Graduate Student Handbook 2020-2021 - College Of Engineering
Graduate Student Handbook2020-2021M.S. and Ph.D. Programs in Civil EngineeringLast Updated: August 2020
2GRADUATE STUDIES CONTACT LISTDepartment of Civil and Environmental EngineeringDepartment ChairDr. Neeraj Buch517-355-5107buch@egr.msu.edu(Assoc. Chair for Graduate Studies,(referred to herein as Graduate Director)517-432-1825pete@msu.eduDr. Susan J. Masten517-355-2250masten@msu.eduLaura Post(CEE Graduate Secretary)517-355-5108lpost@egr.msu.eduLori Larner(Env. Eng. Admin. Assistant)517-355-0228larner1@egr.msu.eduLaura Taylor(CEE Administrative Supervisor)517-355-5111taylorl@egr.msu.eduBailey Weber(CEE Undergraduate nt Associate ChairsDr. Peter Savolainen(Assoc. Chair, Undergraduate Studies)Administrative StaffFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:CEE Graduate Program DirectorDepartment of Civil & Environmental EngineeringEngineering Building428 S. Shaw Lane, Room 3546Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI 48824-1226Graduate SecretaryTelephone: (517) 355-5108Fax: (517) 432-1827Email: ceegrad@egr.msu.edu
3TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS3WELCOMEAdvantages of a graduate degree in Civil EngineeringThe Civil Engineering Graduate Program at Michigan State UniversityStudent participationFor further information77788PART I – MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING91. PROGRAM OVERVIEW1.1 The M.S. Degree and the Practice of Civil Engineering1.2 Dual Bachelor's-Master's Degree in Civil Engineering1.3 Dual Enrollment in Graduate Courses by Undergraduates1.4 A road map to your degree9999102. PROGRAM COMPONENTS2.2 Master’s Plan A (Thesis)2.3 Master’s Plan B1 (Project)2.4 Master’s Plan B (Coursework)111112123. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS3.1 Meeting Provisional Admission Requirements3.2 Requirements for M.S. CE Plan A3.3 Requirements for M.S. CE Plan B13.4 Requirements for M.S. CE Plan B12121315154. THE GRADUATE ADVISOR4.1 Advisor Assignment and Selection Process4.2 Time Line for Selection of a Permanent Faculty Advisor4.3 Roles and Responsibilities of the Thesis Advisor151616164.4 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT4.5 Roles and Responsibility of the Department17185. FORMATION OF THE GUIDANCE COMMITTEE186. THESIS/PROJECT FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION6.1 Nature and Scope of the Thesis6.2 Examination Regulations and Format6.3 M.S. Degree Examining Committee191919207. AREA-SPECIFIC MS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS20
47.1 MS CE –Geotechnical and Pavement Engineering (GEOPAVE)7.2 MS CE – Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials (SEMM)7.4 MS CE – Transportation Engineering202124PART II – DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM IN CIVIL ENGINEERING (PH.D.CE)268. PROGRAM OVERVIEW8.1 The Ph.D. Degree and the practice of Civil Engineering8.2 A road map to your degree8.3 Student participation262626279. PROGRAM COMPONENTS9.1 The Doctor of Philosophy Degree28289.2 CONCURRENT M.S./PH.D.2810. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS10.1 Meeting Provisional Admission Requirements10.2 Overview of Ph.D. Degree Requirements10.3 Prescribed Course Work10.4 The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination10.5 Doctoral Comprehensive Examination10.6 Doctoral research10.7 Doctoral dissertation10.8 Research publications10.9 Final examination – Dissertation defense2828293132343536363611. THE GRADUATE ADVISOR11.1 Advisor Assignment and Selection Process11.2 Time Line for Selection of a Permanent Faculty Advisor11.3 Roles and Responsibilities of the Advisor11.4 Roles and responsibilities of the student11.5 Roles and responsibility of the department36363737383812. AREA-SPECIFIC PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAM STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES3912.1 Pavement Engineering3912.2 Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials4012.3 Transportation Engineering4212.4 Water Resources4413. FORMATION OF THE GUIDANCE COMMITTEE4414 DISSERTATION DEFENSE AND FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION14.1 Nature and Scope of the Dissertation4545
514.2 Examination regulations and format14.3 Doctor of Philosophy Degree Examining Committee4546PART III – DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES4715. ADADEMIC PERFORMANCE15.1 Academic Standards for the M.S. Program15.2 Academic standards for the Ph.D. Program15.3 Graduate Student Evaluation15.4 Academic Grievance Hearing Procedures15.5 Student Records15.6 Student Awards4747484949505016. INTEGRITY AND SAFETY IN RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES16.1 The MSU perspective16.2 Key Principles16.3 Required Training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)16.4 Misconduct in Research and Creative Activities16.5 Research involving human subjects16.6 Research involving animals16.7 Office of Radiation Chemical and Biological Safety (ORCBS)515152545455555617. STUDENT CONDUCT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION17.1 Student Conduct17.2 Conflict Resolution57575818. WORK RELATED POLICIES18.1 Overview18.2 Teaching Assistantship Selection Criteria18.3 Research Assistantship Selection Criteria18.4 The Graduate Employees Union (GEU)18.5 University Graduate Assistantship Policies18.6 Graduate Assistants Covered by the GEU18.7 Graduate Assistants not covered by the GEU18.8 Teaching Assistant Evaluation18.9 Graduate Student Evaluation18.10 Safety Compliance18.11 Use of Department facilities and supplies18.12 Fees and Rates18.13 Outside work for pay18.14 Traveling Abroad58585960606061616161626363636319 TRAVEL FUNDING REQUESTS64APPENDIX I – NEW STUDENT CHECK LIST65
