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Civil Engineering Masters Theses Collection

Theses from 2024 2024.

Machine and Statistical Learning for Sustainable Infrastructure and Mobility Systems , Atanas Apostolov, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2023 2023

The Current State of Practice of Building Information Modeling , Kevin P. Brooks, Civil Engineering

Loads Analysis of Fixed-Bottom and Floating Offshore Wind Structures , Michael G. Davis, Civil Engineering

Comparison Of Scaling Performance Between Sidewalks Placed Using Hot and Cold Weather Concreting Procedures , Likhitha Rudraraju, Civil Engineering

CORRELATION BETWEEN LABORATORY TESTING RESULTS AND IN-SITU SIDEWALK SCALING , Brian R. Shea, Civil Engineering

The Effects of Hurricane Wind Field Characteristics on Wind Blade Loads , Michael S. Tsai, Civil Engineering

Post-Fire Damage Inspection of Concrete Tunnel Structures , James Viglas, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2022 2022

Measuring Accessibility to Food Services to Improve Public Health , Efthymia Kostopoulou, Civil Engineering

Euplectella Aspergillum’s Natural Lattice Structure for Structural Design & Stability Landscape of Thin Cylindrical Shells with Dimple Imperfections , Zoe Y. Sloane, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2021 2021

Post-Fire Assessment of Concrete Tunnel Structures , Nicholas C. Menz, Civil Engineering

Utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Estimation of Beam Corrosion of Steel Bridge Girders , Gabrielle Pryor, Civil Engineering

Parametric Study of Integral Abutment Bridge Using Finite Element Model , Asako Takeuchi, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2020 2020

School Bus Routing To Allow Later School Start Times , Rana Eslamifard, Civil Engineering

QUANTIFICATION OF THERMAL BRIDGING EFFECTS IN COLD-FORMED STEEL WALL ASSEMBLIES , Divyansh Kapoor, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2019 2019

Sustainable Travel Incentives Optimization in Multimodal Networks , Hossein Ghafourian, Civil Engineering

High Fidelity Modeling of Cold-Formed Steel Single Lap Shear Screw Fastened Connections , Rita Kalo, Civil Engineering

Modeling the Effect of New Commuter Bus Service on Demand and the Impact on GHG Emissions: Application to Greater Boston , Christopher Lyman, Civil Engineering

Performance of Concrete Tunnel Systems Subject to Fault Displacement , Michael Morano, Civil Engineering

Behavior of Prestressed Concrete Bridges with Closure Pour Connections and Diaphragms , Gercelino Ramos, Civil Engineering

Analysis of Adhesive Anchorage Systems Under Extreme In-Service Temperature Conditions , Rachel Wang, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2018 2018

Driver Understanding of the Flashing Yellow Arrow and Dynamic No Turn on Red Sign for Right Turn Applications , Elizabeth Casola, Civil Engineering

Evaluating the Impact of Double-Parked Freight Deliveries on Signalized Arterial Control Delay Using Analytical Models and Simulation , Aaron J. Keegan, Civil Engineering

Reward Allocation For Maximizing Energy Savings In A Transportation System , Adewale O. Oduwole, Civil Engineering

Impact of S-Curve on Speed in a Modern Roundabout , Akshaey Sabhanayagam, Civil Engineering

All-Red Clearance Intervals for Use in the Left-Turn Application of Flashing Yellow Arrows , Francis Tainter, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2017 2017

Evaluation of New England Bridges for Bat Roosting Including Methodology and Case Studies , Angela Berthaume, Civil Engineering

Evaluating Variances Between Departments of Transportation in New England to Create a Strategic Transportation Workforce , Chelsea Bouchard, Civil Engineering

Development of High Early-Strength Concrete for Accelerated Bridge Construction Closure Pour Connections , Stephanie Castine, Civil Engineering

I. THE HIGH STRAIN RATE RESPONSE OF HOLLOW SPHERE STEEL FOAM; II. THE DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF AN AMERICAN ELM TREE , Ignacio Cetrangolo, Civil Engineering

Performance of Adhesive and Cementitious Anchorage Systems , Mirna Mendoza, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2016 2016

Integrated Solar Technologies with Outdoor Pedestrian Bridge Superstructure Decking , Richard K. Racz, Civil Engineering

LIVE LOAD DISTRIBUTION FACTORS FOR HORIZONTALLY CURVED CONCRETE BOX GIRDER BRIDGES , Mohammed Zaki, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2015 2015

Bonded Anchors in Concrete Under Sustained Loading , Douglas Droesch, Civil Engineering

An Observational Evaluation of Safety Resulting from Driver Distraction , Christina M. Dube, Civil Engineering

Measuring the Resilience of Transportation Networks Subject to Seismic Risk , Mark N. Furtado, Civil Engineering

Nano-Scale Investigation of Mechanical Characteristics of Main Phases of Hydrated Cement Paste , Shahin Hajilar, Civil Engineering

Driver Behavior Evaluation of Variable Speed Limits and a Conceptual Framework for Optimal VSL Location Identification , Curt P. Harrington, Civil Engineering

A Real-time Signal Control System to Minimize Emissions at Isolated Intersections , Farnoush Khalighi, Civil Engineering

Structural Vulnerability Assessment of Bridge Piers in the Event of Barge Collision , David A. Ribbans, Civil Engineering

Towards Sustainable Roundabouts: An Evaluation of Driver Behavior, Emissions, and Safety , Derek Roach, Civil Engineering

Resilience of Transportation Infrastructure Systems to Climatic Extreme Events , Alexandra C. Testa, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2014 2014

Short and Long-term Performance of a Skewed Integral Abutment Prestressed Concrete Bridge , Rami Bahjat, Civil Engineering

Performance of Circular Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers Subjected to Vehicular Collisions , Nevin L. Gomez, Civil Engineering

Field and Analytical Studies of the First Folded Plate Girder Bridge , Man Hou Sit, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2013 2013

The Effect of Roadside Elements on Driver Behavior and Run-Off-the-Road Crash Severity , Cole D. Fitzpatrick, Civil Engineering

Evaluating At-Grade Rail Crossing Safety along the Knowledge Corridor in Massachusetts , Timothy P. Horan, Civil Engineering

An Evaluation of Alternative Technologies to Estimate Travel Time on Rural Interstates , Qiao Li, Civil Engineering

Operational and Safety-based Analyses of Varied Toll Lane Configurations , Ian A. Mckinnon, Civil Engineering

Preferred Sensor Selection for Damage Estimation in Civil Structures , Matthew Styckiewicz, Civil Engineering

An Evaluation of Drivers’ Cell Phone Use Prevalence and Safety Related Impacts , Keith E. Wenners, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2012 2012

Probabilistic Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbine Soil-Structure Interaction , Wystan Carswell, Civil Engineering

Vehicle Miles Traveled (vmt) Fee Financing Alternatives: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities , Ashley L. Costa, Civil Engineering

Evaluating and Modeling Traveler Response to Real-Time Information in the Pioneer Valley , Tyler De Ruiter, Civil Engineering

An Optimal Adaptive Routing Algorithm for Large-scale Stochastic Time-Dependent Networks , Jing Ding, Civil Engineering

A Quantitative Analysis of the Impacts from Selected Climate Variables Upon Traffic Safety in Massachusetts , Katrina M. Hecimovic, Civil Engineering

Automated Enforcement Using Dedicated Short Range Communication , Gilbert Kim, Civil Engineering

New Technologies in Short Span Bridges: A Study of Three Innovative Systems , Andrew Lahovich, Civil Engineering

Driver Dynamics and the Longitudinal Control Model , Gabriel G. Leiner, Civil Engineering

Interfacial Strength Between Prestressed Hollow Core Slabs and Cast-in-Place Concrete Toppings , Ryan M. Mones, Civil Engineering

User Equilibrium in a Disrupted Network with Real-Time Information and Heterogeneous Risk Attitude , Ryan J. Pothering, Civil Engineering

Spatial and Temporal Correlations of Freeway Link Speeds: An Empirical Study , Piotr J. Rachtan, Civil Engineering

Evaluation of Live-Load Distribution Factors (LLDFs) of Next Beam Bridges , Abhijeet Kumar Singh, Civil Engineering

Material Characterization and Computational Simulation of Steel Foam for Use in Structural Applications , Brooks H. Smith, Civil Engineering

Varied Applications of Work Zone Safety Analysis through the Investigation of Crash Data, Design, and Field Studies , Erica Swansen, Civil Engineering

Using Micro-Simulation Modeling to Evaluate Transit Signal Priority in Small-to-Medium Sized Urban Areas; Comparative Review of Vissim and S-Paramics Burlington, Vermont Case Study , Joseph C. Tyros, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2011 2011

Evaluating Alternative Toll-Based Financing Approaches: A Case Study of the Boston Metropolitan Area , Rosaria M. Berliner, Civil Engineering

Analysis of Measurement Errors Influence on the Quantitative and Qualitative Results of Car-Following Model Calibration , Mariya A. Maslova, Civil Engineering

Development of Anchorage System for Frp Strengthening Applications Using Integrated Frp Composite Anchors , Geoffrey N. Mcguirk, Civil Engineering

An Application of Spatially Based Crash Analyses and Road Safety Investigations to Increase Older Driver Safety , Deanna A. Peabody, Civil Engineering

Safety and Operational Assessment of Gap Acceptance Through Large-Scale Field Evaluation , Steven Maxwell Tupper, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2010 2010

Historic Bridge Evaluation Using Finite Element Techniques , Helena M. Charron, Civil Engineering

A Quantitative Analysis of the Impacts from Selected Variables Upon Safety Belt Usage in Massachusetts , Samuel W. Gregorio, Civil Engineering

Analysis of Curved Integral Abutment Bridges , Emre Kalayci, Civil Engineering

Material Characterization and Structural Response of Historic Truss Bridges , Sean L. Kelton, Civil Engineering

Earthquake Engineering Simulation with Flexible Cladding System , Jun Jie Li, Civil Engineering

Route Choice Behavior in Risky Networks with Real-Time Information , Michael D. Razo, Civil Engineering

Route Choice Behavior in a Driving Simulator With Real-time Information , Hengliang Tian, Civil Engineering

Investigation of the Behavior of Open Cell Aluminum Foam , Patrick J. Veale, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2009 2009

Computer-Assisted Emergency Evacuation Planning Using TransCAD: Case Studies in Western Massachusetts , Steven P. Andrews, Civil Engineering

Value of Traveler Information for Adaptive Routing in Stochastic Time-Dependent Networks , He Huang, Civil Engineering

Analytical Modeling of Tree Vibration Generated during Cutting Process , Payman Karvanirabori, Civil Engineering

Optimal Adaptive Departure Time Choices with Real-Time Traveler Information Considering Arrival Reliability , Xuan Lu, Civil Engineering

Seismic Energy Dissipation of Steel Buildings Using Engineered Cladding Systems , Quan Viet Nguyen, Civil Engineering

