Civil Engineering (MCE)

Description

The Master of Civil Engineering program is included under the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering which specializes in structural, geotechnical, and environmental engineering. Structural engineering emphasizes finite element methods, computer-aided structural analysis and design, pre-stressed concrete and plastic analysis. Geotechnical engineering focuses on advanced concepts in soil mechanics, soil dynamics, tunneling, earth dams and pavement design. Environmental engineering deals with water and wastewater treatment, chemical and biological unit operations, hazardous waste treatment and pollution prevention.

Detroit and its environs provide the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering with large-scale local engineering activities and facilities, including research and development, industrial operations, and civil construction. These opportunities offer the engineering student a stimulating environment for study and considerable future employment potential.

The Master of Civil Engineering program prepares students for careers as consulting engineers, engineers in industry and government, and researchers for university and industrial laboratories. This degree is described in the following sections. In addition, students in the Master of Architecture and the Master of Community Development programs in the School of Architecture may also take classes from the Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering department. For more information about these two programs, please visit School of Architecture.

Through a special agreement between the School of Architecture and the College of Engineering & Science, students who receive a Master of Architecture degree from Detroit Mercy may also obtain a Master of Civil Engineering (MCE) degree by taking a minimum of 15 additional credits. If appropriate, 15 credits used to obtain the Master of Architecture degree may be used toward the MCE degree. However, a number of undergraduate prerequisites may be needed before taking any graduate level engineering classes, so students should consult advisors from both colleges as early as possible, even in the freshman year, in order to plan their schedules accordingly.

Students interested in focusing on environmental issues should consider the Master of Environmental Engineering. Students can also further their studies in the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program with a major in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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    Program Learning Outcomes

    Graduates of this program will be able to:

    1. analyze and design a complex engineering system or component (Technical Competence)
    2. independently investigate an engineering topic and make conclusions about its effect on designs (Research Skills)
    3. present an engineering solution (Effective Communication)
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    Traditional Master vs. 5 year Bachelor/Master

    Students may enter the master program one of two ways: Traditional (for new master students or Detroit Mercy undergraduate students who were not in the five-year bachelor/master program) and five-year bachelor/master (for Detroit Mercy undergraduate students).

    Traditional Master Program

    New master students or Detroit Mercy undergraduate students who were not in the five-year bachelor/master program may apply for the graduate program online. Typical (but not absolute) minimum requirements include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a bachelor degree in Civil Engineering or closely related discipline. Although the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  (if applicable) are not required as part of the application, they can be useful in facilitating the admission process.

    Five-year Bachelor/Master Program

    New Detroit Mercy undergraduate students and current Civil Engineering undergraduate students who are within two to three terms of graduating, with a GPA of 3.25 or better, and who will finish their undergraduate program in four years, may apply for the five-year bachelor/master program. If accepted, students may take up to nine graduate credits that will double-count towards both their bachelor and master programs.

    For more information on the five-year bachelor/master program.

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    Master of Civil Engineering Degree Requirements (30 credits)

    The Master of Civil Engineering may be completed with a thesis (with advisor approval) or a non-thesis plan. At least half (15 credits) of the program must be selected from graduate-level only options.

    The Thesis plan requires six credit hours of thesis (CIVE 5990) and 24 credit hours or more of course work.

    The Non-Thesis plan includes a total of 30 credit hours of course work.

    Either plan may be supplemented by a cooperative education preparation course or actual co-operative education placements (CTA); however, these credits may NOT be used toward the 30 credit hours required. 

    Required courses (6 credits):

    Civil Engineering courses (9 credits):

    • CIVE courses (at least 3 courses/9 credits)  

    Thesis or Coursework (6 credits):

    • Thesis students: CIVE 5990 Civil Engineering Master's Thesis (6 credits)
    • Non-Thesis students: select 2 courses (6 credits) from ARCH, CIVE, CHM, ENGR, MENG, and/or MTH

    Electives (9 credits):

    • Select 3 courses (9 credits) from any combination: ARCH, CIVE, CHM, EMGT*, ENGR, ENT, MENG, MBA*, MTH, MPD*

    Courses offered in civil, architectural, and environmental engineering may be supplemented with approved courses in other branches of engineering, mathematics, chemistry, biology, law and other areas - based on advisor/Chair approval - to suit the student's individual needs. 

