Program Advisor: Joel Kuszmaul, Ph.D.,
Program Advisor: Maureen W. Sakakeeny, P.E., M.S.Eng.
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering reflects the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of the practice of engineering. The program provides student with the flexibility to design academic programs tailored to their interests, and provides advanced technical knowledge and practical skills for advancement in the civil engineering profession. It addresses the significant demands for advanced degrees to address society’s civil engineering challenges concerning our environment and infrastructures, including water resources, structures, and geotechnical and transportation systems.
The program is housed in the Mendel Center, home to the School of Science and Engineering.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the College’s requirements, including English proficiency test scores if necessary, applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology from an accredited college or university.
Applicants who hold a Bachelor of Science in another engineering discipline (ie. chemical engineering, industrial engineering, etc.) or another closely related field (ie. chemistry, geology, mathematics, etc.) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Such applicants may be required to take additional prerequisite courses, based upon guidance from the faculty advisor, to prepare them for their advanced studies in civil engineering.
Required Prerequisite Courses
- Calculus I-III
- Differential Equations
- Applied Statistics
- Physics I and II
- Chemistry I
- Mechanics I and II
- Fluid Mechanics
- Minimum one civil engineering design course
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Civil Engineering requires eight (8) four-credit courses for a total of 32 credit hours. Students taking the Optional Specialization in Engineering Management take 8 credits from the graduate management curriculum of the Girard School of Business and 24 credits from the courses below.
Graduate only courses:
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GEN5001G
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Systems Engineering
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4
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GEN6001
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Finite Elements
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4
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GEN6004
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Engineering Project Management
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4
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GEN6010
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Earthquake Engineering
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4
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GEN6012
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Pre-stressed Concrete Structures
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4
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GEN6014
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Advanced Structural Analysis
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4
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GEN6020
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Principles & Applications of Geographic Information Systems
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4
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GEN6030
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Urban Hydrology & Storm Water Management
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4
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GEN6032
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Sustainable Infrastructure Systems
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4
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GEN6999
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Directed Study (faculty approval required)
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4
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Courses open to graduate students and undergraduate seniors (see Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions):
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CEN5012G
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Steel Analysis
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4
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CEN5016G
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Concrete Analysis & Design
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4
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CEN5020G
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Foundation Design
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4
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CEN5022G
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Earth Slopes and Retaining Structures
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4
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CEN5030G
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Environmental Design
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4
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CEN5032G
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Applied Hydrology
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4
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CEN5042G
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Traffic Engineering
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4
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CEN5050G
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Construction Planning and Management
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4
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Transfer of Credit from other Institutions
A maximum of two graduate-level electives may be transferred in from other institutions with the approval of the Department Chair. If two elective courses taken at other institutions bearing 3 credits each are accepted for transfer into Merrimack’s MSCE program, then the student may earn their master’s degree with 30 total credits, instead of 32 total credits.
Optional Specialization in Engineering Management
Engineering management “bridges the gap” between engineering and management, and enables a graduate to work with and through people to get things done. This specialization provides graduates with both technical and managerial skills, combining a typical engineering education with key elements of a typical management or business education.
Choose either GEN 6004 or CEN 5050G as one of your elective courses plus eight credits from the Master of Science in Management degree program.
Suggested management courses applicable to engineering management include:
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GMGT 5100
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Management Planning and Control
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4
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GMGT 5920
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Leading Effective Teams
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2
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GMGT 5160
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Marketing Analysis & Decision Making
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4
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One of the following courses:
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GMGT 5210
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Global Business & Economy
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2
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GMGT 5140
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Effective Managerial Communication
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2
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GMGT 5120
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World Class Operations & Supply Chain Management
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2
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GMGT 5130
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Professional Skills
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2
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GMGT 5910
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Personal Leadership
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2
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Note: For GMGT course descriptions, see other sections of the Graduate Catalog.
Master’s Comprehensive Examination
The master’s degree candidate must successfully complete a final written comprehensive examination that is administered by an examining committee. The members of this committee are chosen by the candidate, in consultation with his or her advisor. The committee must consist of at least three members.
The comprehensive written examination, administered by the Graduate Advisor, will be given only once each semester and not earlier than six weeks before the last Friday of the semester. The candidate will receive a passing grade if all, or all but one, of the member’s votes to pass. A student who fails the examination must take it again at the next regularly scheduled examination time. A student who fails the examination a second time will no longer be eligible to receive a graduate degree from the program.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Civil Engineering Program at Merrimack College, graduates will:
- have expert-level knowledge and a high level of competence in applying it within his or her chosen area of engineering;
- be able to communicate technical challenges, ideas, and results across disciplines and with local communities, managers, and policy makers;
- understand group dynamics associated with leadership, membership, and peer-to-peer interactions;
- be able to conduct research from a perspective well-grounded in their chosen area of engineering and with a broad understanding of scientific, engineering, and policy dimensions
Engineering Fellowships
Engineering Graduate Fellowships are highly competitive programs that build and enhance students’ professional skills as well as defray the student’s costs and assist engineering faculty with their teaching and research. A limited number of fellowships may be offered to exceptional, full time graduate students upon entering the MSCE program.
The fellowship covers half the cost of graduate tuition, while the graduate student works up to 20 hours per week in their academic department, assigned to a specific faculty member. Graduate Fellows have faculty mentoring to support their learning and strengthen their professional and leadership skills. They also enjoy department based activities, leadership and professional networking opportunities.
The number and type of fellowships vary each year and positions may include:
- Graduate Teaching Fellow
- Graduate Research Fellow
- Graduate Fellow (other)
Fellowship applications are accepted annually with a deadline in the spring. Please refer to website for application details and deadlines.