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Welcome home to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University. Here's a quick index of information for the Graduate Studies.

About Old Dominion University
      
Old Dominion University, founded in 1930, is a state-supported institution in Norfolk, Virginia and has a combined undergraduate and graduate student population of 20,800. The University is located within the coastal region of Virginia at the confluence of the James and Elizabeth Rivers with the Chesapeake Bay. The population of the metropolitan region is approximately 1.4 million, and includes the state's most populated city, Virginia Beach. The university operates on the semester system with a spring and fall semester and a variety of semester options in the summer.





Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
      
The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is one of six departments in the College of Engineering and Technology and is located in Kaufman Hall. At the undergraduate level, the department offers an ABET accredited Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Civil Engineering and enrolls 250 students as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Environmental Engineering.

At the graduate level the department offers

  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)
  • Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEnvE)
  • Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (MECE)
  • Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (MEEnvE)
  • Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Civil Engineering (PhDCE)
  • Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Environmental Engineering (PhDEnvE)

The graduate programs are structured to accommodate both the full-time and part-time students. The available specialty areas are coastal, geotechnical, structural, and water resources engineering in Civil engineering and a variety of sub-fields in Environmental engineering.






Admission
      
Applications for graduate study must include a formal statement explaining the reasons for the applicant's interest in the particular area, and goals and plans for the future. All applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score no less than 550 points for regular admission.

The submissions of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) are required except for applicants who hold a BS degree (for Master program applicants) or a Master degree (for Ph.D. program applicants) in engineering disciplines from ABET accredited institutions.

Forms and information regarding admission may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions of Old Dominion University for domestic applicants (forms are downloadable through the internet), and from the Office of International Admissions for international applicants (forms are downloadable through the internet). Forms could be also obtained via regular mail from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Office.

For those who are ready, please submit a preapplication form on-line. Preapplication form is that will be used to advise you whether you should formally apply for admission to graduate degree programs in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

    Master's Degree (MSCE/MSEnvE/MECE/MEEnvE)
           Admission requirements are identical for the M.S. and M.E. programs. The applicant must hold an undergraduate degree (preferably in civil or environmental engineering) comparable to the bachelor's degree awarded at Old Dominion University from an accredited institution of higher learning.

    Applicants with bachelor's degrees in other fields of engineering or sciences may have to complete certain undergraduate pre-requisite courses in civil engineering. The applicant's undergraduate work must reflect good performance, including a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.00 scale. An applicant with a lower GPA may be admitted as a provisional graduate student on the recommendation of the graduate program director. An applicant who plans to take civil and environmental engineering courses as a nondegree student must meet the admission requirements for a provisional graduate student. Two (2) letters of recommendations are required for admission to the M.S. and M.E. programs.

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
           An applicant must normally have a master's degree or its equivalent in engineering or a related field, with at least a 3.50 overall GPA. An applicant who does not meet these requirements may be admitted as a provisional graduate student with a 3.25 GPA and a demonstrated research talent. Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.

Degree Requirements - Master's Degree
      
'At a glance' flowchart for Master's Degree Programs
CEE Graduate Student Handbook for MSCE, MSEnvE, MECE and MEEnvE programs, (October, 2006)
ODU Forms for Graduate Studies

The M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering and in Environmental Engineering require twenty-four (24) credit hours of graduate course work (normally eight courses) and six (6) credit hours of thesis research. The student is expected to pass an oral thesis defense examination.

Project and Non-project options are available for students who wish to pursue a M.E. degree. The project option requires twenty-seven (27) credit hours of graduate course work (normally nine courses) plus a three (3) credit hour project. The student is expected to pass an oral examination on his or her project. The Non-project option requires thirty (30) credit hours of graduate course work (normally ten (10) courses); the student is expected to pass a final comprehensive examination covering the entire program of study. The comprehensive examination is oral for the M.E. degree in Civil Engineering, and it is written for the M.E. degree in Environmental Engineering. All requirements for a M.S. or M.E. degree should be completed within a period of six-years. Students whose graduate study is interrupted by military service will be granted an extension of time for the period of their military service, not to exceed five years.

