Program Overview

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Introduction to the Lyles School of Civil Engineering Online MSCE Grad Student Handbook

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering at Purdue University offers a comprehensive graduate program for online master's students. This handbook provides essential information on the opportunities and requirements for graduate study and graduate degrees.

Degree Titles

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering awards the following graduate degree for the online program:

• MSCE: Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Interdisciplinary Tracks Available

The program offers the following interdisciplinary tracks:

• Sustainable Water
• Infrastructure, Resiliency and Sustainability
• Smart Mobility

Counseling and Selecting an Advisor

Each student is assigned an initial graduate advisor for counseling on their program of study, special classes, and academic guidance. Students may select a faculty advisor to discuss course selection and career planning.

Default Advisory Committee Members

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering has identified default advisory committee members for online students:

• Infrastructure, Resiliency and Sustainability:
  • Dr. Arun Prakash
  • Dr. Hubo Cai
  • Dr. Amit Varma
• Smart Mobility:
  • Dr. Satish Ukkusuri
  • Dr. Yiheng Feng
• Sustainable Water:
  • Dr. Ernest Blatchley
  • Dr. Venkatesh Merwade
  • Dr. Andrew Whelton

General Academic Requirements for Graduate Students

A description of the academic and registration requirements for graduate students is available in the Graduate Policies and Procedures Manual, Sections V and VI.

Prerequisites

The general requirement for admission to graduate study in the Lyles School of Civil Engineering is satisfactory completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree at a college or university of recognized standing.

English Proficiency Requirements

The minimum English proficiency requirements are as follows:

• Domestic Students: A grade of “B” or better in all undergraduate composition courses.
• International Students: A minimum score of 575 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL paper), 233 on TOEFL (computer based), or 22 on the Writing and Speaking Section of the internet based TOEFL (iBT).

Continuation of Studies towards the PhD Degree

Upon successful completion of the Master’s degree, a student may wish to continue towards a PhD degree within Civil Engineering at Purdue. The PhD program is residential, and an Online MSCE student would need to formally apply to the PhD program through the Purdue Graduate School for admission consideration.

Plan of Study

The Online MSCE Plan of Study Manual provides essential information on the program.

Transferring Courses

A student can transfer up to 6 credits of non-degree graduate level coursework or coursework from a degree seeking program where the degree was not completed, to their Purdue Graduate Plan of Study.

Registration of Graduate Students

Registration is the process of selecting courses, reserving space in those courses, receiving a schedule, and paying fees. A student is not officially enrolled until fees are paid.

General Credit Requirements

• One credit of registration in a semester is sufficient to maintain student status.
• Eight credits are considered full-time.
• A student can sit out two semesters and still maintain their student status – summer semesters count.

Administering Online MSCE Degree Program

Steps for an Online MSCE:

• Meet all admissions conditions that apply.
• Submit a Plan of Study by the end of the third semester of study.
• If a student intends to graduate in less than three semesters, the Plan of Study should be submitted by the end of the second semester.

Graduate Student Responsibilities and Rights

Academic Grades

Success in graduate studies requires performance at a high level. Only grades of A, B, or C are acceptable for fulfilling Graduate School requirements in any Plan of Study.

Integrity

Integrity in scholarship and research is an essential part of Purdue University's intellectual and social structure, and adherence to its spirit and principles must be maintained.

Copyright Permission

The use of photographs, figures, tables, or other information that is scanned from other individual documents must receive written authorization for use in a thesis or dissertation.

Harassment

It is the policy of Purdue University to maintain the campus as a place of work and study for faculty, staff, and students, free of sexual harassment or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or other protected status.