The application process for the Fall 2008 semester is CLOSED.
Applications for Fall 2009 will be accepted in late August
when the
ApplyYourself program is opened up for submissions.
The Department of Civil Engineering offers a graduate program
that is based primarily in structural engineering/structural
mechanics, geotechnical engineering/geomechanics, probabilistic
methods/hazards management, and coastal engineering. To be
admitted to the program, students are expected to have graduated
with an outstanding record in an appropriate undergraduate
program.
Structural, geotechnical, and coastal engineering today
are dynamic, complex, and technologically sophisticated
fields. Powerful computational methods and high-strength
materials have offered new opportunities and new challenges.
The graduate program is designed to instill in the student
the fundamental theoretical concepts of mechanics as well
as practical knowledge of modern structural, geotechnical,
and coastal engineering.
Programs Offered By Civil Engineering
The Ph.D. in Civil Engineering degree requires a minimum approved program of 10 technical courses beyond the bachelor’s degree, 8 of which must be at the 600- or 700-level. All doctoral candidates are expected to demonstrate a high level of oral and written proficiency in English. International students are encouraged to participate in ESL testing recommended courses through the Language Teaching Center. Candidates must pass a department qualifying examination of their general scientific preparation, submit for approval a detailed preliminary proposal for the dissertation, and pass a Graduate Board oral examination. The Ph.D. degree is awarded following a successful defense of the doctoral dissertation. Appropriate graduate courses taken at another institution may be used toward the Ph.D. degree; exact credits are worked out on a case-by-case basis. A master’s degree in civil engineering is generally considered sufficient evidence for a maximum of four courses. Students transferring courses from a prior master's degree are required to fulfill the remainder of the course requirement (typically 6 courses) with only courses at the 600- or 700-level.
Obtaining the Master of Science in Engineering degree in
Civil Engineering normally takes three to four semesters
of full-time study. It is also possible to satisfy the requirements
on a part-time basis. The option for those receiving a terminal
M.S.E. degree consists of a minimum of eight courses and
a master’s thesis. The option for those going on to
the Ph.D. consists of 10 courses and passing the department
qualifying examination and the Graduate Board oral examination.
Transfer credit for work completed at another institution
is generally not counted toward the M.S.E. degree.
There is no set curriculum for graduate study. Students
are expected to design a program that offers them depth
in structural engineering/structural mechanics, geotechnical
engineering/geomechanics, probabilistic methods/hazards
management, or coastal engineering, as well as a degree
of breadth in related disciplines. All programs must be
approved by the department.
The Master of Civil Engineering degree requires 10 courses
and emphasizes four focus areas: structural engineering,
geotechnical engineering, bridge engineering, and ocean
engineering. Oriented toward professional practice, this
degree program is not normally selected by those students
planning to go on for the Ph.D. Courses are so scheduled
that it is possible to earn the M.C.E. degree on a part-time
basis, taking all courses in the late afternoon and evening.
Students normally take some courses listed in this catalog
and some listed in the catalog for Part-Time Programs in
Engineering and Applied Science. Information regarding this
program, including admission, is available from the Engineering and Applied Science Program for Professonals (EPP).
The Johns Hopkins University traditionally has a number
of postdoctoral fellows. Fellows conduct research under
the sponsorship of one or more faculty members in the department.
Bachelor’s/Master’s Honors Programs
The Department of Civil Engineering has two honors programs for the combined bachelor’s/master’s degrees, to which students may be admitted as early as the second semester of sophomore year. The honors programs take five or six years, depending on the options selected, and carry an automatic tuition waiver of 50% after the first eight semesters of undergraduate work.
One program combines a B.S. in Civil Engineering with either a Master of Science in Engineering in Civil Engineering (M.S.E.) or a Master of Civil Engineering (M.C.E.). The other program leads directly from the B.S. in Civil Engineering to the M.S.E. in Environmental Engineering through the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering.
What are the advantages?
Shorter time to degree for a Master's program - 5 years as opposed to the typical 6 year completion.
- In-depth research experience, specialized training and mentorship.
- Improved job placement after graduation.
More information on this program can be found on the Graduate Board website http://www.grad.jhu.edu/concurrent/policies.htm.