6APPENDIX II – DESIGNING YOUR M.S. PROGRAM66APPENDIX III – DESIGNING YOUR PH.D. PROGRAM67APPENDIX IV - FLOWCHARTS ILLUSTRATING WARNING AND PROBABTIONTRIGGERS68Warning and Probation Flowchart-Master’s Program A & B68Warning and Probation Flowchart-PhD Program69APPENDIX V – SAMPLE LETTERS FOR WARNING AND DISMISSAL70APPENDIX VI – SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION73APPENDIX-VII - NEW COURSES FOR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING ASSISTANTS(AAE 451, 452, AND 453)74APPENDIX VIII - REMINDER OF CURRENT POLICY FOR ISSUING I-20S FORPROVISIONAL ADMISSION75APPENDIX – IX: DUAL MAJOR DOCTORAL DEGREES76CE GRADUATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS – SUMMARY77
7WELCOMEAdvantages of a graduate degree in Civil EngineeringA graduate degree in Civil Engineering opens doors that are not otherwise accessible.These opportunities include research positions at corporations and national laboratoriesas well as teaching and research positions in academia. A career at this level brings thesatisfaction of being able to explore your own ideas and fully utilize your creativity. Agraduate degree will allow you to expand your knowledge and acquire new skills inanalysis and problem solving, creating challenging opportunities for a full, rewardingcareer.First and foremost among the talents required to succeed in a graduate program is adesire to learn, coupled with a natural curiosity and a desire to advance the state-of-theart. Graduate students are motivated by the enhanced independence that an advanceddegree brings and the challenge of placing oneself at the forefront of technology.We have designed this Handbook to help prospective and current graduate students selectan appropriate graduate program and provide information about the educational, researchand work opportunities available in the Department. We thank you for considering ourgraduate program. All the best in your engineering career!The Civil Engineering Graduate Program at Michigan State UniversityThe Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering offers graduate programs leadingto the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy graduate degrees in Civil Engineeringand Environmental Engineering. The program requirements for these two programs arehandled separately. This handbook provides information concerning the graduateprogram in Civil Engineering. Graduate study in Civil Engineering is organized into thefollowing areas of specialization: Geotechnical and Pavement EngineeringStructural Engineering, Mechanics and MaterialsWater ResourcesTransportation EngineeringIn spite of the areas defined above, an interdisciplinary approach marks many of theresearch projects that faculty share with graduate studentsOur graduate program is built on the quality of our faculty, our graduate students, andthe quality of their collaborative research. We believe that the background and interests ofour faculty, the research facilities, and the academic excellence of our students make our
8Department an attractive environment for graduate study. As a Department, we look aheadto the future knowing that change and growth are important aspects of and inevitable inour discipline. A graduate degree at MSU will enable you to develop the intellectual skillsyou need to compete among the best engineers in the world and you will receive worldclass training preparing you for a fulfilling career in industry, research, or teaching.Student participationThe Department’s graduate degree programs have certain course requirements asoutlined in detail in this handbook. However, graduate students in the Departmentquickly discover that their education is advanced in a number of ways beyond traditionalcoursework. One of the major opportunities is the chance to work side by side withfaculty members who are deeply interested in finding answers to research problems.Most M.S. students are expected to be involved in thesis work and all doctoral studentsare involved in dissertation research. Doctoral students demonstrate mastery of thesubject matter at various levels by passing a qualifying exam and a comprehensive exam.They also develop a dissertation proposal and present the results of their research in adissertation defense. Students are encouraged to participate in professional societymeetings and to publish their research results in society journals, transactions, andconference proceedings. Graduate students also have the opportunity to participate inacademic governance at the College and University level.For further informationIf you have any questions or concerns relating to your graduate experience,requirements, or policies, you are encouraged to discuss them with:1.2.3.4.Your graduate advisorMs. Laura Post, CEE Graduate SecretaryProf. Peter Savolainen, CEE Graduate DirectorProf. Neeraj Buch, CEE Department ChairpersonIn addition to this handbook, the relevant publications and resources are available on-lineand provided in Appendix V of this handbook.
