Admission Requirements
Candidates for advanced degrees in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences must be admitted to the Graduate School of the University. Requirements for admission include an outstanding record in an appropriate undergraduate program and a bachelor's degree. Admission to study is not restricted to civil engineering or geological sciences undergraduate majors. Applications are also encouraged from students with superior records in other fields of engineering or physical science who wish to participate in the programs of study offered by the department.

An applicant for admission to a degree program is required to submit one completed Graduate School application form, official transcripts of all previous academic credits from the colleges and universities at which they were earned, scores of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and three completed recommendation forms from individuals particularly qualified to attest to the applicant's qualifications for graduate study. Foreign students are also required to verify competency in English by submitting the scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with their applications. A personal interview or visit to the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences is often helpful to the admission process.

Requirements for the M.S. Degree
The student must spend a minimum of two semesters at the University and is expected to complete all degree requirements except defense of the thesis within three semesters. The M.S. degree requires 30 semester credit hours, including at least 16 to 24 credits of formal graduate coursework with the remaining credits earned through research. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 must be achieved for graduation. (For more complete information see the graduate handbook).

Requirements for the Ph.D.
Students with a deeper interest in graduate studies may pursue the Doctor of Philosophy within the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences. The requirements for a Ph.D. are: a minimum of three full academic years of study and research beyond the bachelor's degree, passing a written examination demonstrating advanced skills in civil engineering or geological sciences, an oral candidacy examination in the student's major areas of study, and successful defense of a written dissertation. Course work requirements are established by a Ph.D. advisory committee assigned to each student. The course selections are in part determined by the student's area of interest. Students are encouraged to fulfill a portion of the course requirements in related disciplines outside the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences. A total of 72 semester credit hours are required for the Ph.D. Students are expected to complete all degree requirements in approximately four years.