The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers MS degrees and Doctoral degrees. Doctoral degrees are granted jointly with UCSD. Please read the following guidelines if you are (1) interested in obtaining a graduate degree from SDSU or (2) are enrolled in the CEE graduate program and need assistance.
GRADUATE ADVISING
Ms. Corinne Ventar-Phillips (Civil Engineering main office)
COMPREHENSIVES
The Spring 2012 comprehensive exam will take place in early April . If you plan to take the comprehsive exam, you MUST email Corinne (main CCEE office) on or before March 10 2012. Important: (1) write "Spring 2012 comps" in the subjectline of the email. (2) Include your specialty in the text of the email. (3) Include your red id in the text of the email. (4) DO NOT include a list of the courses you have taken (or are taking). Corinne's email: cventarp@mail.sdsu.edu
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS
All CIVE, CONE, and ENVE graduate students must attend a number of thesis defenses to be able to graduate. Click here for requirements.
Scheduled Thesis defenses:
Civil/Construction/Environ. Eng:
TBA
Check this website for the Computational Science thesis defense schedule and this website to find scheduled thesis defenses (and graduate seminars) in Electrical Engineering.
MS DEGREES - Summary
The MS degree in Civil Engineering requires the completion of 30 credits.
There are two options: In Plan A students enroll in a minimum of 10 courses (3 units each). However, 3 of these courses (9 units) are used towards a MS thesis involving a research project, which is guided by a selected faculty member. The comprehensive examination (see below) is not required for Plan A students. The CEE department encourages students to take the Plan A option: we believe that the research experience is invaluable.
In Plan B,students enroll in a minimum of 10 courses (3 units each). Of these 10 courses, 6 must be graduate-level civil engineering and/or environmental engineering courses. The other four courses must be 500-level or higher, and may be from other departments (with the permission of the graduate advisor). During the final semester, each student must pass a thorough comprehensive examination in order to graduate.
Please note that students can make the decision between Plan A and Plan B before starting or while in the program.
DOCTORATES
Please follow this link to obtain information about the joint doctoral program: Joint Doctoral Program
APPLICATIONS PROCEDURE
Students interested in attending SDSU for graduate studies must visit the main page of the graduate division to learn how to apply. Deadlines and forms are available in that website. NOTE: if you are an international student who resides overseas and requires a student visa, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible! In addition, visit the international students website to find relevant information.
It is the responsibility of each CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS to learn the procedural steps required for MS graduation. These are highlighted in the MS procedures page of the graduate division. Learning the procedural steps enables each student to streamline the road towards graduation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
please read all
I have been admitted to the graduate program. Are there any special guidelines that I need to follow?
YES. As a new student, you are responsible for knowing the regulations concerning the road to graduation. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the relevant tasks are completed timely (not knowing the rules can lead to a delayed graduation!). Buy and read the graduate bulletin.
I've been accepted to SDSU for graduate study, starting in the Fall. Registration is coming up and I do not know what classes to take. What should I do?
Registration will stay open into the first week of the term. So, do not panic. The requirements for non-thesis are:
4 civil specialty courses (transpo, or geotech, or construction, or structures, or water).
2 other civil and/or cone and/or enve courses (both 600 level, or one 600 level and the other a 797 'independent research').
2 500 level courses, or one 500 level and one 600 level (they can be in or out of the department; if out, you must ask the graduate adviser first)
2 600 level (they can be in or out of the department; if out, you must ask the graduate adviser first)
So, look at the schedule online and pick two or three courses that satisfy the requirements above.
I am graduating this semester from the graduate program. What do I need to do?
If you are graduating, you should already know! Visit the MS procedures page which highlights all the steps required towards graduation.
I want to talk to the graduate advisor - how do I schedule a meeting?
The graduate advisor (Corinne Ventarp Phillips) is available for walk-in meetings. Her office is the main Civil Engineering office.
I need to take the comprehensive exam. What should I do?
The comprehensive exam is taken during the last semester of your graduate studies. You should visit the graduate advisor (during graduate advising hours) within the first 4 weeks of the semester in which you are graduating. You must bring: (1) your transcripts and (2) your red ID, and you must ensure that you are "advanced to candidacy" (check this in the web portal).
What does "advanced to candidacy" mean?
Read section "Advancement to candidacy" in the graduate bulletin.
I am graduating in the summer - when must I take the comprehensive exam?
In the spring semester prior to the summer semester in which you are graduating.
I plan to graduate in the X semester of year Y. What do I do as the date approaches?
If you are anticipating graduation, take a look at the academic calendar and look at the pertinent dates: thesis submittal, graduation application, etc.
I would like to apply to SDSU for graduate school in Civil Engineering. How do I begin?
Visit the main page of the graduate division to learn how to apply. Applications are sent directly to the graduate division, not to the Civil and Environmental Engineering department.
I have been admitted to the graduate program with a conditional status. What does this mean?
A conditional status is given to students that must take additional pre-requisites (other than graduate course requirements) in order to graduate. Once you complete these courses, you must notify the graduate advisor (bring transcripts to the meeting); the graduate advisor can then change your status to "classified", which essentially means "good to go". NOTE: If you do not take the pre-requisites by the deadline imposed, you will be prevented from registering.
I have been admitted to the graduate program with a conditional status, and have been told that I need to take prerequisites to strengthen my background in Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering. I am planning to take some courses outside SDSU and I plan to transfer these courses. How do I know they will be accepted by SDSU?
California Community Colleges have lists of CSU and UC courses that are analogues to their courses. So, if you plan to take courses in a California Comm. Coll., inquire with that college about the tranferrability of relevant courses. If, however, you plan to transfer courses from non-CA colleges and universities, then you must contact the SDSU professor of the course(s) that seem analogous to those you will or are taking and provide them with the syllabus of the course you are hoping to transfer. They must then give you a written indication of the transferrability of the course.
I have fulfiulled my "conditional status" requirements. Do I need to tell anybody about it?
YES. It is your responsibility to notify this to the graduate advisor IMMEDIATELY, so that the proper adjustments can be made. Visit the graduate advisor during office hours.
I need to complete and file a so-called "program of study" form. How do I do this?
Visit the graduate advisor (during advising hours). NOTE: your program of study "POS" must be filed by your advisor the semester prior to your last semester. This means that you MUST visit the advisor prior to the semester in which you are graduating.
I would like to apply to SDSU for graduate school in Civil, Environmental, and ConstructionEngineering. However, I do not have a BS degree in any of these Engineering programs.
Go ahead and apply. If you live in San Diego or are able to make a trip, you should visit SDSU to discuss the undergraduate courses you would need to take (as background) during your graduate studies at SDSU. In this case, bring all your undergraduate transcripts to the meeting. If you can not personally come to SDSU before applying, then please see this document which has a list of all the pre-requisite courses.
I have been admitted to the graduate program and need assistance finding a place to live.
Please visit the SDSU housing webpage to obtain information.
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