Developing an Evaluation Approach to Assess Large Scale Its Infrastructure Improvements: I-91 Project , Melissa Paciulli, Civil Engineering

Enhancing Concrete Barrier Reflectivity With A Focus On Recycled Glass Aggregate Replacement , Regina Shklyan, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2008 2008

Performance Evaluation Of Existing Steel And Concrete Girder Bridges Through Non-destructive Live-load Testing , Andrew E. Jeffrey, Civil Engineering

Evaluation of Traffic Simulation Models for Work Zones in the New England Area , Pothu Raju Khanta, Civil Engineering

The Application of Traffic Calming and Related Strategies in an Urban Environment , Stacy A. Metzger, Civil Engineering

Terrazzo Cracking: Causes and Remedies , Michael J. Mitchell III, Civil Engineering

Anchorage of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers to Reinforced Concrete in Shear Applications , Carl W. Niemitz, Civil Engineering

Measurement and Computational Modeling of the Mechanical Properties of Parallel Strand Lumber , Russell S. Winans, Civil Engineering

An Evaluation of Simulation Models To Assess Travel Delay In Work Zones , Fan Wu, Civil Engineering

Theses from 2007 2007

An Analysis Of The Saftey Effects Of Crosswalks With In-pavement Warning Lights , George Gadiel, Civil Engineering

The Development of a Dynamic-Interactive-Vehicle Model for Modeling Traffic Beyond the Microscopic Level , Dwayne A. Henclewood, Civil Engineering

A Comparative Evaluation of Crash Data Quality Identification Methods , Arianna M. Mickee, Civil Engineering

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Home > Engineering > Civil Engineering > CIVILENG_GRADPROJ

Civil Engineering Graduate Projects and Theses

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Analyzing the Effects of Rejuvenators in Balanced Mix Design with High Percentages of Recycled Asphalt Pavement , Amanda Jo Mullins

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Contaminants of Emerging Concern Behavior within Water Renewal Facilities , Joshua C. Baker

Evaluation of Energy Release from Wildfires Across the Elevation Gradient , Isabelle Rose Butler

Use of Harsh-Braking Data from Connected Vehicles as a Surrogate Safety Measure , Nathaniel Patrick Edelmann

Innovative Foundation Alternative Inspired from Tree Roots , Macie Larranaga

Multivariate Analysis of the 2021 Boise Drought in the Context of Natural Human Systems , Jesus Martinez-Osario

Using Food-Industry Byproduct to Treat Expansive Clay , Nicole L. Shaw

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Developing Implementable Policies Targeting Sustainable Building Construction Through International Policy Diffusion , Melisa Ciara Hancock

Using Differential Shear Strain Measurements to Monitor Crosstie Support Conditions in Railroad Tracks , D. Kody Johnson

Water Quality Responses to a Semi-Arid Beaver Meadow in Boise, Idaho , Luise Bayer Winslow

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Quantifying the Effects of Climate Change on Pavement Performance Prediction using AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design , Md Shahjalal Chowdhury

In-situ Fluid Injections to Achieve Bio-Stimulated Calcite Precipitation in Expansive Soils , Anish Pathak

Understanding Mesoscopic Chemo-Mechanical Distress and Mitigation Mechanisms of Concrete Subject to ASR , Md Asif Rahman

Assessing the Prevalence of Suspicious Activities in Asphalt Pavement Construction Using Algorithmic Logics and Machine Learning , Mostofa Najmus Sakib

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Wildfire Smoke: Trends, Challenges, Unknowns, and Human Response , Mariah Dawn Fowler

Full-Scale Study of Infrared Thermography for Assessing Surface and Subsurface Defects in Pavements and Other Civil Infrastructure , Aidin J. Golrokh

Exploring the Use of Data from Newer Technologies in Road Design , Mahamudul Hasan

Effect of Subgrade Conditions on Pavement Analysis and Performance Prediction: A Study for Idaho Conditions , Md Jibon

A Unified Risk-Based Framework for Assessing Sustainability and Resiliency of Civil Infrastructure , Thomas Adam Robbins

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Feasibility of Aerial Tramway at Boise State University , Majed Alsaqyani

Predicting Power Transformer Bushings' Seismic Vulnerability , Jonathan Bender

Effect of Particle Breakage on Ballast Permanent Deformation — A Study Using the Discrete Element Method , Beema Dahal

Machine Learning Methods to Map Stabilizer Effectiveness Based on Common Soil Properties , Amit Gajurel

Physio-Chemical Degradation of Concrete: A Ramification of Coupled Freeze-Thaw and Sulfate Attack , MD Aminul Islam

Studying the Applicability of Biostimulated Calcite Precipitation in Stabilizing Expansive Soils , Md Touhidul Islam

Effect of Subsurface Conditions on Flexible Pavement Behavior: Non-Destructive Testing and Mechanistic Analysis , Md. Fazle Rabbi

Studying the Use of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation as a Shallow Stabilization Alternative to Treat Expansive Soils , Tasria Rahman

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Subsurface Characterization of Flexible Pavements Constructed Over Expansive Soil Subgrades and Selection of Suitable Rehabilitation Alternatives , Kazi Moinul Islam

Effect of Particle Size Distribution and Packing Characteristics on Railroad Ballast Shear Strength: A Numerical Study Using the Discrete Element Method , S. M. Naziur Mahmud

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Hybrid Geosynthetic Reinforcement System to Mitigate Differential Heave on Flexible Pavement due to Expansive Subgrades , Mir Md. Tamim

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Electromagnetically Induced Alteration of Hydraulic Conductivity of Coarse-Grained Soils for Geotechnical Applications , Rakesh Acharya

Evaluating the Suitability of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation Technique for Stabilizing Expansive Soils , Sikha Neupane

Evaluating the Effects of Major Assumptions in Layered Elastic Theory on Railroad Track Response Prediction Through the Development of an Improved Track Analysis Software , Sadichchha Sharma

Coupled Numerical Analysis of Variations in the Capacity of an Energy Pile in Clay Soil , Daniel Patrick Zimmerman

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Impedance-Based Water-Quality Monitoring Using Parallel Plate Method , Ali Nazaridaftari

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Electromagnetically Induced Remediation of Contaminated Soil , Vahab Bolvardi

The Effect of Electromagnetic Waves on Airflow During Air Sparging , Somayeh Najafi

Dual-State Kalman Filter Forecasting and Control Theory Applications for Proactive Ramp Metering , Brian Richard Portugais

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Investigation of Human-Induced Land Use Changes Under Present and Future Climate Projections in Southern Idaho , Korri Allen Anderson

Electromagnetic Alteration of Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils , Sahba Azad

An Investigation into the Water Budget and the Management of the Snake River System , John Whitney Hildreth

A New Framework for Flooding Control in Regulated River Systems , Elizabeth Akemi Kanashiro

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Analysis of Electromagnetic Stimulation of Transport in Water for Geoenvironmental Applications , Mahsa Azad

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

A System Dynamics Approach for Climate Change Impact Analysis in the Snake River Basin , David Jerome Hoekema

Assessing the Surface Energy Balance Components in the Snake River Basin , W Thilini Ajanthik Jaksa

Investigation of Concrete Sealer Products to Extend Concrete Pavement Life , Justin Nielsen

EM Stimulation of Water for Geotechnical Applications , Harlan Dwight Olson Sangrey

Laser Particulate Counter Calibration to a Micro-Orifice Uniform-Deposit Impactor , Benjamen Fredrich Seely

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Impact of Ground-level Aviation Emissions on Air Quality in the Western United States , Eric Edward Clark

Factors Influencing Soil Moisture at the Hillslope Scale in a Semi-Arid Mountainous Environment , Ivan John Geroy

Identifying Controls on Surface Carbon Dioxide Efflux in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem , Katrina Elsie Ladd

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Ground Water from Municipal Lagoon Treatment , Teresa Nicholas

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

Design and Validation of an Automated Multistep Outflow Apparatus for Measuring Soil Hydraulic Properties , Jordi Figueras

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

Integrated Transportation and Land Use Modeling for the Boise Metropolitan Area , Suseel Dev Indrakanti

A Gas Sampling Module for a Subsurface Ion Mobility Spectrometer , Kevin P. Ryan

Theses/Dissertations from 2005 2005

Development of a Queue Growth and Dissipation Model , Wei Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2002 2002

Changes in Local Groundwater Elevation Following Stream Restoration in the Lower Red River Meadow, Idaho , Kenneth Douglas Donley

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Best Civil Engineering Thesis Topics: A List of Unique Ideas

by Bastis Consultores | Aug 2, 2021 | Thesis Development | 27 comments

For starters, writing a civil engineering thesis can be a difficult task. Undoubtedly, it usually occupies several months of your life and demands that you spend countless hours in the library doing a unique research. In this regard, one way to facilitate its realization is to choose a thesis topic that really interests you.

First of all, the original ideas are always good, but you need to select a topic that you can work on for several months.

Secondly, the range of thesis topics in civil engineering is very wide. Therefore, the possibilities and diversity of civil engineering thesis topics and projects to choose from should be more than enough. However, after the selection, make your topic go through the usual approval of your teachers.

Topics for you to do your thesis in Civil Engineering

After selection, have your topic go through the usual approval of your teachers. Here are some of the main areas for you to choose your civil engineering thesis topic. Undoubtedly, these general areas will invite you to investigate further to present a more specific title.

Hydraulic engineering

Pavement engineering

Water Services

Structural and Civil Engineering Informatics

Construction engineering and management

Port and coastal engineering

Water treatment

Subtopics to consider

Similarly, these civil engineering degrees and thesis topics are in turn divided into several subtopics. Below are some of the most important subtopics for theses in civil engineering:

Mapping and risk classification

Bridge hydraulics

Flood mapping in urban environments

Flood Warning

River-level causeways and debris

Sustainable urban drainage systems

Hydraulics of dam spillways

River catchment works

Minimization of environmental impact

Energy dissipation structures

Climate change and land use

Sedimentation management in reservoirs

Erosion protection

Hydrodynamics of estuaries and lakes and salinity

Content of fly ash and its multiple uses

Design and analysis of nuclear power plants

Design and construction of retaining walls

List of thesis topics on General Civil Engineering

Below, we detail some thesis topics for General Civil Engineering:

Dynamic Inversion Study of Soil Mechanical Parameters

Study of fiberglass-reinforced compression elements filled with concrete

Characteristics of the acoustic emission of limestone after high temperatures

Research on the spatial analysis of stresses of a large underground project

Soap-free emulsion polymerization for sealing new buildings

Earthquake damage model on a rectangular tubular column filled with concrete

Analysis of the seismic behavior of a transmission tower system

Research on the system of steel stepped beams in RC slabs

Elastoplastic analysis of a large cross-linked shell structure under multisupport excitations

Study of soil fissures generated by liquefaction after an earthquake

List of bridge engineering thesis topics

Bridge engineering is a topic that has been present since the early twentieth century and without a doubt, it continues to be an area in which more and more innovation is made:

Effects of Truck Impacts on Bridge Stacks

Evaluation of the performance of existing bridges under the dynamic effects of vehicles

