The Master of Science in Civil Engineering is in strict conformity with the general requirements of the School of Engineering. A student may receive the Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a special option by specializing in one of the following courses of study: construction; earthquake engineering; nuclear engineering; ocean engineering; soil mechanics and foundations; structural engineering; structural mechanics; environmental engineering; transportation engineering; and water resources. Students specializing in the transportation option must include in their program either four units of CE 590 or 594ab.
A general Master of Science in Civil Engineering without special designation is also given. Specific course requirements (at least 15 units) for a degree with special designation may be secured by request from the Department of Civil Engineering. A student who wishes to pursue the Master of Science in Civil Engineering but who has an interest in public administration may take a selected sequence of 12 units in the School of Public Administration. Graduate civil engineers may earn the Master of Science degree in the School of Public Administration. The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering will meet all the prerequisites for graduate work in the School of Public Administration except for accounting and statistics.
Students possessing a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, or physics may work toward the Master of Science in Applied Mechanics. A student may be required to satisfy certain deficiencies considered prerequisite to the listed courses.
The Master of Science in Applied Mechanics is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements for the Master of Science in Civil Engineering, except as modified by the following specific requirements. Students must include in their course work: (1) CE 507, 508, 525ab, 541b and AE 510ab; (2) at least six units of electives from the following: CE 541a, 542, 543; (3) other electives may be substituted on approval of department chair; (4) there is no thesis option.
Students with a bachelor's degree in engineering or science may work toward the Master of Science in Environmental Engineering. Students with degrees in fields other than engineering or science may be admitted on the recommendation of a program advisor and program director. Selection of courses will be determined through consultation with a program advisor to provide a maximum of training in the student's area of interest in environmental problems.
Students with a bachelor's degree and sufficient training in capital management and statistics may pursue the Master of Construction Management. This is an interdisciplinary degree program offered jointly by the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Urban and Regional Planning. A single application is made to the Department of Civil Engineering. The purpose of the Master of Construction Management program is to educate and train multidisciplinary professionals to understand and execute the broad array of technical and non-technical activities associated with construction management. The program provides special attention to the function of the constructor in real estate development.
The core of the program is drawn from the Master of Science in Civil Engineering program in construction engineering and management, and from the School of Urban and Regional Planning's Master of Real Estate Development program:
| Core Curriculum | Units | |
| CE 501 | Functions of the Constructor | 3 |
| CE 556ab | Project Cost Estimating, Planning and Scheduling | 3-3 |
| CE 502 | Construction Accounting and Finance, or | |
| GSBA 510 | Accounting Concepts and Financial Reporting, or | |
| ACCT 538 | Tax and Accounting Issues in Real Estate | 3 |
| RED 542 | Finance of Real Estate Development | 4 |
| RED 509 | Market Analysis for Real Estate Development | 4 |
| ARCH 511L | Seminar: Building Systems | 4 |
| ____ | 24 | |
At least three elective courses totaling at least 10 units are required for the Master of Construction Management degree. These may be taken from the Department of Civil Engineering, other engineering departments, the School of Urban and Regional Planning, the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the Law Center or the Graduate School of Business Administration subject to advisor approval. Admission to some classes requires advanced prerequisites and is subject to availability and approval of the instructor.
The normal time required for earning the Master of Construction Management is three semesters, including one summer semester beginning in July and continuing through the spring semester ending in May. Students are expected to participate in extracurricular activities associated with the Master of Construction Management program, including the speaker series and field trips. A candidate must complete the last four semester units of course work at USC.
Students who wish a leave of absence for a semester or longer must request it from the chairman of the Civil Engineering Department in writing. Such leaves may be granted for up to one year.
For further information see the School of Urban and Regional Planning section.
Requirements for the Engineer in Civil Engineering are the same as set forth in the general requirements.
The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in civil engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy with a major in engineering (environmental engineering) are also offered. See general requirements for graduate degrees.
Areas of specialization for Doctor of Philosophy level students are: structural engineering, structural mechanics, earthquake engineering, coastal engineering, water resources engineering, soil mechanics and foundation engineering, hydrology, hydrodynamics and transportation.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995