Kingsley Lau, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Director
Email: kilau@fiu.edu

Overview

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers advanced study for the degrees of Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, and Master of Science in Environmental and Urban Systems. The areas of specialty are Structures, Mechanics, Wind, Geotechnical, Construction, Transportation, Water Resources, and Environmental Engineering. The programs require a minimum of 30 credits.

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

The Master of Science program in Civil Engineering emphasizes course work as well as research. The student is generally encouraged to specialize in a defined area of civil engineering, but may also find it desirable to pursue a more general program of studies combining subject material from different areas of specialization and interdisciplinary related courses. The graduate degree is offered to prepare qualified students for the professional practice of civil engineering. The degree is available in a thesis or non-thesis program. The thesis program entails a minimum of six credits for the successful completion of the research and thesis. The non-thesis program must be supported by the successful completion of a project and a report of substantial engineering content for a minimum of three credits. An all-course option is also available. A student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester credits of acceptable graduate course work, which includes a minimum of 12 credits of graduate courses in the specialty area. For more information about the program and requirements, please contact Graduate Program Director.

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

A Master of Science in Environmental Engineering is available to students interested in graduate work in Environmental Engineering. The program is designed to expose graduate students to a wide range of knowledge on environmental engineering and on problem solving while encouraging them to pursue individual research interests. Thus, the curriculum has a common core of courses but is flexible enough to permit an interdisciplinary approach, if so desired, and allows the student to pursue his or her career goals. A proposed program of studies will be developed by the advisory committee together with the student. The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, the natural sciences, or a related field. Students who do not meet the stated criteria may be considered for admission if they complete the required prerequisites and satisfy any deficiencies. A student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester credits of acceptable graduate courses, including either a master thesis or an engineering project. An all-course option is also available. For more information about the program and requirements, please contact Graduate Program Director.

A student seeking admission into Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering graduate program must have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related engineering or equivalent from an accredited institution or, in the case of foreign students, an institution recognized in its own country as preparing students for further study at the graduate level.

The minimum requirements for admission to the Master programs are:

  • At least a “B” average in upper level undergraduate work, and
  • A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related field from an accredited institution, and
  • International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required, and
  • Three letters of recommendation, or the forms provided by the department here, and
  • A statement of objectives in which, in addition to other information, the intended concentration must be clearly stated,and
  • A resume including contact information, education and employment history, practical and research experiences (such as projects and publications), skills and other pertinent information.

Students who meet all criteria, except for requirements 1 and 2 above, may be evaluated for admission under a waiver. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the programs. Grades earned at an institution with non-traditional grading systems will be given every consideration and applicants will be treated equally with students from institutions with traditional grading systems.

For additional details,refer to the Civil and Environmental Engineering section of the current Graduate Catalog and those of previous academic years: http://catalog.fiu.edu

Application Procedures for Master of Science Programs

A student planning to enroll in the graduate program must complete the following:

  • Submit an online Graduate Application for Admission to the Graduate Admissions Office.
  • Have a copy of the official transcripts of all previously earned college or university credits sent from the applicant’s former institution(s) to the Graduate Admissions Office.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation, statement of objectives, and resume as part of the online Graduate Application for Graduate Admissions Office.
  • International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

It should be emphasized that the admission cannot be acted upon until all of the documents and credentials have been received.

Students seeking a waiver to normal admissions standards must contact the departmental main office for filing instructions and deadlines.

Degree Requirements

For all applicable requirements in the Civil and Environmental Engineering section of current Graduate Catalog and those of previous years: http://catalog.fiu.edu.

Grades and Credits

No course in which a grade below a ‘C’ is earned may be counted toward a Master of Science degree.

Transfer Credit

The student may receive permission to transfer up to a maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned from another institution or up to 12 semester hours of graduate credit earned as a non-degree seeking students at FIU after admitted into one of the graduate programs in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Such credits are transferable provided that:

  • The course(s) were taken at the graduate level at an accredited college or university,
  • Grade(s) of ‘B’ or higher were earned for the courses,
  • The course(s) are judged relevant by the student’s advisory committee,
  • The credits were not used toward another degree, and
  • The credit(s) were completed within six years immediately preceding the awarding of the degree.

Credits are not transferable until the student has earned 12 semester hours in the graduate programs in the Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

Time Limit

All work applicable to the Master’s degree, including transfer credit, must be completed within six years immediately preceding the awarding of the degree.