Thermal experiment of a reinforced approach pavement for a semi-integral bridge without joints

Design and propagation analysis of a new drop-down bridge section

Load transfer mechanism of a steel-concrete joint

Load transfer mechanism of a hybrid beam cable-stayed bridge

Long-term stress variation in a large, high-light continuous rigid structure bridge

List of Structural Engineering Thesis Topics

You can also consider topics related to structural engineering:

Hybrid simulations: Theory and applications

Engineered wood in cold climates

Mechanical properties and engineering applications of modern wood

Hybrid structural systems and innovative design method

Static analysis of an integrated steel structure building with wind turbines

Integrated houses of light steel structure

High Durability Low Carbon Housing Structure System

Integral Structure of Temporary Light Steel Buildings

Behavior of Beams Composed of Recycled Concrete Reinforced with Steel

Analysis of the joints between beams and pillars of steel structures

Design of a masonry basement of reinforced concrete blocks

Non-linear analysis of a new 3D stepped shear wall structure

Advances in civil infrastructure engineering

Mechanical behavior of an irregular Kiewitt dome structure

Study of the Shear Distribution Coefficient under Horizontal Force

Analysis of the nonlinear buckling of a suspended dome structure with large elliptical paraboloid

List of thesis topics on concrete technology

In addition to the areas that we have already mentioned, concrete technology is an area that undoubtedly presents greater and greater innovation:

Width of cracks in partially prestressed concrete beams

Thermal deformation of cement and asphalt mortar under repetitive heating and cooling

Compatibility between naphthalene-based superplasticizer and low-alkaline cement

Standard deviation of compressive strength of recycled concrete

Bending behavior of a fiber-reinforced mortar with low fiber content

Experimental study of carbonation in the concrete of hollow microspheres with thermal insulation

Mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced hybrid ferrocement

Study of the adhesion properties of textile-reinforced concrete

Bending behaviour of cold-rolled deformed steel bars on reinforced concrete slabs

Investigation of the durability of hollow microsphere concrete with thermal insulation

Rheological properties of room temperature curing epoxy adhesive

Behavior of modified asphalt pavement in steel roof

Analysis of volumetric deformation and creep properties of high-performance concrete C60

Analysis of the creep properties of high-performance concrete C60

Effects of mineral additives and superplasticizer on the control of the heat of hydration of cementitious materials

Application of intensification approaches in recycled aggregate

Modeling analysis of crack repair structures for asphalt concrete pavements

Analysis of the performance of the concrete used for the ballast-free track base plate

List of geotechnical engineering thesis topics

Here are some topics you can explore in the area of geotechnical engineering:

Finite element analysis of the vertical bearing capacity of individual piles

Study of the distribution characteristics of sandstone pores

Experimental study of the dynamic elastic properties of sediments carrying gas hydrates

Selection analysis of the enclosure structure for a deep foundation pit

Simplified models for assessing the period of site characteristics

Investigation of the mechanical character of the anchorage of a fully injected bolt

Creep properties of cross-linked red clay in staggered load creep tests

Application of BP neural networks in predicting damage from multilayer media penetration and blasting

Tests on vibrating table on structure reinforced with iron hook

List of transport, road and rail engineering thesis topics

Undoubtedly, transport, road and railway engineering is of wide interest to civil engineers:

Influence of the size of the cracks of the old concrete pavement on the tension of the asphalt layer

Research and application of hot recycled asphalt mixing

Analysis of the thermal stress of asphalt pavement on a poor concrete base

Assessment of the driver’s mental strain in snow pavement conditions

Evaluation of the low-temperature performance of asphalt mixtures with an analog experiment

Research on the purification capacity of porous asphalt pavement

Research and discussion on the application of artificial pile technology for viaducts

Evaluation of the influence of the environment on the vibrations of the meter

Influence of damaged pavement on the saturated road and the average speed of circulation of a stretch of urban road

List of Water Supply and Drainage Engineering Thesis Topics

In the same way, the engineering of water supply and drainage is an issue that is taking more and more boom:

Development of a new recovery material through solidification/stabilization of hazardous waste

Optimization and characteristics of copper pickling wastewater treatment

Enzymatic saccharification of pretreated cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass: Situation and prospects

Experiments on the evaporation of groundwater with high SD content in an arid zone

Reduction of excess sludge in wastewater treatment

Study on water saving and “zero trend” measures in a nylon chemical company

List of geological engineering thesis topics

Likewise, geological engineering is a very broad and very interesting topic:

Research on the detection of multi-step leaks in the dam by the temperature in the holes

Analysis of the stability of a rock slope with an overinclinated stratoid structure

Study on the reliability of the loess cutting slope

Characteristics of seismic geological disasters

Experimental study of the shear strength of unsaturated silty clay

Properties of emulsion and recycling of asphalt pavement recovered at room temperature

Here are other unique ideas you can consider

Below, you can explore other innovative titles that you will surely be interested in:

Air pollution and its control

How can large metropolitan areas be reformed or restructured to help control, for example, the rising rate of air pollution?

Disaster management

How do advances in civil engineering help improve disaster management in high-risk areas?

Innovations in geotechnical applications

How do these innovations pave the way for a tremendous change in the way we look at civil engineering?

Uses of flexible flooring

This engineering technology is being used in places where geology plays a more important role in terms of unstable soil. What other uses can it have?

Advances in pavement design

What advances over the past two decades have had the greatest effect on how cities are redeveloped?

Disaster recovery

How have recent events related to disaster response time affected?

Removal of arsenic from groundwater

What are the most effective methods of removing arsenic from city groundwater? What are the challenges in rural areas?

Bamboo as a building material

Recently progress has been made in the use of different and natural materials for construction. However, what place does bamboo occupy in all this?

Demolition of a building

Analyze the effectiveness of the destruction and demolition of large urban structures and their effect on traffic, safety, etc.

Prevention of breakdowns on the roads

How have highway collapses and catastrophes affected design improvement?

Groundwater pollution

More effective technologies to curb the increase in groundwater pollution.

Improved power quality

How can the design of power grids help improve the speed, supply and power of electricity to homes?

Solar grid development

If solar technology has improved to the point of being cheap for use in cities, then why haven’t cities developed more efficient grids?

Diversion of rainwater

What technologies can be used to divert rainwater to reservoirs to curb the effects of droughts?

Low-cost rural housing

How can improvements in water diversion, electricity networks, etc. for example reduce the costs associated with rural housing?

In conclusion, if you want to choose a topic, make sure that it has not been researched before by the experts. In addition, the subject itself must be quite crucial and demanding to be applied in the field. Finally, we want to highlight that we have an internal team of very well qualified professionals with very advanced academic degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates. Consequently, they will give your work all the attention it needs and guide you in all civil engineering topics for thesis and many more.

Our specialists wait for you to contact them through the quote form or direct chat. We also have confidential communication channels such as WhatsApp and Messenger. And if you want to be aware of our innovative services and the different advantages of hiring us, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

If this article was to your liking, do not forget to share it on your social networks.

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The best civil engineering thesis topics: a list of unique ideas. Photo: Unsplash. Credits: Vasily Koloda @napr0tiv

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Theses and Dissertations — 2022

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What Does a PhD in Civil Engineering Focus On?

If you wish to conduct research into something which has real impact and could directly benefit society on a daily basis, a PhD in Civil Engineering could be for you. Civil Engineering is a broad field that encompasses the design, construction and operation of the built environment which shapes our lives. From designing highways and building bridges to maintaining sewer systems and assessing flood risk, the work of civil engineers is fundamental to allowing cities to work the way they do.

A PhD in Civil Engineering provides you with the opportunity to work with emerging technology and industrial partners, and engage in research that has a direct impact on society. From assessing the accuracy of engineering codes and standards to developing novel approaches to the computational modelling of flood events, each Civil Engineering research project has a real-life application. Beyond this, doctoral study in Civil Engineering could allow you to operate in interdisciplinary research, work with a university’s industry partners, gain expertise and build a foundation for your career as an industry professional.

There are many branches of Civil Engineering, and graduates who wish to pursue doctorate study will have to choose a civil engineering specialization. Examples of popular civil engineering topics include:

• Structural Engineering – A PhD in structural engineering could look at how we can manage the impact of earthquakes on skyscrapers in areas of seismic activity to contribute to the development of resilient structures. Alternatively, this could be a local investigation into a single RC beam, and how reinforcement layout affects material behaviour.
• Geotechnical Engineering – Postgraduate research programmes here could involve assessing the accuracy of ground modelling techniques in different environments, or looking at how vibrations in the ground affect soil properties.
• Hydraulic and Fluid Dynamics – Doctoral research in fluid flow could revolve around coastal engineering or instead could focus on using computational software to model water flows associated with a hydroelectric dam. Other PhD students could focus on wind engineering and involve monitoring fluid flow in small scale wind tunnels built in a laboratory.
• Sustainability – A research project in sustainability could study sustainable design or the reliability of renewable energy sources and how they can be retrofitted into existing systems. Alternatively, a sustainability PhD research degree could look at the growing population and how this may affect city planning or urban development in the near and distant future.
• Environmental Engineering – Postgraduate study in this field could look at identifying potential effects of extreme weather events associated with climate change, such as flooding, and how we can prepare for them.
• Transportation Engineering – A doctoral degree in this branch may involve understanding traffic behaviour in different population densities, or evaluating the effectiveness of public transportation networks.
• Construction Engineering and Management – A PhD in construction management could involve a review of the effectiveness of UK legislation such as CDM 2015.

Browse Civil Engineering PhD Opportunities

From text to tech: shaping the future of physics-based simulations with ai-driven generative models, coventry university postgraduate research studentships, aerodynamics and noise of next-generation distributed propulsion system, high speed photography to investigate surface wear and fatigue in railway rail and wheel steels, improved understanding of the vaiont landslide based on refined modelling using updated geological information, minimum entry requirements for a phd in civil engineering.

The minimum academic entry requirements for a Civil Engineering doctorate programme are usually either a relevant first class honours degree, or a second class honours degree (undergraduate) with a relevant Master’s degree.

It is important that the applicant has a degree in a subject directly relevant to the PhD project. Typically, a Civil Engineering degree is preferred, however, the particular field of study often dictates this, for example: A research project studying geotechnical behaviour could accept degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, and Earth Science. Similarly, a research project modelling structural properties could accept degrees in Maths , Computing, and Physics . Universities also consider applicants with international equivalent qualifications.

Relevant work experience can improve your application. It is therefore advisable for current students, who are considering PhD study to complete internships or summer placements during their graduate study.

Beyond any degree requirement, prospective students also need to provide proof of their English Language ability. Universities will expect international students to have English Language Qualifications, for example, IELTS, TOEFL (iBT) or Pearson PTE scores. The exact score requirements of these exams will vary depending on the university, however typical requirements for a doctoral candidate are stated below:

How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD in Civil Engineering?

