Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu
Department website: https://ce.udel.edu/
Faculty Listing: https://ce.udel.edu/people/faculty/

Overview

The Department offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, Master of Civil Engineering, Master of Applied Sciences, a Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering, as well as dual degree programs and accelerated 4+1 programs. The Doctor of Philosophy in Ocean Engineering and the Master of Science in Ocean Engineering are cross-disciplinary programs offered through partnership between the Civil Engineering Department and the the Physical Ocean Science and Engineering Program (POSE) in the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Finally, interdiscplinary programs administered through the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration include the Doctor of Philosophy in Disaster Science, Master of Science in Disaster Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Public Policy, Doctor of Philosophy in Energy and Environmental Policy, and the Master of Energy and Environmental Policy. Degree requirements can be found at the bottom of the page.

Research

Laboratories devoted to research in environmental engineering include facilities for study of chemical and physical aspects of water and wastewater purification with specialized equipment for analysis of fluid particle suspensions and particle technology, heavy metal and toxic waste removal, and biological engineering aspects of water pollution control. The coastal engineering laboratory, maintained by the Center for Applied Coastal Research (CACR), has two wave flumes for hydrodynamic and sediment transport studies. The CACR has a large assortment of equipment for field and laboratory studies including current meters, turbidity sensors, pressure sensors, remote sensing imagers, surveying equipment and field research vehicles. The structures laboratories include an excellent range of equipment for static, dynamic, and fatigue testing, and a modern concrete testing facility. The geotechnical laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for testing soils and geotextiles.

The Department’s research is extensively funded through federal agencies, the state, and private engineering sponsors. The Department houses the Center for Applied Coastal Research, the Center for Innovative Bridge Engineering, the Center for the Study of Pollutants in the Environment, and the Delaware Center for Transportation.

Financial Aid

Please refer to Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships for further information.

Civil Engineering PhD, MCE and MAS

The PhD is aimed at training the graduate student in research within a chosen topic. The Master of Civil Engineering degree is for those with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, while the Master of Applied Sciences degree is for students who do not hold an engineering undergraduate degree. In each area, mathematics, fundamental sciences, and engineering sciences are combined to provide a personalized program of study and research. All graduate students work in close cooperation with the faculty, and the Department has extensive facilities for research and graduate study in all the areas of concentration. Areas of concentration are:

Coastal Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Transportation Engineering and Civil Infrastructure Systems
Water Resource Engineering

All three degrees are based on the student completing an individually designed program of courses and writing a thesis. A non-thesis Master’s degree option is also available with the MCE degree, typically for students with professional experience. Students selecting the non-thesis option are not eligible for financial support from the University.

Laboratories specifically devoted to research in environmental engineering include facilities for study of chemical and physical aspects of water and wastewater purification with specialized equipment for analysis of fluid particle suspensions and particle technology, heavy metal and toxic waste removal, and biological engineering aspects of water pollution control. The ocean engineering laboratory, maintained by the Center for Applied Coastal Research (CACR), is one of the largest in the United States. An array of wave paddles in the wave basin is capable of generating realistic three-dimensional seas. Two wave flumes are available for hydrodynamic and sediment transport studies. The CACR has a large assortment of equipment for field and laboratory studies including current meters, turbidity sensors, pressure sensors, remote sensing imagers, surveying equipment and field research vehicles. The structures laboratories include an excellent range of equipment for static, dynamic, and fatigue testing, and a modern concrete testing facility. The geotechnical laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for testing soils and geotextiles.

Requirements for Admission

A baccalaureate degree in the field or in a closely allied field of science or mathematics.
An undergraduate grade-point average in engineering, science, and mathematics courses of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for master’s applicants or an undergraduate or graduate grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for Ph.D. applicants.
A minimum of three letters of strong support from former teachers or supervisors.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for students whose first language is not English and who have not received a degree from a country in which English is the official primary language of instruction. Minimum scores for admission are: TOEFL; 79 IBET TOEFL with a minimum SPEAK score of 18; 6.5 IELTS (with no sub-score below 6.0).

Admission to the graduate program in Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware is selective and competitive. It is based on the number of well-qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission. Required courses can be found at the bottom of the page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Dual Degree Programs

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu

Website: https://ce.udel.edu/academics/graduate/dual-masters-in-ce-and-mba-program/

The dual-degree MCE/MBA and MAS/MBA programs (63 cr.) provide students with the necessary skills to broaden their engineering knowledge while gaining a detailed understanding of the business environment. Students applying to the MCE/MBA program have the option to choose the thesis or non-thesis MCE degree, while those applying to the MAS/MBA program are limited to the thesis MAS degree. All requirements for the dual-degree program (63 cr.) must be completed in order for the degrees to be awarded simultaneously.

