Master of Civil Engineering

Program Director: Thomas J. Descoteaux 
Program Coordinator: Linda Ratsep

Medicine, law, architecture, accounting, pharmacy – all professions that require education in excess of four years, whether by a separate “Professional School” or by simply requiring more than four years to obtain an undergraduate degree. Much discussion has occurred lately in the engineering community concerning the “status” of the profession in the eyes of the public. Concerns over compensation, loss of respect from society in general, and the increasing trend toward viewing engineers as a commodity instead of as valued and skilled professionals has prompted some to take a hard look at the current educational system. Many engineers agree that, in light of the explosive growth of technology, the steady decrease in the number of credits required for an undergraduate engineering degree (from an average of 150 semester hours in
1950 to 133 today), and the loss of influence and control in the worlds of finance and politics (both critical to successfully solving the world’s problems through engineering), the skill set provided by a four year education is no longer adequate.

In light of these problems, the Board of Directors of the American Society of Civil Engineers unanimously adopted Policy 465 in 2001:

“The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the concept of the Master’s degree or Equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and the practice of civil engineering at a professional level."

ASCE encourages institutions of higher education, governmental units, employers, civil engineers, and other appropriate organizations to endorse, support, and promote the concept of mandatory post-baccalaureate education for the practice of civil engineering at a professional level. The implementation of this effort should occur through establishing appropriate curricula in the formal education experience, appropriate recognition and compensation in the workplace, and congruent standards for licensure.”

Norwich University saw ASCE’s Policy 465 as an opportunity to create a graduate program unlike any other. The Master of Civil Engineering program stresses the fundamental skills needed for success by tomorrow’s civil engineer. These skills include not only technical competency in your field of expertise but also the broad range of communication and management skills needed in the highly entrepreneurial business environment that comprises our profession.

Curriculum Map/Plan of Study

Pre-admission Requirements

Students not meeting the admission requirements of the Master of Civil Engineering program with respect to their previous course work will be required to pass fundamentals courses with a grade of B or better in order to be admitted to the degree program. Fundamentals courses do not satisfy degree requirements of the Master of Civil Engineering degree.

Curriculum Requirements

The 18-month Master of Civil Engineering program is divided into six, eleven-week, six-credit courses. Three courses comprise the program “core” and are required of all Master of Civil Engineering students. For the other three courses students choose from four available concentrations: structural engineering, environmental/water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, or construction management.

Core Courses (18 Credits)

Concentration Courses (18-19 Credits)

One-Week Residency

All degree candidates of the Master of Civil Engineering are required to attend a one-week Residency Conference on the Norwich University campus, during which they may attend professional presentations, participate in roundtable discussions with faculty, and present capstone design projects. The one-week residency is a degree requirement.