Structural Engineering

The M.S. degree program is intended to provide students with additional fundamental knowledge as well as specialized advanced knowledge in selected structural engineering aspects over and above the undergraduate degree course work. Two plans are offered; the M.S. Thesis Plan and the M.S. Comprehensive Examination Plan. In addition to the traditional M.S. degree in Structural Engineering, a M.S. degree with a specialization in Structural Health Monitoring, Prognosis, and Validated Simulations (SHMP&VS) is also available. The requirements for the M.S. degree in SHMP&VS are listed in the M.S. "In Health Monitoring" section of the department's website.

The M.S. Comprehensive Examination Plan involves course work and requires the completion of a written comprehensive examination covering multiple courses that the student has taken. The M.S. Comprehensive examination will be comprehensive and cover two focus sequences and at least one additional technical elective that the student has taken. The examination must be completed no later than the end of the eighth week of the quarter the student intends to graduate.

Master students are required to complete three core courses before they can graduate with their master's degree. The courses are SE 200 Applied Mathematics in Structural Engineering (or one of the following two similar courses: MAE294A and Math. 210A), SE 201 Advanced Structural Analysis, and SE 271 Solid Mechanics for Structural and Aerospace Engineering.

The M.S. Thesis Plan is designed for those students with an interest in research prior to entering the structural engineering profession or prior to entering a doctoral degree program. The M.S. Thesis Plan involves course work leading to the completion and defense of a master's thesis.

The thesis defense is the final examination for students enrolled in the M.S. Thesis Plan and must be conducted after completion of all course work. Upon completion of the research project, the student writes a thesis that must be successfully defended in an oral examination and public presentation conducted by a committee composed of three faculty members. A complete copy of the student's thesis must be submitted to each committee member two weeks before the defense.

Sample Focus AreasStructural Analysis:

• SE 201A Advanced Structural Analysis
• SE 201B Nonlinear Structural Analysis
• SE 202 Structural Stability
• SE 203 Structural Dynamics
• SE 204 Advanced Structural Dynamics
• SE 206 Random Vibrations
• SE 205 Nonlinear Mechanical Vibrations
• SE 215 Cable Structures
• SE 224 Structural Reliability and Risk Analysis

Computational Mechanics & Finite Elements:

• SE 233 Computational Techniques in Finite Elements
• SE 274 Nonlinear Finite Element Methods
• SE 276A Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics I
• SE 276B Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics II
• SE 276C Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics III
• SE 277 Error Control in Finite Element Analysis
• SE 278A Computational Fluid Dynamics
• SE 278B Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction
• SE 279 Meshfree Methods for Linear and Nonlinear Mechanics

Structural Design:

• SE 151B Design of Prestressed Concrete
• SE 211 Advanced Reinforced & Prestressed Concrete Design
• SE 212 Advanced Structural Steel Design
• SE 213 Bridge Design
• SE 214 Masonry Structures
• SE 220 Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation
• SE 223 Advanced Seismic Design of Structures

Earthquake Engineering:

• SE 203 Structural Dynamics
• SE 206 Random Vibrations
• SE 220 Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation
• SE 221 Earthquake Engineering
• SE 222 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
• SE 223 Advanced Seismic Design of Structures
• SE 243 Soil-structure Interaction

Geotechnical Engineering:

• SE 222 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
• SE 241 Advanced Soil Mechanics
• SE 242 Advanced Foundation Engineering
• SE 243 Soil-structure Interaction
• SE 244 Numerical Methods in Geomechanics
• SE 250 Stability of Earth Slopes & Retaining Walls

Advanced Composites:

• SE 251B Mechanical Behaviors of Polymers & Composites
• SE 252 Experimental Mechanics and NDE
• SE 253A Mechanics of Laminated Comp. Structures I
• SE 253B Mechanics of Laminated Comp. Structures II
• SE 253C Mechanics of Laminated Anisotropy Plates & Shells

Solid Mechanics:

• SE 234 Plates and Shells (or MAE equivalent)
• SE 235. Wave Propagation in Elastic Media
• SE 252. Experimental Mechanics and NDE
• SE 271 Solid Mechanics for Structural & Aerospace Engineering
• SE 272 Theory of Elasticity
• SE 273 Inelasticity

Advanced Structural Behavior:

• SE 202 Structural Stability
• SE 204 Advanced Structural Dynamics
• SE 205 Nonlinear Mechanical Vibrations
• SE 206 Random Vibrations
• SE 224 Structural Reliability and Risk Analysis
• SE 252 Experimental Mechanics and NDE
• SE 265 Structural Health Monitoring Principles

Online application consists of the following:Online Graduate ApplicationStatement of Purpose3-letters of RecommendationOfficial Transcripts (from all institutions attended)*General GRE ScoresTOEFL Score Results (international students only) English Language Requirements TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 80