9PART I – MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW1.1 The M.S. Degree and the Practice of Civil EngineeringThe practice of Civil Engineering at high levels of performance is increasingly conductedin specific areas. The M.S. degree in Civil Engineering is intended to provide trainingdepth in specific areas of expertise beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Such training canaccelerate the career development and increase opportunities. The M.S. training is alsointended to provide a deeper technical background on the selected specialty so as toprepare for further academic training. The program is therefore structured to providestudents with fundamental core training in the expertise of choice with enough freedomto direct the advanced training towards the student’s career goals.The M.S. degree is being increasingly thought of as the first professional degree for CivilEngineering practice. As such, the program requires students to perform at high levels oftechnical competency and demonstrate the ability to perform independent work. Boththeoretical and applied elements are emphasized and reinforced through a combinationof core and elective courses as well as independent research options.1.2 Dual Bachelor's-Master's Degree in Civil EngineeringUndergraduates at MSU with a grade-point average of 3.0 or greater can be consideredfor an accelerated program for the completion of a M.S. degree. The Dual Bachelor’sMaster’s program allows the application of up to 9 credits toward the master's programfor qualifying 400-level and above course work taken at the undergraduate level atMichigan State University or an external accredited institution. Applications must be madeduring the prior spring semester for an anticipated spring graduation or the prior fallsemester for an anticipated fall graduation to allow admission before the final semesteras a Civil Engineering undergraduate. For additional information on this program, contactthe Graduate Director.1.3 Dual Enrollment in Graduate Courses by UndergraduatesDual enrollment provides an opportunity for academically talented undergraduatestudents to enroll in graduate courses and conduct research towards a graduate degreewhile completing the last two years of their bachelor’s degree(s) programs.To be considered for dual enrollment, the student must first file an Application forAdmission to Graduate Study, and be admitted into the CE graduate program.Subsequent to admission to the CE graduate program, in regular status, the student must
10complete a Request for Dual Enrollment Status form, available from the Office of theRegistrar.Within the first semester of dual enrollment, the student’s graduate degree programadviser must be identified and the appropriate graduate degree guidance committeeestablished. The adviser and committee assist the student in developing a program ofstudy for the graduate degree. Admission to graduate study must be approved beforework to apply toward a graduate degree program is undertaken. Credits completed priorto admission to graduate study cannot be applied toward a graduate degree program.A student will be classified as an undergraduate until the minimum number of creditsrequired for a first bachelor’s degree is completed. When the student is classified as agraduate student, eligibility begins for graduate assistantships, other forms of graduatestudent financial aid, or those services and prerogatives normally reserved for graduatestudents. If approved by the graduate program, a maximum of nine credits, at the 400level or higher, from the undergraduate degree program can be applied toward therequirements for the graduate degree program for credits completed after admission tograduate study.1.4 A road map to your degreeStudents pursuing the M.S. Degree in Civil Engineering can follow the thesis, projectoption or coursework option. Students funded on departmental funds, includingfellowships and research assistantships, are expected to complete the thesis option. Thetypical path towards a M.S. Degree in Civil Engineering is as follows: Gain admission to the program.You will be assigned an advisor upon admission. Once you arrive you should meetwith that academic advisor to plan your first semester schedule. If you find that youwish to change advisors, you are free to do so unless your advisor is providing youwith a research assistantship on a specific project. If you are supported as a R.A.,but there are extenuating situations that necessitate changing advisors, you shouldmeet with your current advisor as soon as you decide this is necessary. As part ofthis meeting, you should plan to discuss how you will fulfill the obligations of yourresearch assistantship. After meeting with your advisor, you should also meet withthe graduate coordinator and your perspective advisor as soon as possible andcomplete the Change of Advisor form.Design a Program of Study with your advisor. This includes coursework and researchcredits necessary to graduate.Submit the Program of Study for signatures.Complete the required coursework and your thesis or research project (if you choosethe latter two options). Most master’s degree students in our program finish withintwo years.Additional details are provided in Chapter 3.
