Thesis Degree Requirements

a) 3 credits - CEE 2800 - ENGINEERING GEOLOGY or Equivalent

b) 3 credits - CEE 2801 - ADVANCED SOIL MECHANICS or Equivalent

c) 3 credits - CEE 2802 - GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS or Equivalent

d) 3 credits - CEE 3805 - ROCK MECHANICS or Equivalent

e) 12 credits - Graduate Technical Electives

Graduate Technical Electives may include any advisor-approved program-related graduate course (i.e., course numbers 2XXX or 3XXX), including guided special investigations (CEE 2996; although no more than six credits of CEE 2996 may count towards the degree program coursework requirements).

f) 6 credits - MS Thesis CEE 2999 - M.S. THESIS

Thesis Defense

Students pursuing the MS Thesis Option must pass an oral presentation and defense of their completed thesis, administered by the student’s thesis committee. The committee shall be comprised of 3 or more members (including the student’s graduate advisor). The chair of the committee and at least one other committee member must be appointed to the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Faculty.

Professional MS Degree Requirements