Full time Civil Engineering PhD programmes in the UK usually have a duration of 3 years, with part time programmes lasting 6 years. For a full time programme, the first year is normally a probationary year, where the PhD student is required to propose a PhD thesis in Civil Engineering. Upon acceptance, the research phase begins, which typically involves laboratory work, but due to the different civil engineering branches may involve the research students undertaking numerical modelling, programming/computation, or fieldwork. After submission of the PhD thesis, doctoral researchers are required to undergo an oral examination (Viva Voce) before being awarded their PhD degree.

During your project, your supervisor or relevant academic staff for your department may encourage you to present findings and produce papers. You are also likely to be required to attend training courses to progress your transferable skills development for your future career.

Costs and Funding

Annual tuition fees for a UK doctoral student applying to a 2021/22 PhD programme in Civil Engineering are around £4,000 to £5,000. For EU and overseas students, these tuition fees increase to around £20,000 to £24,000 per academic year. Part-time tuition fees are normally proportioned according to the research programme length.

There are many funding opportunities available for Civil Engineering PhDs. Most institutions have Centres for Doctoral Training in Civil Engineering, which offer a number of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council ( EPSRC ) studentships to eligible applicants. These studentships and grants cover tuition fees and can provide a maintenance stipend and research travel expenses.

The British Federation of Women Graduates offers a number of scholarships to eligible female postgraduate students. There are also many scholarships for international Civil Engineering students, for example, doctoral candidates from the US can apply to scholarships such as the British Marshall Scholarship or the Fulbright student scholarships which cover the costs of studying a doctoral degree in the UK.

Postgraduate research students may also be eligible for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan overseen by the UK Government which can provide up to £25,000 for course fees and living costs associated with your research project.

PhD in Civil Engineering Salary and Career Paths

One of the main benefits of Civil Engineering is that the wide applications open up many varied career opportunities. PhD holders have problem solving skills that allow them to transfer into different industries, and it is not uncommon to see Civil Engineering doctorates working in finance, consultancy, engineering research careers and management.

Typical Civil Engineering jobs include:

• CAD Technicians
• Contractors
• Consultants
• Quantity Surveyors
• Project management

Within each of these jobs, there is a wide range of sub disciplines. For example, one contractor may work on the maintenance of wind turbines, whilst another may focus on excavations in marine environments. The typical starting salary for a graduate Civil Engineering role is around £25,000. With experience, this can increase to over £50,000. It should be noted that holding a PhD degree often allows for greater career progression and opens doors to unique and diverse opportunities, with greater levels of responsibility and innovation. Consequently, PhD applicants can expect a more lucrative salary to reflect their expertise.

Typical employers include civil engineering consultancies and contractors, gas and utility companies, government bodies (e.g. Network Rail or Highways England) and research institutes. Universities and other academic institutions are also common employers, as some doctoral students transition from their postgraduate research programme to a teaching role.

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Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Resources: Dissertations & Theses

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As part of the requirements for graduate level degrees, students must complete a thesis for a Master's degree and/or dissertation for a Ph.D. Dissertations and theses are submitted to the academic department and the Graduate College and are made available through the University Library. Since 2010, all theses and dissertations are electronically deposited into IDEALS, the Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship, the University's open repository of scholarly content.

ProQuest Dissertations is a comprehensive collection of citations to dissertations and theses worldwide from 1861 to the present day. Full text PDFs are available for many Ph.D. dissertations added since 1997 and some older graduate works.

• IDEALS (UIUC Institutional Repository) Digital copies of theses, data sets, and publications by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faculty and students.
• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses PDF copies of dissertations and theses from U.S. universities.

Civil & Environmental Engineering Dissertations & Theses

• Civil & Environmental Engineering Dissertations & Theses Search Interface

Print Dissertations & Theses

Prior to 2010, print format dissertations and theses were bound and cataloged separately for the Grainger Engineering Library. Prior to 1983, each thesis was shelved by a call number assigned by subject headings. To locate them, search the online catalog for the author’s last name, title word(s) if known, and “theses” and the year granted as subject term(s).

Civil and Environmental Engineering dissertations and theses granted from 1985 to 1999 were assigned Q.629.1Ta, followed by the 2-number year, followed by starting letters from the author’s last name. (Example: A 1991 thesis by M. Doyle would be Q.629.1Ta91D). Dissertations and theses granted from 2000 to present were assigned Q.629.1Tb, followed by the 2-number year, followed by starting letters from the author’s last name. (Example: A 2006 thesis by H. Dewey would be Q.629.1Tb06De).

Civil and Environmental Engineering - Q. 624T

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Civil Engineering

Application deadline.

• Fall: May 15
• Winter: Sep 15

Contact Information

• Employment History
• Three letters of recommendation - request letters of recommendation from previous professors or professionals
• Statement of intent
• Describe your educational and career objectives and how graduate work will fit those goals
• Credit hours:  Thesis program:  31 minimum approved hours including 6 thesis hours and 1 hour of Graduate Seminar.  Project program:  31 minimum approved hours including 3 project hours and 1 hour of Graduate Seminar.
• Program of Study: the graduate program of study must be submitted during the first semester of graduate study.
• Evaluations: evaluation of the student's graduate program progress by his/her department advisor is required at least twice each academic year.
• Residency requirements: residency is required for the major part of the work. This work must be completed under the specific direction of a graduate faculty member while the student is in residence at BYU. “In residence” is defined as (1) being registered for credit as a graduate student and (2) living and conducting research in the general vicinity of the university, where the student has ready access to research facilities and consultation with the faculty. Further, all work must be completely open for university review and publication. Any exceptions to the above must be supported by written approval from the department and college and obtained in advance of any work being performed.
• Prospectus: Students must submit a written prospectus on their proposed research topic during their first semester of graduate seminar.
• Examinations: students must complete an oral defense of thesis or oral presentation of project.
• Thesis or Project.
• Cumulative 3.0 GPA or above in all program of study courses.
• For a more detailed description of the graduate program requirements, see:   http://ceen.byu.edu  and  http://gradstudies.byu.edu .

Department Courses Department Faculty

55 Civil Engineering Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best civil engineering topic ideas & essay examples, 🥇 most interesting civil engineering topics to write about, 📌 simple & easy civil engineering essay titles.

• Civil Engineering as a Professional Career The reason why civil engineering is dominant over other engineering disciplines is that it is broad and deals with many things such as design, building, and refurbishment of corporeal and ordinary built environment.
• Peter Rice: Famous Civil and Structural Engineer What makes the work of Peter Rice unique is that he has the ability to step out of the limits and constraints which formed a part of his professional training; as a result he was […] We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
• Choosing the Right Career Path: Biomedical and Civil Engineering Biomedical engineers join sound skills of engineering and biological science, and so tend to have a bachelor of science and superior degrees from major universities, who are now recovering their biomedical engineering program as interest […]
• Forms of Standard Contracts in Civil Engineering The inclusion of new conditions of contracts in the construction industry is an indicator of the modernization and modification of contracts.
• Civil Engineering Practice and Fundamentals The book presents the results of the summit devoted to the future of civil engineering. The main subjects of the summit were the role of teachers, students, and engineer interns in the development of new […]
• Civil Engineering Assessment: Fire Safety in Buildings According to the ‘Review of the Building Regulations 2004: Section 2 Fire,’ fire safety main aims are to ensure the protection of life, achievement of sustainable development, and assist the fire and rescue services.
• Ethics and the Civil Engineer of 2025 In that regard, it can said that ethics and ethical responsibility is bordering with qualification in terms of its importance for the profession.
• Celestino R. C. Pennoni History: Civil Engineering, Education, and Environmental Programs Pennoni was the first one in his family to gain the higher education, owing to his commitment and his parents’ understanding of “the value of education”.
• Sustainability and Civil Engineering With development of economic issues, there is impact of civil engineering in better advocating sustainable development in the true sense of the word.
• Electrical and Civil Engineering Analysis Sakae M Light rail is a modern concept that is versatile in nature and it fits perfectly in the engineering visions of a bus and the heavy metro.
• Architect, General Building Contractor and Civil Engineer My configuration is ISTP, and I think that the selected occupations are a good fit for my personality as they demand specific features and qualities that I possess.
• Infrastructure: American Society of Civil Engineers The ASEC believes that the energy infrastructure is especially critical for the economy. American society makes the following suggestions to enhance the country’s infrastructure: The federal leadership in infrastructure is required.
• Developing More Sustainable Civil Engineering Practices It is possible to observe that of the better policies, which are proposed in the research and which could be applied to the sphere of civil engineering, is the development and use of new tools […]
• Civil Engineering Development: Safety & Diversity Nowadays, the development of civil engineering continues, including the involvement of women and minorities and the improvement of education, and the improvement of the safety of the constructions.
• Strategies of the American Society of Civil Engineers During the budget process, “the SPC, the Program Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Board consider the overall strategies and their viability and affordability and then allocate funds”.
• Civil Engineering During the Industrial Revolution in Britain’s History
• Quality Failure Costs in Civil Engineering Projects
• Civil Engineering: Definition, History, Functions, Branches
• Saudi Arabian Civil Engineering Construction Analysis
• The Language of Civil Engineering Research Articles
• Applications and Issues of GIS as Tool for Civil Engineering Modeling
• Civil Engineering Construction Market in Central Europe
• Civil Engineering and Reinforced Concrete Design Concerns
• Factors Affecting the Decrease of Civil Engineering Students Number
• Bayesian Methods for Structural Dynamics and Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Decision-Making in Civil Engineering, Construction, and Building Technology
• Advancements in Civil Engineering & Technology
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Impact on Architecture and Civil Engineering
• Vibrational Based Inspection of Civil Engineering Structures
• The History and Importance of Civil Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence Application in Civil Engineering
• Advances in Materials Applied in Civil Engineering
• The Basic Concepts Essential for Structural and Civil Engineering
• Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Wood Use in Civil Engineering
• The Design of Cementitious Composites for Civil Engineering Applications
• Imbalance Between Software and Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering: Design Construction and Maintenance
• Computer Technology and Its Application in Civil Engineering
• The Technology Advances Modern Civil Engineering
• Internet Marketing for Growing Civil Engineering Firm
• Neural Networks Usage in Civil Engineering
• Greatest Civil Engineering Achievements Review
• Use of Vegetation in Civil Engineering: Is This Still a Case?
• Uncertainty Modeling and Analysis in Civil Engineering
• Trends in Civil Engineering and Its Architecture
• The Civil Engineering Measuring Estimating and Tendering Construction
• The Factors Affecting the Career Choice of Male and Female Civil Engineering Students in the UK
• Marketing for Small and Medium-Sized Civil Engineering Companies
• Building a Future: Architecture vs. Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering and the Different Types of Civil Engineers
• Machine Learning Techniques for Civil Engineering Problems
• Risk Assessment and Risk Communication in Civil Engineering
• Application of Optimal Control Theory to Civil Engineering Structures
• What Do Psychology and Civil Engineering Have in Common?
• Wind-Tunnel Development and Trends in Applications to Civil Engineering
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 55 Civil Engineering Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/civil-engineering-essay-topics/

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IvyPanda . "55 Civil Engineering Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." October 26, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/civil-engineering-essay-topics/.