The graduate courses applicable towards various Master's degrees in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are grouped into four categories(A,B,C,D) plus graduate level mathematics and statistics courses as shown below.


Category A

Upper Level Courses in Civil Engr.
(3 credit hours each)
CEE 612 Prestressed Concrete
CEE 618 Advanced Structural Analysis
CEE 640 Hydraulic Structures
CEE 646 Contingency Readiness and Facility Management with GIS   
CEE 670 Transportation Engineering
CEE 687 Dredging & Beach Engineering
CEE 710 Structural Dynamics
CEE 711 Topics in Finite Elements
CEE 712 Advanced Reinforced Concrete
CEE 715 Engineering Optimization I
CEE 716 Finite Element Analysis
CEE 717 Bridge Structures Design
CEE 718 Engineering Optimization II
CEE 719 Inelastic Structures
CEE 720 Structural Stability
CEE 721 Plates
CEE 723 Advanced Soil Mechanics
CEE 724 Engineering Behavior of Soils
CEE 725 Advanced Foundation Engineering
CEE 730 Soil Dynamics
CEE 741 Open Channel Flow   
CEE 747 Groundwater Flow   
CEE 748 Advanced Hydrology   
CEE 761 Water Resource Systems Analysis   
CEE 770 Transportation Safety
CEE 771 Transportation Operation II
CEE 772 Intelligent Transportation Systems
CEE 773 Transportation Facilities Design
CEE 780 Advanced Civil Engineering System Design   
CEE 782 Design of Coastal Structures
CEE 788 Coastal Hydrodynamics & Sediment Transport Processes
CEE 789 Computational Environmental Fluid Dynamics
  
Double listings in A and B category
Category B

Upper Level Courses in Env. Engr.
(3 credit hours each)
CEE 650 Pollution Prevention
CEE 646 Contingency Readiness and Facility Management with GIS   
CEE 653 Environmental Engineering Law
CEE 659 Air Pollution Control
CEE 741 Open Channel Flow   
CEE 747 Groundwater Flow   
CEE 748 Advanced Hydrology   
CEE 751 Physicochemical Treatment Processes
CEE 752 Biological Wastewater Treatment
CEE 753 Advanced Processes for Water &Wastewater Treatment
CEE 754 Environmental Engineering Microbiology
CEE 755 Water Quality Management
CEE 756 Water Quality Modeling
CEE 761 Water Resource Systems Analysis   
CEE 762 Aquatic Chemistry in Environmental Engineering
CEE 780 Advanced Civil Engineering System Design   
CEE 790 Civil and Environmental Eng. Experimental Method   
  
Double listings in A and B category
Double listings in B and MATH/STAT Categories
Category C

Lower Level Courses for Civil & Env.
(3 credit hours each)
CEE 511 Concrete Design II
CEE 512 Structures II
CEE 516 Wood Structures Design
CEE 520 Foundation Engineering
CEE 521 Earth Structures Design with Geosynthetics
CEE 530 Introduction to Earthquake Engineering
CEE 540 Hydraulic Engineering
CEE 546 Urban Stormwater Hydrology
CEE 547 Groundwater Hydraulics
CEE 550 Water Distrib. & Wastewater Collection System Design
CEE 552 Air Quality
CEE 554 Hazardous Wastes
CEE 558 Sustainable Development
CEE 570 Transportation Fundamentals
CEE 571 Transportation Operation I
CEE 582 Introduction to Coastal Engineering
Category D

Other Graduate Courses
 

Graduate level courses offered from other departments. These courses must be related to the program of study and must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
MATH or STAT

A graduate level MATH or STAT course
or CEE 790/890 Civil and Environmental Engineering Experimental Methods
(i.e., CEE 790/890 is not a mandatory)

     Double listings in B and STAT Categories

       The credit hour requirements for courses to be picked from the various categories are summarized below for the Master's degrees offered.