Students seeking the non-thesis master’s option in Civil Engineering are not eligible for funded research opportunities.

Requirements for Admission

The minimum requirements for admission to the dual-degree program in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are:

A baccalaureate degree in the field or in a closely allied field of science or mathematics.
An undergraduate grade-point average in engineering, science, and mathematics courses of at least 3.0 on a 4.0.
A minimum of three letters of strong support from former teachers or supervisors.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for students whose first language is not English and who have not received a degree from a country in which English is the official primary language of instruction. Minimum scores for admission are: 79 IBT TOEFL with a minimum SPEAK score of 18; 6.5 IELTS (with no sub-score below 6.0).

Accelerated Progams

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu

Website: https://ce.udel.edu/academics/4-1-programs/

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers an accelerated path to the master’s degree, for eligible UD juniors pursuing a BCE or BEnE bachelor’s degree. Students admitted to the BCE/MCE or BEnE/MCE 4+1 program may select graduate courses in their senior year, which are dual-counted toward their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students in the non-thesis MCE track can complete their master’s degree in as little as one year beyond the bachelor’s degree, while students seeking the thesis-track MCE may require additional time to complete their research and thesis.

Requirements for Admission

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 at the time of application
Completion of at least 75 credits towards their undergraduate degree
A minimum of three strong letters of recommendation from teachers or supervisors
Personal Statement

Railroad Engineering, Graduate Certificate

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu
Website: http://railroadengineering.engr.udel.edu/
Faculty Director: Dr. Allan M. Zarembski, P.E., FASME, Hon. Mbr. of AREMA

The program is available fully on campus, fully online, or a hybrid of both. Matriculated graduate students in civil or mechanical engineering are eligible to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering, using their elective course options to focus on the field and earn the certificate. Students should discuss this with their faculty advisor and notify their department’s Graduate or Undergraduate Academic Advisor. Admission requirements for those who are not already matriculated in a graduate engineering degree program are seen below.

Requirements for Admission

The prospective graduate certificate student must hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, thereby ensuring the necessary background in engineering, basic structural analysis, and mathematics.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for students whose first language is not English and who have not received a degree from a country in which English is the official primary language of instruction. Minimum scores for admission are: TOEFL; 79 IBT TOEFL with a minimum SPEAK score of 18; 6.5 IELTS (with no sub-score below 6.0).

Required courses can be found at the bottom of the page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Interdisciplinary programs

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering participates in many interdisciplinary programs. Admission requirements follow, and degree requirements can be found at the bottom of the page.

Ocean Engineering PhD, MS

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu
Website: http://www.ce.udel.edu/academics/graduate

Faculty: Dr. Tianjian Hsu (thsu@udel.edu)

Requirements for Admission

The Ocean Engineering program offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Master of Science degree through a cross-disciplinary program operated jointly by the Physical Ocean Science and Engineering (POSE) program in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE) and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering. Students may matriculate through either College, and may choose a thesis advisor from either program. The ocean engineering laboratory, maintained by the Center for Applied Coastal Research (CACR), is one of the largest in the United States. An array of wave paddles in the wave basin is capable of generating realistic three-dimensional seas. Two wave flumes are available for hydrodynamic and sediment transport studies. The CACR has a large assortment of equipment for field and laboratory studies including current meters, turbidity sensors, pressure sensors, remote sensing imagers, surveying equipment and field research vehicles.Subject to the admission requirements stated below, students matriculating through the College of Engineering have the option of pursuing advanced degrees in Ocean Engineering or in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Students matriculating through the CEOE have the option of pursuing advanced degrees in Marine Studies through CEOE or the cross-disciplinary degree in Ocean Engineering.

The minimum requirements for admission to a master’s or doctoral program for a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Ocean Engineering are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (out of a possible 4.0) for Masters applicants or 3.5 (out of a possible 4.0) for Ph.D. applicants
GRE scores (verbal and quantitative combined) of at least 308
TOEFL IBT score (for international students) of at least 100 (ibt).

The POSE Graduate committee may increase these minimum requirements.