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Master of Science (M.S.) Major in Engineering (Civil Engineering Thesis Option)

Program overview.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in Engineering provides a practical, industry-driven focus via a long-term, targeted technical project or thesis related to real-world engineering applications. These projects will be conducted in partnership with local industries and may involve off-campus collaborations. The degree requires a large-scale project or thesis because the abilities to solve problems, innovate and make immediate contributions to industry are best developed by having students confront a substantial, open-ended problem; perform detailed research on the problem; develop various solutions; choose and implement the best solution; validate their choice; and effectively communicate the process to professional colleagues, executives, and customers.

Application Requirements

The items listed below are required for admission consideration for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Submission instructions, additional details, and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website . International students should review the International Admission Documents page for additional requirements.

• completed online application
• $55 nonrefundable application fee

          or

• $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• baccalaureate degree engineering, computer science, physics, technology, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited university
• official transcripts from  each institution  where course credit was granted
• minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
• official GRE (general test only) with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections)
• resume/CV detailing prior work experience, research experience, awards, scholarships, and other related qualifications
• statement of purpose (two pages) conveying research interests, plans for graduate study, and professional aspirations
• two letters of recommendation from non-related individuals familiar with the student’s scholarly work and/or relevant work experience

TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS Scores

Non-native English speakers who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver:

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
• official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0

This program does  not  offer admission if the scores above are not met.

Additional Information

Non-credit (leveling) course work may be required prior to admission into the program if the student lacks sufficient background course work. Any required leveling course work must be completed with grades of B or better prior to admission.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in Engineering concentration in Civil Engineering requires 31 semester credit hours, including a thesis. 

Non-credit (leveling) course work may be required prior to admission into the program if you lack sufficient background course work. Any required leveling course work must be completed with grades of B or better prior to admission. 

All students will have a faculty advisor and a graduate committee composed of a minimum of three graduate faculty members (including the faculty advisor). The faculty advisor will provide technical direction for the student’s project, and the graduate committee will be responsible for approving the project proposal, receiving project progress reports, and approving the final project presentation and written report. The oral project presentation will serve as the comprehensive examination.

Course Requirements

Choose up to 6 hours from the Multidisciplinary Electives above to make the total hours selected from Engineering Electives and from Multidisciplinary Electives to equal 15 hours.

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

An oral thesis defense is required. This oral defense will serve as the comprehensive examination requirement.  If the thesis committee is not satisfied with a graduate student’s oral defense, they specify all deficiencies the student must resolve. The thesis committee will not sign the Master’s Comprehensive Examination Report Form and the Thesis Submission Approval Form until all specified deficiencies have been resolved. Should the thesis committee decide to hold a second oral defense, the chair of the thesis committee shall not schedule the second defense until the student has resolved all specified deficiencies.

Students who do not successfully complete the requirements for the degree within the timelines specified will be dismissed from the program.

If a student elects to follow the thesis option for the degree, a committee to direct the written thesis will be established. The thesis must demonstrate the student’s capability for research and independent thought. Preparation of the thesis must be in conformity with the  Graduate College Guide to Preparing and Submitting a Thesis or Dissertation .

Thesis Proposal

The student must submit an official  Thesis Proposal Form  and proposal to his or her thesis committee. Thesis proposals vary by department and discipline. Please see your department for proposal guidelines and requirements. After signing the form and obtaining committee members’ signatures, the graduate advisor’s signature if required by the program and the department chair’s signature, the student must submit the Thesis Proposal Form with one copy of the proposal attached to the dean of The Graduate College for approval before proceeding with research on the thesis. If the thesis research involves human subjects, the student must obtain exemption or approval from the Texas State Institutional Review Board prior to submitting the proposal form to The Graduate College. The IRB approval letter should be included with the proposal form. If the thesis research involves vertebrate animals, the proposal form must include the Texas State IACUC approval code. It is recommended that the thesis proposal form be submitted to the dean of The Graduate College by the end of the student’s enrollment in 5399A. Failure to submit the thesis proposal in a timely fashion may result in delayed graduation.

Thesis Committee

The thesis committee must be composed of a minimum of three approved graduate faculty members.

Thesis Enrollment and Credit

The completion of a minimum of six hours of thesis enrollment is required. For a student's initial thesis course enrollment, the student will need to register for thesis course number 5399A.  After that, the student will enroll in thesis B courses, in each subsequent semester until the thesis is defended with the department and approved by The Graduate College. Preliminary discussions regarding the selection of a topic and assignment to a research supervisor will not require enrollment for the thesis course.

Students must be enrolled in thesis credits if they are receiving supervision and/or are using university resources related to their thesis work.  The number of thesis credit hours students enroll in must reflect the amount of work being done on the thesis that semester.  It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure that students are making adequate progress toward their degree throughout the thesis process.  Failure to register for the thesis course during a term in which supervision is received may result in postponement of graduation. After initial enrollment in 5399A, the student will continue to enroll in a thesis B course as long as it takes to complete the thesis. Thesis projects are by definition original and individualized projects.  As such, depending on the topic, methodology, and other factors, some projects may take longer than others to complete.  If the thesis requires work beyond the minimum number of thesis credits needed for the degree, the student may enroll in additional thesis credits at the committee chair's discretion. In the rare case when a student has not previously enrolled in thesis and plans to work on and complete the thesis in one term, the student will enroll in both 5399A and 5399B.

The only grades assigned for thesis courses are PR (progress), CR (credit), W (withdrew), and F (failing). If acceptable progress is not being made in a thesis course, the instructor may issue a grade of F. If the student is making acceptable progress, a grade of PR is assigned until the thesis is completed. The minimum number of hours of thesis credit (“CR”) will be awarded only after the thesis has been both approved by The Graduate College and released to Alkek Library.

A student who has selected the thesis option must be registered for the thesis course during the term or Summer I (during the summer, the thesis course runs ten weeks for both sessions) in which the degree will be conferred.

Thesis Deadlines and Approval Process

Thesis deadlines are posted on  The Graduate College  website under "Current Students." The completed thesis must be submitted to the chair of the thesis committee on or before the deadlines listed on The Graduate College website.

The following must be submitted to The Graduate College by the thesis deadline listed on The Graduate College website:

• The Thesis Submission Approval Form bearing original (wet) and/or electronic signatures of the student and all committee members.
• One (1) PDF of the thesis in final form, approved by all committee members, uploaded in the online Vireo submission system.  

After the dean of The Graduate College approves the thesis, Alkek Library will harvest the document from the Vireo submission system for publishing in the Digital Collections database (according to the student's embargo selection).  NOTE: MFA Creative Writing theses will have a permanent embargo and will never be published to Digital Collections.  

While original (wet) signatures are preferred, there may be situations as determined by the chair of the committee in which obtaining original signatures is inefficient or has the potential to delay the student's progress. In those situations, the following methods of signing are acceptable:

• signing and faxing the form
• signing, scanning, and emailing the form
• notifying the department in an email from their university's or institution's email account that the committee chair can sign the form on their behalf
• electronically signing the form using the university's licensed signature platform.

If this process results in more than one document with signatures, all documents need to be submitted to The Graduate College together.

No copies are required to be submitted to Alkek Library. However, the library will bind copies submitted that the student wants bound for personal use. Personal copies are not required to be printed on archival quality paper. The student will take the personal copies to Alkek Library and pay the binding fee for personal copies.

Master's level courses in Engineering: ENGR ,  CE ,  EE ,  IE ,  MFGE

Courses Offered

Engineering (engr).

ENGR 5100. Seminar in Engineering.

Graduate students attend seminars by invited speakers presenting relevant topics in academia and industry. The schedule of speakers will be developed each semester with strict faculty supervision. This course may only be taken for credit one time.

ENGR 5101. Academic Instruction for Engineering Graduate Assistants.

This course is seminar based and covers topics related to teaching and employment responsibilities. Completion of this course is required as a condition of employment for graduate assistants. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

ENGR 5105. Engineering Internship.

This course is a faculty-supervised, experiential, work-integrated learning course intended to help the student acquire engineering curriculum-related industrial experience and hence successfully make the transition into the workforce. Course cannot be counted toward graduation. Course may be repeated once. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENGR 5198B. Project.

This course represents a student's continuing project enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the project is completed. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENGR 5199B. Thesis.

This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.

ENGR 5298B. Project.

This course represents a student's continuing project enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the project is completed.

ENGR 5299B. Thesis.

ENGR 5310. Probability, Random Variables, & Stochastic Processes for Engineers.

This course develops theory underlying analysis and design of systems. Fundamental distributional concepts, applications of statistical methods, and theory of stochastic processes are introduced to create a mathematical foundation for engineering analysis of physical systems involving randomness. Applications to engineering topics are taught, including estimation, control, and systems theory.

ENGR 5321. Environmental Chemistry.

This course introduces environmental chemistry, emphasizing aquatic resources and engineering. It also examines fundamental geochemistry and atmospheric chemistry principles relating to pollutant impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

ENGR 5322. Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure.

This course covers the principles and practices of Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure (LID/GI) for sustainable development and water sustainability through rain harvesting, small systems, resource recovery, and technology-enhanced innovation.

ENGR 5323. Soil and Groundwater Remediation.

This course covers various remediation technologies to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Topics include, but are not limited to, subsurface hydrology, contaminant fate and transport, physicochemical and biological remediation, monitoring, and brownfield redevelopment. Significance of subsurface contamination and the importance of environmental health will also be addressed.

ENGR 5330. Advanced Soil Mechanics.

This course is a fundamental graduate-level geotechnical engineering course, covering the physical, mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical properties of soil. The mandatory laboratory component will provide hands-on experience with characterizing soils for engineering purposes (stress-deformation and strength characteristics) and help to familiarize students with ASTM geotechnical laboratory testing procedures and standards.

ENGR 5332. Earth retaining structures and slopes.

The course will cover the design and analysis of various earth retaining structures as well as slope stability analysis. Fundamental lateral earth pressure theories will be taught, followed by application through design for gravity walls, cantilever walls, mechanically stabilized earth walls, soil nails, and tiebacks. Slope stability analysis will include infinite methods, methods of slices, chart methods, and finite element methods with commercial software. Additional topics include slope remediation techniques and geosynthetics for slope stabilization.

ENGR 5333. Fluid Flow in Porous Media.

This course presents the fundamental theory of fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media and introduces various theoretical tools to characterize and predict the flow field. This course focuses on the fluid flow theory in complex porous media, such as fractured porous media. Key concepts are introduced, and derivations of governing equations are presented thoroughly. Analytical and numerical techniques to solve governing equations are discussed. The students of this course use these fundamental equations to solve problems based on real-world situations.

ENGR 5334. Advanced Foundation Engineering.

This course examines advanced topics in foundations design including design, analysis and construction of shallow and deep foundations. Deep foundations include driven piles, drilled shafts, micropiles, and auger cast in place piles. The course will cover bearing/axial capacity, settlement, pile group effects, and lateral capacity of the various foundation types. Additional topics include subsurface exploration and analysis of pile behavior using wave equation analysis.

