Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Science in Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering

The Master of Science in Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that primarily involves civil engineering, geological engineering, and mining engineering, with secondary involvement from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, geophysics, geology, and other disciplines. This program deals with the design, construction, rehabilitation, and management of underground space, including caverns, shafts, and tunnels for commercial, transportation, water, and wastewater use.

Program Description

The graduate degree program in Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering (UCTE) is offered jointly by the Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), Geology & Geological Engineering (GEGN), and Mining Engineering (MN). UCTE faculty from each department are collectively responsible for the operations of the program. Participating students reside in one of these departments, typically the home department of their advisor. Program coursework is selected from multiple departments and is approved for each student by the student's advisor and graduate committee.

Program Requirements

Masters and PhD in Underground Construction and Tunneling Engineering

• MS Non-Thesis Option:
  • Coursework: 27.0 credit hours
  • Independent Study: 3.0 credit hours
  • UCTE Seminar: 0.0 credit hours
  • Total Hours: 30.0
• MS Thesis Option:
  • Coursework: 24.0 credit hours
  • Research (minimum): 6.0 credit hours
  • UCTE Seminar: 0.0 credit hours
  • Total Hours: 30.0
• PhD Option:
  • Coursework (beyond BS degree): 42.0 credit hours
  • Independent Study: 3.0 credit hours
  • Research (minimum): 24.0 credit hours
  • UCTE Seminar: 0.0 credit hours
  • Total Hours: 72.0

Required Coursework

The following 18 credit hours are required for the MS (thesis and non-thesis) and PhD degrees:

• GEGN468: Engineering Geology and Geotechnics (4.0)
• GEGN561: Underground Construction Engineering Laboratory (10.5)
• GEGN562: Underground Construction Engineering Laboratory (20.5)
• CEEN523: Underground Construction Engineering in Soft Ground (4.0)
• MNGN504: Underground Construction Engineering in Hard Rock (3.0)
• CEEN512: Soil Behavior (3.0)
• MNGN509: Construction Engineering and Management (3.0)

Elective Coursework

The following courses may be taken as electives to complete the MS and PhD course requirements:

• CEEN415: Foundation Engineering (3.0)
• CEEN506: Finite Element Methods for Engineers (3.0)
• CEEN510: Advanced Soil Mechanics (3.0)
• CEEN541: Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures II (3.0)
• CEEN599: Independent Study (0.5-6)
• GEGN466: Groundwater Engineering (3.0)
• GEGN563: Applied Numerical Modelling for Geomechanics (3.0)
• GEGN573: Geological Engineering Site Investigation (3.0)
• GEGN581: Analytical Hydrology (3.0)
• GEGN672: Advanced Geotechnics (3.0)
• GEGN673: Advanced Geological Engineering Design (3.0)
• GEGN599: Independent Study in Engineering Geology or Engineering Hydrogeology (0.5-6)
• MNGN424: Mine Ventilation (3.0)
• MNGN506: Design and Support of Underground Excavations (3.0)
• MNGN507: Advanced Drilling and Blasting (3.0)
• MNGN524: Advanced Mine Ventilation (3.0)
• MNGN590: Mechanical Excavation in Mining (3.0)
• MNGN599: Independent Study (0.5-6)

Thesis Committee Requirements

Students must meet the general committee requirements listed in the graduate bulletin. In addition, the student's advisor or co-advisor must be a UCTE faculty member. The committee for PhD students enrolled in the UCTE degree program shall be composed of a minimum of four faculty members, including the student's advisor, two core UCTE faculty members, and an external committee member.

Qualifying Exam Procedure

Students enrolled in the UCTE PhD program are expected to have passed a qualifying exam by the end of their first year of study. The qualifying exam will be administered by a sub-committee of UCTE faculty and includes a written component and an oral exam.

Prerequisites

Students will enter the UCTE programs with a variety of backgrounds. The required prerequisite courses for the UCTE programs include basic engineering coursework, such as Strength of Materials or Mechanics of Materials, and Fluid Mechanics. These prerequisite courses may be completed during the first semester of the graduate program if approved by the UCTE program faculty.