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University of Pittsburgh    
2022-2023 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2022-2023 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Civil and Environmental Engineering - Structural Engineering and Mechanics Area, MSCE


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

Requirements


Professional Option: 30 course credits (e.g., ten, 3-credit lecture courses) minimum

Thesis Option: 24 course credits (e.g., eight, 3-credit course equivalents) minimum and 6 thesis research (CEE 2999 ) credits

All M.S. students enter the professional MS program. Students interested in the thesis option should meet with program faculty to explore project options and can transition to the thesis option if they find a thesis advisor and project.

Students pursing the thesis option must complete novel research that advances the current state of knowledge in their field, is composed in a written dissertation, and presented to their faculty committee during a thesis defense. Their committee will consist of their primary research advisor and at least two faculty members from the student’s program area within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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

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

Professional MS Degree Requirements

a) 3 credits - CEE 2320 - ADVANCED MECHANICS OF MATERIALS  or CEE 2321 - ELASTICITY, PLASTICITY AND FRACTURE MECHANICS  

b) 3 credits - CEE 2333 - INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENTS   or Equivalent

c) 3 credits - SEM Graduate Design Elective - CEE 2340 - CONCRETE STRUCTURES 2 , CEE 2341 - DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES , CEE 2343 - PRESTRESSED CONCRETE , CEE 2346 - REPAIR AND RETROFIT OF STRUCTURES  or CEE 2347 - BRIDGE ENGINEERING  

d) 6 credits - SEM Graduate Technical Elective - CEE 2330 - ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS , CEE 2343 - PRESTRESSED CONCRETE , CEE 2347 - BRIDGE ENGINEERING , CEE 2360 - DYNAMICS OF STRUCTURES  or CEE 2370 - INTRODUCTION TO NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION AND STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING  

Note: CEE 2330 - ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS  may not be taken for graduate credit if the student’s undergraduate program includes an equivalent course.

e) 15 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 ). No more than six credits of CEE 2996   may count towards the degree program coursework requirements).

MS Thesis Degree Requirements

a) 3 credits - CEE 2320 - ADVANCED MECHANICS OF MATERIALS  or CEE 2321 - ELASTICITY, PLASTICITY AND FRACTURE MECHANICS  

b) 3 credits - CEE 2333 - INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENTS   or Equivalent

c) 3 credits - SEM Graduate Design Elective - CEE 2340 - CONCRETE STRUCTURES 2 , CEE 2341 - DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES , CEE 2343 - PRESTRESSED CONCRETE , CEE 2346 - REPAIR AND RETROFIT OF STRUCTURES  or CEE 2347 - BRIDGE ENGINEERING  

d) 6 credits - SEM Graduate Technical Elective - CEE 2330 - ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS , CEE 2343 - PRESTRESSED CONCRETE , CEE 2347 - BRIDGE ENGINEERING , CEE 2360 - DYNAMICS OF STRUCTURES  or CEE 2370 - INTRODUCTION TO NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION AND STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING  

Note: CEE 2330 - ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS  may not be taken for graduate credit if the student’s undergraduate program includes an equivalent course.

e) 9 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 ). No more than six credits of CEE 2996  may count towards the degree program coursework requirements).

f) 6 credits - 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.

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