112. PROGRAM COMPONENTSDuring the first semester of graduate study, the student is expected to work with theadvisor to develop a Program Plan that meets the academic needs and interests of thestudent and complies with the M.S. CE Program requirements. The Program Plan specifiesthe courses and optional project or thesis that the student will complete. The initialconsideration for most students is whether to satisfy the degree requirements through acoursework-only program, or by completing a M.S. project or thesis.All M.S. programs require that students complete 30 credit hours, including a specifiedset of required courses, and elective courses chosen in consultation with the advisor.Credits that are under the thesis or project option are counted toward the 30 creditrequirement. The thesis is generally a more in-depth and more formal product than aproject, and is recognized as an important accomplishment for students who wish topursue research careers.Students receiving fellowships, teaching assistantships or research assistantships asfinancial assistance for a M.S. degree are required to conduct research with a facultymember in the CEE Department and produce a thesis from their work under Plan A.2.2 Master’s Plan A (Thesis)The thesis option is designed for students with a strong interest in research, and whoparticipate in a research project throughout their M.S. program. It is stronglyrecommended for those who wish to continue their graduate education at the Ph.D. level,and is required for those receiving fellowships, teaching assistantships or researchassistantships.The Master’s Plan A program consists of (1) prescribed course work, (2) research, (3) amaster’s thesis, and (4) an oral defense of the master’s thesis. For more informationabout the prescribed course work, please see Chapter 7. The oral defense is described inChapter 6.The M.S. thesis is based on original research conducted under the guidance of a facultycommittee. A written thesis is prepared according to a set of guidelines established bythe graduate school, and an oral defense of the work is presented to the guidancecommittee. The guidance committee must approve both the written product and oraldefense as meeting the standard of high quality research. It is also generally expectedthat the M.S. thesis will provide the basis for at least one publication in a scientific ortechnical journal.
122.3 Master’s Plan B1 (Project)The project option is designed for students with an interest in research, or in conductingan independent project with a focus on innovative analysis or design. In practice, it canbe essentially the same as a thesis, but allows for greater flexibility and may be lessintensive than a thesis. Students pursuing this option may participate in research projectsover only a discrete portion of their graduate program.The Master’s Plan B1 program consists of (1) prescribed course work as described inChapter 7, (2) a special project involving either research or a design and (3) an oraldefense of the project. The oral defense is described in Chapter 6.Preparation the project report is based on work conducted under the guidance of afaculty committee. There is no specific format for the report. The guidance committeemust approve both the written product and oral defense as meeting the standard ofcompetent research, analysis or design. It is also generally expected that the M.S. projectwill provide the basis for at least one report in a suitable publication.2.4 Master’s Plan B (Coursework)The coursework option is designed for students who are primarily interested in gainingspecialty knowledge and skills beyond that offered at the B.S. level through advancedcoursework. Requirements are met by completion of approved core and elective courses.The Master’s plan B consists of 30 credits of approved coursework. There is norequirement for a thesis, project or creative component.3. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS3.1 Meeting Provisional Admission RequirementsInternational students who are admitted provisionally with a requirement for additionalEnglish language testing must address this before the start of their first semester. TheEnglish Language Center will administer the tests and provide requirements to youradvisor for any language courses you will need as well as guidance on an appropriatefirst-semester academic load.
133.2 Requirements for M.S. CE Plan AThe Plan A master’s degree consists of prescribed course work, research, thesis, and afinal oral examination.M
handled separately. This handbook provides information concerning the graduate program in Civil Engineering. Graduate study in Civil Engineering is organized into the following areas of specialization: Geotechnical and Pavement Engineering Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials Water Resources Transportation Engineering
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