ENGR 5341. Advanced Bituminous Materials.

This course provides a comprehensive presentation of bituminous materials, mix design procedures, and construction techniques. Emphasis is placed on a fundamental understanding of asphalt cements and aggregates, and how these materials affect mixture design and pavement performance. Modern asphalt pavement design and construction practices are also introduced.

ENGR 5351. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Members.

This course covers advanced topics related to reinforced concrete materials and specifications, and the behavior and design of reinforced concrete members. The topics includes the following: flexural behavior and design of reinforced concrete, behavior and design of slender columns, design of structural components, frame joints, and walls, serviceability and durability issues, and anchorage design using splices, hooks, and mechanical devices.

ENGR 5352. Advanced Prestressed Concrete.

This course covers the theories, principles, and concepts of prestressed concrete, including analysis and design of prestressed components for axial, flexure, shear, and torsion. This course will also introduce the applications of prestressed elements in various types of infrastructure.

ENGR 5361. Pavement Asset Management.

This course is about applications of pavement condition evaluation technologies, pavement distress data analysis and modeling, and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation decision making in the management of pavement systems. The course covers methods of evaluating field performance of rigid and flexible pavements by measuring surface distresses, profiles, friction resistance, and structural integrity. In addition, the course also discusses pavement performance evaluation models, and ranking and optimization methods for decision-making of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation strategies.

ENGR 5362. Advanced Traffic Engineering.

This course is an introduction to basic components of transportation systems and fundamentals of transportation engineering. Topics include geometric design of highways, study of warrants for traffic control devices, analysis of traffic flow theory and characteristics, levels of service, capacity of urban and rural highways, design and analysis of traffic signals and timing plans, and analysis of urban and highway traffic characteristics using simulation software.

ENGR 5363. Road Infrastructure Safety.

This course will cover topics including an introduction to road infrastructure safety, fundamentals of road safety analysis, highway safety management systems, count data modeling, crash severity modeling, highway safety design, basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning, human factors, and safe system design.

ENGR 5384. Problems in Engineering.

Graduate students investigate a special topic by developing a technical problem, researching the topic, and presenting the findings. Plans will be developed on an individual basis with strict faculty supervision. This course may be repeated once for additional credit with permission of the School Director. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENGR 5398A. Project.

This course represents a student's initial project enrollment. No project credit is awarded until the student has completed the project in ENGR 5x98B. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

ENGR 5398B. Project.

ENGR 5399A. Thesis.

This course represents a student's initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until the theses is completed in ENGR 5x99B.

ENGR 5399B. Thesis.

ENGR 5598B. Project.

ENGR 5599B. Thesis.

ENGR 5998B. Project.

ENGR 5999B. Thesis.

Civil Engineering (CE)

CE 5320. Water Quality Management.

This course is an advanced study of the processes used to monitor, measure, and manage water quality for municipal, commercial, or industrial use. The use of technology to enhance water quality management processes is also investigated. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

CE 5331. Computational Methods in Geosystems.

This course is an introduction to finite element methods (FEM) as applicable to a range of problems in physics and engineering. A survey of finite element analyses with a review of differential equations, boundary conditions, integral forms and numerical integration will be covered. This course particularly focuses on the steady-state and transient problems encountered in geotechnical, geomechanical, and hydrological engineering.

CE 5340. Advanced Infrastructure Materials.

This course provides a comprehensive presentation of advanced infrastructure materials including cement concrete, asphalt concrete, wood, steel, etc. Emphasis is placed on a fundamental understanding of the raw ingredients of cement concrete and how these ingredients affect concrete fresh and hardened properties. A brief introduction of other common infrastructure materials is also included in this course.

CE 5350. Highway Bridge Design.

This course covers the design of highway bridge structures, including both the super- and sub-structure. Design is in accordance with current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) specifications. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

CE 5360. Pavement Design.

This course covers the design of concrete, asphalt, and pervious pavements. Included are highway pavements, urban streets, airport pavements, industrial pavements, and roller compacted concrete. Design is in accordance with current FHWA specifications. Common construction methods are also addressed.

CE 5370. Urban Stormwater Management.

This course examines the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of urban stormwater management systems. Political, social, economic, and environmental influences on such systems are examined. The impact of extreme events on stormwater systems and the urban landscape are also considered. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

CE 5390. Infrastructure Systems Analysis.

This course is an advanced study of the planning, operation, and maintenance of municipal and commercial infrastructure assets. Political, social, economic, environmental, and engineering influences on infrastructure systems are addressed. Use of technology to enhance the safety and economic value of the infrastructure is also investigated. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

CE 5391. Advanced Mechanics of Materials.

This course is an advanced study of stress, strain, and deformation in elastic bodies. Topics covered include torsion, unsymmetrical bending, nonlinear beams, stress concentrations, beams on elastic foundations, Mohr’s circle, and an introduction to the theory of elasticity.

Electrical Engineering (EE)

EE 5320. Advanced Computer Architecture and Arithmetic.

This course teaches design and analysis of high-performance computer systems, focusing on quantitative analysis of the latest processors and compilers. Current processor architectures are surveyed for system design. Topics include instruction sets, parallelizing architectures, pipelining, I/O, memory and cache organization, parallel/vector processing, fast arithmetic units design, and implementation using HDL. Prerequisites: EE 3420 and CS 3339 both with grades of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5321. Computer-Aided Engineering Simulations on HPC Systems.

This course covers development of simulations for engineering applications that are solved using High Performance Computing (HPC) environments. Topics include programming techniques for multicore processors, processor and memory architecture, computation for dense and spare linear algebra applications, computational temperature analysis, fluid dynamics, stencil and stochastic algorithms, and other applications. Prerequisite: EE 5320 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5323. Digital Image Processing.

This course provides the necessary fundamental techniques to analyze and process digital images. It covers principles, concepts, and techniques of digital image processing and computer vision. Restricted to students enrolled in the MS Engineering program. Prerequisite: EE 3420 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5330. Embedded and Real-Time Computing.

This course teaches development of embedded computing systems with strong resource constraints. Key concepts include managing constrained memory and processing speed limitations, and programming for soft and hard real-time constraints. Students will learn use of a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). Prerequisites: EE 3420 and CS 3339 both with grades of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5331. Machine Learning for Engineering Applications.

This course covers an introduction to machine learning focused on deep learning techniques using engineering applications with Python. Topics include model characteristics, neural network theory, classifiers for network and signal processing applications, regression and convolutional modeling for object-detection, time-series and forecasting machine learning models for Smart City concepts. Prerequisite: ENGR 5310 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5350. Advanced Electronic Circuit Design.

This course includes low and high power RF amplifier design techniques, oscillators, FM demodulators, limiters, and mixer design. Additional topics include circuit design to minimize intermodulation and other forms of distortion, and RD and high-speed analog circuits with emphasis on digital-friendly applications. Prerequisite: EE 4350 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5353. Fundamentals of Advanced Semiconductor Technology.

In this course students will learn key concepts and trends of advanced semiconductor device technology. Topics include Moore’s law, MOSFET, CMOS and scaling, high-K gate dielectrics, new channel materials replacing silicon, three dimensional and compound semiconductor device structures. In addition students will be involved in laboratories and seminar presentations. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

EE 5354. Flexible Electronics.

This course will cover the materials systems, processes, device physics and applications of flexible electronics. The materials range from amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon, organic and polymeric semiconductors to solution cast films of carbon nanotubes. Real device discussions include high speed transistors, photovoltaics, flexible flat-panel displays, medical image sensors, etc. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

EE 5355. Electronic Materials and Devices.

This course covers theoretical concepts applicable to the understanding of unique properties exhibited by electronic materials, especially by dielectrics, oxide semiconductors, ferroelectrics, pyroelectrics, piezoelectrics, magnetic, and multifunctional and multiferroic materials. The various microelectronic devices and modern novel technologies based on these materials are emphasized. Prerequisite: EE 3350 with a grade of "B" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5357. Power Systems for Engineering.

This course introduces the analysis of various elements of power systems, including power generation, transformer action, transmission line modeling, symmetrical components, power factor correction, real and quadrature power calculations, load flow analysis, and economic considerations in operating systems.

EE 5360. Thin Film Technology.

This course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of thin film technology in modern devices. The design and fabrication of thin film heterostructures is discussed. Growth and nucleation of epitaxial thin films with diverse properties and devices with combined properties will be emphasized. Prerequisite: EE 3350 with a grade of "B" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5361. Nanofabrication Technology for Semiconductor Device Processing.

This course provides an overview of nanofabrication techniques for conventional and emerging micro- and nano-electronic devices. Topics include semiconductor crystal growth, wafer preparation, epitaxial growth, oxidation, control of dopant profiles for the formation of shallow junctions, ion-implantation, thin film deposition, photolithography, metallization etching, device and circuit formation, and testing. Prerequisite: EE 3350 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5372. Advanced Networking.

This course develops important theoretical and application topics related to advanced networking. Theoretical topics are introduced using mathematical treatments, including queuing theory and some random processes. The course includes applications of these topics to communications networks, and focuses on architectures, applications and technologies which affect modern computer and data networks.

EE 5374. Introduction to Wireless Communication.

This course teaches principles and practices in designing and analyzing cellular and other wireless communication systems. Topics include RF propagation modeling, fast and slow fading, modulation, demodulation, coding, and multiple access techniques. Prerequisite: EE 4370 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5375. Smart Grid: an Application Development Platform.

In this course, students will learn how to develop real applications for the smart grid and model its performance with simulations and stochastic models. Topics include energy informatics, smart metering, home energy management, demand response, load disaggregation and APIs/OpenData. The mathematical tools used include: Optimization/Control, Machine Learning and Stochastic Processes. Prerequisites: EE 3370 with a grade of "C" or better.

EE 5377. Statistical Signal Processing.

This course develops the theory and applications of random processes using mathematical treatments, including elementary discrete and continuous time linear systems theory, elementary probability, and transform theory. Topics include applications of random processes to information and communication theory, estimation and detection, control, signal processing, and stochastic systems theory. Prerequisite: ENGR 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5398A. Antenna Theory, Design and Applications.

This course covers the basic theory, design and applications of antennas. The topics include antenna radiation, fundamental parameters of antennas, linear wire antennas, loop antennas, antenna arrays, long-periodic antennas, horn antennas, microstrip antennas and modern nano-antennas. Prerequisite: EE 3340 or EE 3370 either with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5398B. Electronic Materials and Beyond for Sustainable Energy.

This course covers the basic science and technology for sustainable energy from the view of materials, where electronic materials are highly emphasized. The topics include solar cells, thermoelectrics, batteries, supercapacitors, artificial photosynthesis, fuel cells, biomass and nuclear energy. Prerequisite: EE 3355 with a grade of "B" or better.

EE 5398C. Multimedia Signal Processing.