Civil Engineering
Master of Science
(MSCE)
(Thesis)
Master of Engineering
(MECE)
(Project Option)
Master of Engineering
(MECE)
(Non-Project Option)
Category Credit Hours Category Credit Hours Category Credit Hours
A 12 A 15 A 15
A,B,C or D 9 A,B,C or D 9 A,B,C or D 9
MATH or STAT 3 MATH or STAT 3 MATH or STAT 3
Thesis 6 Project 3 A or B 3
Total Credit Hours 30* Total Credit Hours 30* Total Credit Hours 30

* For MS Thesis and ME Project options, no more than 9 credit hours can be at 500 level.

Environmental Engineering
Master of Science
(MSEnvE)
(Thesis)
Master of Engineering
(MEEnvE)
(Project Option)
Master of Engineering
(MEEnvE)
(Non-Project Option)
Category Credit Hours Category Credit Hours Category Credit Hours
B 12 B 15 B 15
A,B,C or D 9 A,B,C or D 9 A,B,C or D 9
MATH or STAT 3 MATH or STAT 3 MATH or STAT 3
Thesis 6 Project 3 A or B 3
Total Credit Hours 30* Total Credit Hours 30* Total Credit Hours 30

* For MS Thesis and ME Project options, no more than 9 credit hours can be at 500 level.

Potential Prerequisite Courses for M.S. and M.E. in Civil Engineering
      
Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in a field other than civil or environmental engineering may be admitted to the program provisionally, but generally are required to complete following prerequisite courses. Those courses that have been already completed by the applicant prior to the time of application will be credited appropriately.
      


MATH 211 Calculus I
MATH 212 Calculus II
MATH 307 Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 312 Calculus III
PHYS 231N University Physics & Lab.
PHYS 232N University Physics & Lab.
CS 150 Introduction to Programming/C++
MEM 205 Dynamics
MEM 220 Mechanics of Solids I
CEE 100 Statics
CEE 310 Structures I
CEE 323 Soil Mechanics
CEE 330 Hydromechanics
CEE 340 Hydraulics & Water Resources
CEE 410 Concrete Design I

      
CEE Civil and Environmental Engineering
CHEM Chemistry
CS Computer Science
MATH Mathematics
MEM Mechanical Engineering
PHYS Physics


Potential Prerequisite Courses for M.S. and M.E. in Environmental Engineering
      
Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in a field other than civil or environmental engineering may be admitted to the program provisionally, but generally are required to complete following prerequisite courses. Those courses that have been already completed by the applicant prior to the time of application will be credit appropriately.
      


MATH 211 Calculus I
MATH 212 Calculus II
MATH 307 Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 312 Calculus III
PHYS 231N University Physics & Lab.
PHYS 232N University Physics & Lab.
CHEM 115 Foundations of Chemistry
CHEM 117 Principles of Chemistry
CS 150 Introduction to Programming/C++
CEE 330 Hydromechanics
CEE 340 Hydraulics & Water Resources
CEE 350 Environmental Pollution & Control

      
CEE Civil and Environmental Engineering
CHEM Chemistry
CS Computer Science
MATH Mathematics
PHYS Physics


Degree Requirements - Doctor of Philosophy
      
'At a glance' flowchart for Ph.D. Degree Programs
CEE Graduate Student Handbook for PhDCE and PhDEnvE programs, (October, 2006)
ODU Forms for Graduate Studies

There are no specific course requirements for the doctoral program in civil and environmental engineering. Students plan complete programs of study in consultation with their advisors to meet their own objectives.

A minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours of graduate-level course work beyond the master's degree or its equivalent and at least twenty-four (24) credit hours of doctoral dissertation work are required in the program.





Tuition
      
Tuition for graduate study in 2006-2007 year is $285.00 per semester credit hour for Virginia residents (i.e., In-state tuition rate) and $715.00 per semester credit hour for non-residents (i.e., Out-of-state tuition rate).






