Dual Degree Programs

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering and the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs sponsor a dual degree program that allows students to complete a M.S. degree in civil engineering (MSCE) and a master of urban and regional planning (MURP) in approximately three years. The program gives in-depth training in both disciplines. Within the civil engineering program, students can elect to specialize in either environmental engineering or transportation engineering and planning.

Students must fulfill all of the program requirements for each degree, however up to 18 credits in common can be applied to both degrees, thereby reducing the total number of credits required to complete the degrees independently. The dual-degree MSCE is the same degree as the M.S. described above and therefore has identical requirements in that 30 total credits are required. In addition, a thesis (Plan A) or project(s) (Plan B) and a final oral exam are required, except for the Plan C option. The MURP degree requires 48 credits (48 course credits for coursework only and 38.5 credits for Plan A). Students must take all required Humphrey and planning core courses, including two domain courses, and take a capstone workshop (3 credits). The MURP also requires completion of a thesis (Plan A) or professional paper (coursework- only) and completion of an internship of at least 400 hours.

Completing the two degrees independently would require 78 total credits and approximately 4 years of time. The dual degree program, however, allows sharing of 18 credits to reduce the total load to 60 credits. For the MSCE degree, the 6 credits from outside the major field must come from a selected list of Public Affairs (PA) courses. In addition, twelve credits from civil engineering courses can be applied to the MURP degree. Students who wish to pursue a Plan A option in either program will be required to complete a thesis. Faculty and staff in both programs advise students on course selection so they can complete all degree requirements in approximately 3 years. If the Plan A option for either the MSCE or MURP degree is selected, then completion of all degree requirements will likely require longer than 3 years of study. The main advantage of pursuing a Plan A option, however, is that the student will likely be awarded a graduate assistantship for part or all of their graduate studies. A student currently enrolled in one program who decides to pursue both degrees may choose to do so, if admitted to the second program, at any point up to the time that their first degree is awarded.

For more information on MURP and the dual degree program go here.

Students interested in industrial and systems engineering and civil engineering can combine their studies in a dual master's degree program sponsored by the Departments of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering. The program allows students to complete a master's degree in civil engineering (MSCE) and a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering (MS-ISYE). Students must fulfill all of the program requirements for each degree. However, students can apply up to15 credits in common to both degrees, thereby reducing the total number of credits needed to 45 credits. Faculty and staff in both programs advise students on course selection so they can graduate in approximately three years rather than four.

The combined program gives civil engineers a deeper technical background and exposure to questions of interest to industry clients and industrial and systems engineer’s technical background in transportation and an opportunity to see questions of interest to the public sector. The dual master's degree prepares students for jobs at consulting firms and public agencies. Because of their broader skill set, graduates will be able to assume higher level jobs in the field than graduates with a single master's degree.

Each program maintains its own admissions criteria and students must meet the requirements of each to qualify for the dual degree program. Students must apply separately to both programs, but may begin in one program and apply to the other at a later date. If a student is admitted to one program before the other, the student will need to submit a change-of-status form to the Graduate School, rather than another full application, to be considered for admission to the second program.

For more information about the program go here.

Sample Curriculum- MS/ISyE Dual Degree Program

The following sample options are meant for illustration only. Students are not expected to take courses only from the focus areas listed below. Mixing and matching of courses is allowed. The information in parentheses following each course number is as follows: course credits, R for required course, C for a core course, E for elective, and S for a seminar course.

Sample Program A - CE Plan B and IE-Track Plan B

Year 1: Fall semester

IE 5531 (4.0, R), IE5532 (4.0, R), CEGE 5212 (4.0, R), plus either a CE core course or 1 elective

Year 1: Spring semester CEGE 5211 (3.0, R), IE5545 (4.0, C), IE5551 (4.0, C), plus either a CE core course or 1 elective

Year 2: In their second year, students may choose courses from one of the four focus areas listed below, or else mix and match courses so long as they satisfy all requirements of both programs. Some courses listed in the focus area below are also required courses that most students would have taken in year 1.

Transportation Engineering Policy: Choose from CEGE 8212 (3.0, C), CEGE8214 (4.0, C), IE5545 (4.0, C), IE 5441 (4.0, E), IE5522 (4.0, E), IE5553 (4.0, E), IE5541 (4.0, E), and IE 8536 (4.0, E).

Transportation Safety and Human Factors: Choose from CEGE 4180, IE5511 (4.0, C), IE 5512 (4.0, E), and IE 5513 (4.0, E).

Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Choose from CEGE8218 (3.0, C), IE5551 (4.0, E), IE5552 (4.0, E) and IE8552 (4.0, E).

Transportation Operations: Choose from CEGE 8211 (4.0, C), CEGE8216 (3.0, C), CEGE8217 (4.0, C), IE5522 (4.0, E) and IE5553 (4.0, E)

Sample Program B - CE Plan B and IE-Track Plan A

The sample program will look similar to Program A above with the difference that in year I, spring semester, students will take only one of the three core IE course listed. Also, the students will register for 10 IE thesis credits in year II or year III. Typically, one additional semester in Year III may be needed to complete thesis credits or project.

Sample Program C - CE Plan A and IE-Track Plan B

The sample program will look similar to Program A above with the difference that students will register for 10 CEGE thesis credits in year II or year III. Typically, one additional semester in Year III may be needed to complete thesis credits or project.

Sample Program D - CE Plan A or B and IE Track

Year 1: Fall semester IE 5111 (2.0, R), CEGE 5212 (4.0, R), plus a CE core course and an elective

Year 1: Spring semester CEGE 5211 (3.0, R), IE 5113 (4.0, R) and any one of IE5541 (4.0, R), IE5553 (4.0, R), plus either a CE core course or 1 elective

Year 2: In their second year, students may choose courses from one of the four focus areas listed below, or else mix and match courses so long as they satisfy all requirements of both programs. Some courses listed in the focus area below are also required courses that most students would have taken in year 1. Students pursuing CE Plan-A option may also register for part or all of the 10 required CEGE thesis credits. An additional semester in Year III may be needed to complete thesis credits or project.

Transportation Engineering Policy: Choose from CEGE8212 (3.0, C), CEGE8214 (4.0, C), IE5545 (4.0, E), IE 5441 (4.0, E), IE5522 (4.0, E), IE5553 (4.0, E), IE5541 (4.0, R), and IE 8536 (4.0, E).

Transportation Safety and Human Factors: Choose from CEGE4180, IE8541 (4.0, E), IE5511 (4.0, E), and IE 5113 (4.0, R).

Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Choose from CEGE8218 (3.0, C), IE5551 (4.0, E), IE5552 (4.0, E) and IE8552 (4.0, E).

Transportation Operations: Choose from CEGE8211 (4.0, C), CEGE8216 (3.0, C), CEGE8217 (4.0, C), IE5522 (4.0, E) and IE5553 (4.0, R)

Sample Program E - CE Plan C and IE Track

This program is similar to program D with the difference that students do not need thesis credits.