This course covers theory and applications of digital signal processing to multimedia signals, including speech, audio, image, and video. Key concepts and algorithms are discussed first, followed by a review of relevant industry standards. Hardware architectures and real-time implementation concepts appropriate for multimedia signals are also included. Prerequisites: EE 3370 and [ EE 4323 or EE 4377 ] both with grades of "C" or better or instructor approval.

EE 5398D. Electroceramics.

This course covers binary and ternary phase diagrams, non-centro-symmetric crystal structures and symmetry groups, nonlinear dielectrics (ferroelectricity, piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity), nonlinear magnetics, oxide wideband gap semiconductors, detectors and sensors, introduction to MEMS, radhard electonics, and spintronics technology. Labs and additional research-oriented instruction are related to materials processing, characterization, fabrication, and testing. Prerequisite: EE 3355 with a grade of "B" or better or instructor approval.

Industrial Engineering (IE)

IE 5310. Advanced Statistical Design of Experiments for Engineers.

This course examines the design and analysis of controlled experiments, demonstrating engineering applications of design of experiments (DOE) in the manufacturing and service industries. Topics include full and fractional factorial designs, response surface methodology, and Taguchi methods. In a semester-long project, students apply DOE to improve a real manufacturing process. Prerequisite: ENGR 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5320. Modeling and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems.

This course covers the methods for modeling and analyzing manufacturing systems. Critical manufacturing issues that are addressed by these models include sustainable production systems, material handling systems, scheduling, and supply chains. Prerequisite: IE 3320 and IE 3340 and MFGE 4396 all with grades of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5330. Advanced Quality Control and Reliability Engineering.

This course provides in-depth knowledge in reliability modeling and maintenance optimization for components and systems. The course also covers advanced quality control techniques including multivariate process control. Methodologies are applied to solve practical problems arising from various industry domains. Restricted to students enrolled in the MS Engineering program. Prerequisite: ENGR 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5340. Applied Deterministic Operations Research for Engineers.

This course introduces students to modeling of linear, non-linear, and integer problems applied to engineering design, manufacturing, service, supply chain, healthcare and electrical systems. Mathematical programming software is emphasized in class exercises, homework, and project. Techniques including revised simplex method, duality theory, sensitivity analysis, and networks are also covered. Prerequisite: CS 1428 and MATH 3377 both with grades of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5343. Non-Linear Optimization Techniques for Engineers.

This course covers engineering applications of mathematical modeling and computational methods for nonlinear programming problems. The primary goal of this course is to present techniques and strategies essential to optimize non-linear models. Prerequisite: IE 3340 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5345. Advanced Optimization.

This course covers advanced concepts in linear and integer programming. Solution techniques for stochastic and dynamic programming and formulation and solution of decision models in manufacturing, service, supply chain, healthcare and electrical systems are presented. Prerequisite: IE 5340 with a grade of "C" or better.

IE 5347. Modern Heuristic Optimization.

This course covers heuristic methods that search beyond local optima such as simulated annealing, tabu search, genetic algorithms, ant-colony systems and particle swarm. Papers from the literature, problem-specific heuristics, evaluation methods, and implementations are discussed. Prerequisite: IE 3340 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5397. System Thinking and Analysis.

This course is an introduction to systems engineering and the systems thinking process, providing important considerations related to the engineering of large scale systems. These considerations include system understanding, modeling and design, the system development process, needs analysis, concept exploration and definition, design, integration and evaluation, and systems engineering management. Prerequisite: ENGR 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5398A. Healthcare Systems Engineering.

This course provides an introduction into healthcare delivery with particular attention to the application of systems engineering techniques. Topics include the organization of healthcare systems, characteristics of US healthcare, decision-making in the healthcare environment, health informatics, and performance measurement tools. Student project involves integration and application of systems engineering methodologies. Prerequisite: IE 5340 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5398B. Response Surface Methodologies.

This course continues the examination of the design and analysis of controlled experiments, demonstrating how design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodologies (RSM) are used in product optimization and process improvement. Topics include factorial and fractional factorial designs, steepest ascent, fitting response surfaces, variance-optimal design, and mixture experiments. Prerequisite: IE 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

IE 5398C. Data-Intensive Analysis and Simulation for Engineers.

This course covers foundational topics in data science, including data-intensive analysis and simulation. Specific topics include data science, data extracting and preprocessing, data visualization, and design of simulation experiments. Prerequisite: IE 5310 with a grade of "C" or better or instructor approval.

Manufacturing Engineering (MFGE)

MFGE 5315. Energy and Thermofluids Engineering.

This course covers core engineering concepts of energy and thermofluids based on fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer. The main topics include properties of pure substances, fluid statics and dynamics, non-Newtonian fluid, differential analysis of fluid flow, viscous flow in pipes, external flows, boundary layer, open channel flows, mass and energy analysis of control volumes, first and second laws of thermodynamics, steady-state and transient conduction, internal and external forced convection, natural convection, fundamentals of radiation, and mass transfer.

MFGE 5316. Advanced Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing.

Topics include design process, mathematical presentation of wireframe/surface/solid modes, transformation and manipulation of objects, finite element analysis, data exchange, process planning, fundamentals of multi-axis NC programming for turning and milling processes, fundamentals of CAD/CAM systems, CNC code generation by CAD.CAM software for the CNC, and waterjet machines. Prerequisites: Instructor approval.

MFGE 5318. Additive Manufacturing.

In this course CAD standards, theory, techniques, applications, and development of additive manufacturing technology, photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, extrusion-based systems, printing processes, sheet lamination processes, beam deposition processes, design for additive manufacturing, and safety considerations in a hands-on approach will be explained. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

MFGE 5320. Polymer Nanocomposites.

This course covers polymer nanocomposites focusing on materials, manufacturing, characterization, and applications. The primary focus is on fiber reinforced polymer nanocomposites. Morphological, Thermal, Mechanical, and Electrical Characterization will be discussed in detail. Applications include fire-resistant, ablative, fatigue-resistant, impact-resistant, and bio-based composites. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

MFGE 5326. Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Automation.

This course covers principles and techniques involved in advanced robotics. Topics include introduction to robotics, industrial robotics, robot kinematics, path planning, robot dynamics, advanced control, force control, sensors and actuators, mobile robotics, and introduction to nanorobotics. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

MFGE 5330. Multiscale Manufacturing.

This course covers the multiscale manufacturing processes, techniques, and applications. Topics include micro and nano-manufacturing, polymer and semiconductor fabrication, thin film technologies, bulk and surface micromachining, physics of multiscale manufacturing, microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices, and design issues for fabrication of micro and nano-systems. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

MFGE 5398B. Advanced Composite Materials.

This course examines various aspects of fiber-reinforced polymeric composites. The topics covered include constituent materials (fibers and matrices), mechanics, performance, manufacturing, and introduction to nanocomposites, This course also provides introductory treatments concerning ceramic matrix composites, metal matrix composites, and carbon/carbon composites.

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Home > Engineering & Technology > Civil & Environmental Engineering > ETDs

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Theses and dissertations published by graduate students in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Old Dominion University since Fall 2016 are available in this collection. Backfiles of all dissertations (and some theses) have also been added.

In late Fall 2023 or Spring 2024, all theses will be digitized and available here. In the meantime, consult the Library Catalog to find older items in print.

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Thesis: Evaluating Direct Filtration as an Alternative to Conventional Carbon-Based Advanced Treatment for Indirect Potable Reuse , Savannah M. Flemmer

Thesis: Biocrude Production From Lignin in Hydrothermal Medium: Effect of Rapid Heating and Short Residence Time , Kyoko Hirayama

Thesis: Adaptation of Nirtrifiers and Heterotrophs to Low Dissolved Oxygen in an Activated Sludge Biological Nutrient Removal Pilot Plant , Shashank Khatiwada

Thesis: Lithium Extraction From Aqueous Solution Using Magnesium Doped Lithium Ion-Sieve Composite , Ujjwal Pokharel

Dissertation: An Effective Model for Dynamic Properties of Local Soils and Their Influence on Seismic Response of a Typical Reinforced Concrete Building , Kaveh Zehtab

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Dissertation: Quantification of Wave Attentuation of a Marsh Sill Living Shoreline and Application of Numerical Modeling for Design Optimization and Adaptation , Maura K. Boswell

Dissertation: Effectiveness of Suspended Lead Dampers in Steel Buildings Under Localized Lateral Impact and Vertical Pulsating Load , Herish Abdullah Hussein

Dissertation: Data-Driven Framework for Understanding & Modeling Ride-Sourcing Transportation Systems , Bishoy Kelleny

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Thesis: Stability of Low Crested and Submerged Breakwaters: A Reanalysis and Model Development , Christopher P. Burgess

Dissertation: Integrated Processing of Municipal Solid Waste for Maximizing Waste Reduction, Carbon Recovery and Fuel Production , Kameron J. King

Thesis: Assessment of the Hydrograv® Adapt Variable Height Secondary Clarifier Inlet at HRSD Nansemond Treatment Plant , Matthew Poe

Dissertation: Rainfall-Runoff Mechanisms and Flood Mitigation in a Coastal Watershed with Numerous Wetlands and Ponds , Homa Jalaeian Taghadomi

Dissertation: Hydrothermal Processes for Extraction and Conversion of Biomass to Produce Biofuels and Value-Added Products , Anuj Hemant Thakkar

Dissertation: Spatiotemporal Variations of Precipitation and Climate-Resilient Structure Design in Virginia , Xiaomin Yang

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Dissertation: A Rule Based Control Algorithm for on-Ramp Merge With Connected and Automated Vehicles , Ehsan Beheshtitabar

Thesis: Lateral-Torsional Instability and Biaxial Flexure of Continuous GFRP Beams Including Warping and Shear Deformations , Waverly G. Hampton

Thesis: The Impacts of Surface Gravity Waves on Buoyant Plume Dilution , Bruce William Husselbee

Dissertation: Truck Trailer Classification Using Side-Fire Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) Data , Olcay Sahin

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Thesis: Developing Algorithms to Detect Incidents on Freeways From Loop Detector and Vehicle Re-Identification Data , Biraj Adhikari

Dissertation: Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation Reactions of Lipids , Alexander Asiedu

Dissertation: Latent Choice Models to Account for Misclassification Errors in Discrete Transportation Data , Lacramioara Elena Balan

Thesis: Spatiotemporal Downscaling Rainfall Predictions of North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program for Entire Virginia , Zhaoyi Cai

Thesis: Application of a Biodegradable and Recyclable Chelating Agent for Ash Removal from Algae , Temitope George Daramola

Dissertation: Parallel Jacobi Transformation Algorithm for Generalized Eigen-Solution With Improved Damage Detection of Truss/Bridge-Type Structures , Maryam Ehsaei

Thesis: Sidestream RAS Fermentation for Stable Bio-P Combined with Short Cut Nitrogen Removal in an A/B Process , Lindsey Elise Ferguson

Thesis: Challenges of Designing and Operating a Pilot Scale Short Residence Time Continuous Hydrothermal Flash Hydrolysis Reactor for High Slurry Load Biomass Processing , Mason James Martin