Financial Aid
      
Various types of financial aid are available on a competitive basis for graduate students in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Teaching and research assistantships stipends range from $10,000 and above. Assistantship recipients are expected to engage in 20 hours of teaching and/or research activity per week. Summer stipends depend on the availability of departmental and research funding.

Master's degree students holding teaching or research assistantships eligible to pay only in-state tuition rates. Doctoral students holding these positions are eligible for complete tuition waiver. Types of financial aid are described below.

    Graduate Teaching Assistantships
           The appointee is expected to participate directly in teaching activities. The workload for a full-time appointment is normally 20 hours per week on average. The minimum stipend for full-time appointment is $10,000 for Master's students, $12,000 for doctoral students. Part-time teaching Assistantships may be available also requiring teaching responsibilities less than 20 hours per week.

    International teaching assistants whose duties require direct interaction with the students in the capacity of instructor must take and pass the SPEAK test administered by the Old Dominion University English Language Center. This test measures the oral proficiency in English.

    All new teaching assistants whose duties require direct interaction with the students in the capacity of instructor must attend the Teaching Assistant Institute prior to their first semester of appointment.

    Graduate Research Assistantship
           Graduate Research Assistantships may be funded through the regular University budget process or from sponsored research projects. The appointee is expected to participate directly in research or support activities conducted by faculty members. The workload for a full-time appointment is normally 20 hours per week on average. The minimum stipend for full-time appointment is $10,000 for Master's students, $12,000 for doctoral students. Part-time research Assistantships may be available also.

    Unfunded Tuition Scholarships
           Unfunded tuition scholarships may be offered to graduate assistants. Students must hold the appointment for more than one-half of the semester to qualify for unfunded tuition scholarship.

    At master's level, the unfunded tuition scholarship covers the difference between in-State and out-of-State tuition. In other words, master's level graduate assistants will be responsible for paying in-State tuition regardless of their domicile.

    A graduate assistant who has completed a master's degree or its equivalent and is admitted as a matriculated student into the doctoral program may be granted a full unfunded tuition scholarship. Doctoral graduate assistant receiving a full unfunded tuition scholarships do not pay any tuition regardless of their domicile.

    Unfunded tuition scholarships can not be used for undergraduate courses nor courses taken as audit. Graduate assistants seeking unfunded tuition scholarships must consult with the Graduate Program Director two weeks before the beginning of each semester to prepare the necessary paper work.

    Enrollment and Registration Requirements
           Assistantship recipients are required to be enrolled each semester of their appointment. The minimum credit hour requirement for the recipient to register for and to complete is six hours for master's students and nine hours for doctoral students during fall and spring semesters. The requirement is three hours in the summer both for master's and doctoral students. However, Ph.D. candidates who have completed all the requirements except dissertation can sign up for one hour in any semester. Undergraduate prerequisite courses and courses taken for audit are not counted toward the enrollment requirement.

    Graduate assistants normally may not enroll for more than nine credit hours per semester. Enrollment for 10 to 12 credit hours requires the approval of the Graduate Program Director. No graduate assistant is permitted to enroll for more than 12 credit hours in any semester the appointment is held.

For More Information ...
      
You can get more information about graduate programs by filling in an Information request form shown below. Also, ODU Graduate Student Handbook is downloadable for your review.

For those who are ready, please submit a preapplication form on-line. Preapplication form is an evaluatory template that will be used by the Graduate Program Director (GPD) to advise you whether you should formally apply for admission to graduate degree programs in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering or not. Direct contact (via phone and/or e-mail) with respective faculty in your areas of interest is also highly recommended before/after submitting a Preapplication form.

Request Information Materials for
Graduate Degree Programs
Submit a Preapplication Form for
Graduate Degree Programs On-line
CEE Graduate Student Handbook for
MSCE, MSEnvE, MECE and MEEnvE programs
(October, 2006)
CEE Graduate Student Handbook for
PhDCE and PhDEnvE programs
(October, 2006)
Format Guideline for Thesis and Dissertation
ODU Forms used in Graduate Studies

Information on how to open/view/print Portable Document Format (PDF) is available