    Specializations

    Students may choose to specialize in one of the following areas based on their interests: Structural/Architectural, Construction Management, Geotechnical, or Road/Bridge. Suggested courses in each of the specializations are listed below.  Courses noted with * are offered as graduate-only sections. 

    Students should consider a minimum of 15 credits from one area. Students interested in Environmental Engineering are advised to pursue the Master of Environmental Engineering degree. However, students in the Master of Civil Engineering program may select courses in the environmental engineering area if they are relevant.

    Structural/Architectural Engineering

    • CIVE 5300 Forensic Engineering (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5320 Cost Estimating (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5340 Integration of Building Information Modeling *  (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5360 Timber Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5390 Design Build (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5400 Advanced Structural Dynamics (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5430 REVIT and CAD (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5600 Advanced Structural Analysis & Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5610 Loading Codes
    • CIVE 5660 Bridge Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5710 Special Topics in Civil Engineering (some taught as graduate-only sections) (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5762 Advanced Concrete Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5760 Pre-Stressed Concrete (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5810 Masonry Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5870 Foundation Engineering (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5850 Project Management and Costing (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5890 Design of Earth Retention (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5920 Capstone Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5990 Civil Engineering Master's Thesis (6 credits) *
    • ARCH 5590 Architecture and Construction Law (3 credits)
    • ENGR 5300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credits) *
    • ENGR 5420 Finite Elements (3 credits)
    • ENGR 5440 Vibrations (3 credits)

    Construction Management

    • CIVE 5300 Forensic Engineering (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5320 Cost Estimating (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5630 Environmental Risk Analysis & Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5710 Special Topics in Civil Engineering (some taught as graduate-only sections) (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5760 Pre-Stressed Concrete (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5762 Advanced Concrete Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5762 Design Build (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5810 Masonry Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5850 Project Management & Costing (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5920 Capstone Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5990 Civil Engineering Master's Thesis (6 credits) *
    • ARCH 5590 Architecture and Construction Law (3 credits)
    • EMGT 5010 Management and Leadership of a Technical Workforce (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5020 Economic Considerations of Technical Businesses (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5030 Financial Decision Making for Technical Industries (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5040 Administration of Technical Businesses (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5400 Manufacturing, Processes, Strategy and Logistics (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5450 Total Quality Management (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5700 Technical Systems Architecture (3 credits) *
    • EMGT 5760 Technical Project Management (3 credits) *
    • ENGR 5300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credits) *
    • MBA 5260 Information Systems & Technology (3 credits) *

    Geotechnical Engineering

    • CIVE 5420 Dynamics of Foundations and Soils (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5480 Advanced Soil Mechanics (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5580 Soft Ground Tunneling (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5710 Special Topics in Civil Engineering (some taught as graduate-only sections) (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5762 Advanced Concrete Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5722 Engineering Geology (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5810 Masonry Design (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5866 Groundwater (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5870 Foundation Engineering (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5890 Design of Earth Retention (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5920 Capstone Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5990 Civil Engineering Master's Thesis (6 credits) *
    • ENGR 5300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credits) *
    • ENGR 5420 Finite Elements (3 credits)

    Road and Bridge

    • CIVE 5400 Advanced Structural Dynamics (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5630 Environmental Risk Analysis & Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5660 Bridge Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5710 Special Topics in Civil Engineering (some taught as graduate-only sections) (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5760 Pre-Stressed Concrete (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5870 Foundation Engineering (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5890 Design of Earth Retention (3 credits)
    • CIVE 5920 Capstone Design (3 credits) *
    • CIVE 5990 Civil Engineering Master's Thesis (6 credits) *
    • ENGR 5300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credits) *

    *Courses noted with * are offered as graduate-only sections. At least half (15 credits) of the program must be selected from graduate-level only options.

Program Contact Information

Department Chairperson: Utpal Dutta, Ph.D., P.E.
Office: Engineering 262
Email: duttau@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1040
Fax: 313-993-1187