Students with bachelor’s degrees and exceptional academic backgrounds may be admitted directly into the PhD program. Students admitted into the MS program may petition to move into the PhD program before completing the MS degree. Students considering doctoral study must have completed all previous graduate studies with at least a 3.5 grade point average and have clearly demonstrated a capacity for independent work. If an MS thesis or other comprehensive work was written at another institution, a copy of the thesis will be provided to the advisor when the student enrolls at University of Delaware. Students will be assigned an advisor upon admission to the Ocean Engineering program and will be enrolled in the academic unit that is the home of the advisor (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering or the POSE program in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment). Required courses can be found using the “Program” links located at the bottom of this page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Disaster Science, PhD, MS

Telephone: 302-831-1687
Email: bidenschool@udel.edu
Website PhD: https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/doctoral-programs/ph-d-programs/ph-d-in-disaster-science-management
Website MS: https://www.bidenschool.udel.edu/masters-programs/masters-programs/m-s-in-disaster-science-management

The program is administratively housed and supported by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in cooperation with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Requirements for admission

Application form, undergraduate/graduate transcripts, letters of recommendations, resume, statement of purpose, written statement of goals and objectives, scholarly writing sample, and a supplemental application form indicating interest in financial support through research centers are all reviewed by the Program Committee of the Disaster Science and Management Program. Pending a successful review of the initial application materials, the application is circulated to all the Disaster Science and Management faculty in an effort to match the student with an advisor. Faculty members advise students whose background, goals and objectives are compatible with their own research and funding. The Program Committee arrives at an admission decision after reviewing the completed application. To be admitted a student must have an advisor.

Applicants to the MS program must have:

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly identifies the applicant’s research and curriculum interests and explains how admission to the program will facilitate his or her professional objectives.
A scholarly writing sample that represents the applicant’s best work.

Applicants to the PhD Program must have

MS or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university
A graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly identifies the applicant’s research and curriculum interests and explains how admission to the program will facilitate his or her professional objectives.
A scholarly writing sample that represents the applicant’s best work.

All students are also expected to demonstrate competence in oral and written communication. Knowledge of mathematics and statistics is strongly encouraged. All admitted students must have a willing academic advisor appointed by the DISA Program Comittee. Required courses can be found at the bottom of the page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Engineering and Public Policy, PhD

Telephone: (302) 831-2442
Email: cee-info@udel.edu
Website: https://www.ce.udel.edu/academics/graduate/engineering-and-public-policy/

The program is administratively housed and supported by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration in cooperation with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The PhD program in Engineering and Public Policy serves students with master’s level technical backgrounds in engineering and the applied sciences who are interested in using the concepts and methods of policy analysis to understand the broader societal context of technical programs and decisions. The program requires intensive engagement of doctoral students with both engineering and policy faculty and an interest in the generation of new usable interdisciplinary knowledge that expands the boundaries of inquiry and practice. The doctoral program will typically be completed in four years of full-time study that includes advanced courses in policy and engineering, completion of qualifying examinations and dissertation proposal, and a doctoral dissertation that applies engineering and policy analysis to issues of scholarly and policy significance. Possible topic areas include transportation, civil infrastructure, smart cities, sustainability, and energy and the environment.

Requirements for Admission

Successful completion of a Bachelor’s degree, from an accredited academic institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 on 4.0 scale;
Successful completion of a research-based Master’s degree in a technical area from an accredited academic institution with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 on 4.0 scale; (One degree must be in engineering and demonstrated master’s level knowledge in engineering or a related scientific and technical field.)
Applicant must demonstrate a commitment and aptitude for applying policy considerations to technical decisions in the required essays.
Recommended minimum GRE score are 160 Verbal, 160 Quantitative and 4.0 Analytical.
For international applicants, an official TOEFL score of at least 100 on the iBT with a minimum speaking score of 18 (TOEFL scores more than two years old cannot be considered official.)
Applicants must submit essays to answer specific questions asked on the application; a resume; and a statement of professional goals and objectives.
Applicants must submit names and email addresses for at least three letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically to OGPE.
A supplemental application form indicating interest in financial support through faculty projects or research centers.

Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer appropriate strengths. Required courses can be found using the “Program” links located at the bottom of this page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Dual degree and accelerated 4+1 degree programs

See details below.

Programs

Master’s

Doctorate

Dual Degree

Certificate

Railroad Engineering Certificate

4+1