Dissertation: Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Lagrangian Control: Improving Freeway Bottleneck Throughput Via Variable Speed Limit , Reza Vatani Nezafat

Thesis: Variable Speed Limit Control at SAG Curves Through Connected Vehicles: Implications of Alternative Communications and Sensing Technologies , Reza Vatani Nezafat

Thesis: Measuring and Modeling Bare Desert Wind Erosion From Steppe Grassland of Northern China as Affected By Soil Moisture and Climate , Nicholas Morgan Potter

Dissertation: Adaptive Control of Base Isolation Systems Using the Transmissibility-Based Semi-Active Controller , Ramin Rabiee

Thesis: Numerical Modeling of Shoreline Response to Storm Tides and Sea Level Rise , Akash Sahu

Dissertation: Numerical Modeling and Field Investigation of Nearshore Nonlinear Wave Propagation , Elham Sharifineyestani

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Dissertation: Behavior of Piled Raft Foundation in Partially Saturated Soils , Salman Alrubaye

Dissertation: Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrothermal Processing of Microalgae for Biofuels and Co-Product Generation , Andrew P. Bessette

Thesis: The Evaluation of Enhancing Biological Phosphorus Removal and Improving Settleability Using Mainstream Hydrocyclones for External Selection , Amanda Carrie Ford

Dissertation: Value Added Products From Lignin and Biomass Derivatives , Chen Li

Dissertation: Predicting Effects of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise on Hydrologic Processes in a Mid-Atlantic Coastal Watershed , Rui Li

Thesis: Flexural Behavior and Strength of Doubly-Reinforced Concrete Beams with Hollow Plastic Spheres , Rutvik R. Patel

Thesis: Modeling Effects of Rainwater Harvesting Systems on Water Yield Increase and Non-Beneficial Evaporation Reduction to Sustain Agriculture in a Water-Scarce Region of China , Tennille Wade

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Thesis: A Comparative Study of the Effects of External Selection on Settleability and Formation of Aerobic Granular Sludge , Tyler A. Brickles

Thesis: Vulnerability Assessment of Critical Bridges in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia to Storm Surge Flooding under Sea Level Rise , Luca Castrucci

Dissertation: Behavior and Strength of RC Spandrel Members Under Unsymmetrical Bending and Torsion Including CFRP Retrofitting , Muhammad Fahim

Dissertation: Behavior and Strength of Non-Prestressed and Prestressed Hillman Composite Beam Including CFRP Retrofitting , Wajid Khan

Thesis: Investigation and Analysis of the Fluctuating Brominated to Total Trihalomethane Ratio in the Virginia Beach Distribution System , Christopher Steven Mihalkovic

Dissertation: Investigating Physical Processes Associated With Chesapeake Bay and Changjiang Estuary , Arash Niroomandi

Dissertation: Simulated Dynamics of Soil Water and Pore Vapor in a Semi-Arid Sandy Ecosystem , Shohreh Pedram

Thesis: Quantifying Cyanide Inhibition of Nitrification and Developing Cost-Effective Treatment Processes , Germano M. Salazar-Benites

Dissertation: Efficient Algorithms for Solving Size-Shape-Topology Truss Optimization and Shortest Path Problems , Gelareh B. Sanjabi

Dissertation: Holistic Approach in Microalgae Conversion to Bioproducts and Biofuels Through Flash Hydrolysis , Ali Teymouri

Thesis: A Household Daily Non-Mandatory Activity Participation and Duration Modeling Accounting for Person Level Budget Constraints , Ivana Vukovic

Thesis: Quantifying Pollutant Removal Rates of Bioretention Basins as a Stormwater Best Management Practice , Evan Nathanial Waagen

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Dissertation: Dynamic Elasto-Plastic Behavior of Steel Building Sub-Assemblage Including CFRP Retrofitting Under Impact Load , Ali Mohammed Salih Aloosi

Dissertation: Methodologies for Estimating Traffic Flow on Freeways Using Probe Vehicle Trajectory Data , Khairul Azfi Anuar

Thesis: Impacts of Operating Parameters on Extracellular Polymeric Substances Production in a High Rate Activated Sludge System with Low Solids Retention Times , Matthew S. Elliot

Dissertation: Efficient Domain Decomposition Algorithms and Applications in Transportation and Structural Engineering , Paul W. Johnson III

Thesis: Changing Trends in Wave Heights in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region , Hillary Lane

Thesis: Longitudinal Tidal Dispersion Coefficient Estimation and Total Suspended Solids Transport Characterization in the James River , Beatriz Eugenia Patino

Thesis: Effects of Surrounding Water Table on a Forested Wetland Habitat in East Coast of Virginia , Lane Stokes

Thesis: Investigating the Relationship Between Latent Driving Patterns and Traffic Safety Using Smartphone-Based Mobile Sensor Data , Kenneth Wynne

Thesis: Global Sensitivity Analysis of Mat Foundation Behavior by Using Finite Element Modeling , Yang Zhao

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Thesis: Experimental and Predicted Behavior of FRP Beam-Columns Including Retrofitting , Ali Al-Huazy

Thesis: Analyzing Driver Behavior and Traffic Flow Breakdowns at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel , Michelle L. Allen

Thesis: Behavior and Strength of Pultruded FRP I-Section Columns Including Uniaxial and Biaxial Bending , Emad M. Amin

Thesis: Techno-Economic Analysis of Protein Concentrate Produced by Flash Hydrolysis of Microalgae , Alexander Nana Yaw Asiedu

Thesis: Life Cycle Assessment Using Argonne GREET Model of Algae Based Biofuels Produced Using Flash Hydrolysis Process , Andrew P. Bessette

Thesis: A Modified Rank Ordered Logit Model to Analyze Injury Severity of Occupants in Multi-Vehicle Crashes , Shelley Bogue

Dissertation: Polychlorinated Biphenyl Source Identification in Fish Tissue Using a Multivariate Statistical Evaluation of Congeners and Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry , William Edward Corl III

Thesis: Adsorption-Style Activated-Sludge Is It a Practical Treatment Process in North America? , Jon DeArmond

Thesis: Impact of Limited Organic Carbon Addition on Nitrogen Removal in a Mainstream Anammox Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor , Johnnie Wayne Godwin

Dissertation: Inelastic Behavior and Strength of Steel Beam-Columns with Applied Torsion , Mamadou Konate

Dissertation: A Risk Assessment of the Impacts of Coastal Flooding and Sea Level Rise on the Existing and New Pump Stations 113, Norfolk, VA , David A. Pezza

Dissertation: Hydrothermal Catalytic Liquefaction and Deoxygenation of Biomass for Renewable Fuel Production , Sergiy Popov

Thesis: Accuracy Comparison of Numerical Integration Algorithms for Real-Time Hybrid Simulations , Ganesh Anant Reddy

Dissertation: Characterizing Queue Dynamics at Signalized Intersections From Probe Vehicle Data , Semuel Yacob Recky Rompis

Thesis: Comparing Nutrient Recovery via Rapid (Flash Hydrolysis) and Conventional Hydrothermal Liquefaction Processes for Microalgae Cultivation , Caleb Richard Talbot

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Thesis: Evaluation of the EPA SWMM Model to Simulate Low Impact Development Features in an Urban Stormwater Environment , Holly Ann Carpenter

Dissertation: Flash Hydrolysis of Microalgae Biomass for Biofuels Intermediates Production, Protein Extraction, and Nutrients Recycle , Jose Luis Garcia Moscoso

Thesis: Anammox Polishing in Mainstream Wastewater Treatment to Meet Stringent Ammonia and Total Nitrogen Limits , Rebecca Mary Holgate

Thesis: Effective CFRP Retrofitting Schemes for Prestressed Concrete Beams , Herish Abdullah Hussein

Dissertation: Feasibility of Mainstream Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria Out-Selection and Anammox Polishing for Enhanced Nitrogen Removal , Pusker Raj Regmi

Dissertation: Stormwater Infrastructure Optimization on Conjunctive Improvements , Mohammad Hussin Shar

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Thesis: Linear Programming Algorithm with Mixed Real-Integer Variables in MATLAB Environments , Gelareh Bakhtyar

Thesis: Operation and Modification of a B-Stage for Efficient Nitrogen Removal in an A/B Process Pilot Study , Ryder Bunce

Dissertation: The Role of Proximity in Reducing Auto Travel: Using VMT to Identify Key Locations for Development, from Downtown to the Exurbs , Robert B. Case

Dissertation: Watershed-Scale Hybrid Stochastic-Deterministic Modeling Framework and Diffused Sources Superpositioning , Ruby Juvah Damalie

Thesis: Denitrification and Biological Phosphorus Removal Using Focused, Pulse-Treated, Thickened Waste Activated Sludge as an Internal Carbon Source , Holly Anne Hillard

Thesis: Evaluating Alternatives for Augmented Water Quality Improvement Utilizing Oyster Restoration as Best Management Practice (BMP) , Stephanie Roberts Long

Dissertation: An Investigation of Pavement Distress Variables on Crash Outcomes Using Hierarchical Generalized Linear Regression Modeling , Robert Alan Morgan

Thesis: Optimization of DEMON® Sidestream Treatment and Potential for Anammox Mainstream Bioaugmentation , Andrea Lauren Nifong

Dissertation: Dimensionless Criteria for Selecting Tidally-Influenced Advective-Dispersive Desalination Brine Mixing Plume Characterization Models , Alireza Shahvari

Dissertation: Exploring Travel and Activity Behavior in Transit-Oriented Developments: Insights Into Transportation Benefits and Travel Demand Modelling , Sanghoon Son

Dissertation: Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Behavior of Biaxially Loaded Steel Beam-Columns Inducing Those From World Trade Center Towers , Yanhong Zhao

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Dissertation: Evaluation of Hydraulic Conductivity of Non Aqueous Phase Liquids in Partially Saturated Soils , Chijioke Ekeleme Akamiro

Thesis: Integrating Probe Vehicles and Stationary Detector Data to Construct Accurate Cumulative Curves to Study Bottlenecks , Khairul Azfi Anuar

Dissertation: Efficient Stand-Alone Generalized Inverse Algorithms and Software for Engineering/Sciences Applications: Research and Education , Subhash Chandra Bose S V Kadiam

Thesis: Biaxial Bending and Lateral-Torsional Instability of Imperfect FRP I-Beams Including Effects of Retrofitting , Jodi Marie Knorowski

Dissertation: The Modified Coastal Storm Impulse Parameter , Sayed Gholamreza Mahmoudpour

Thesis: Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (DRSC) Incorporating Queue Length Information in Real-Time Signal Control , Rahul Rajbhara

Dissertation: Static and Impact Load Response of Reinforced Concrete Beams and Slabs with NSM-CFRP Retrofitting , Nakul Ramanna-Sanjeevaiah

Dissertation: Spatial Analysis of Travel Behavior and Response to Traveler Information , Xin Wang

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Choosing Between a Thesis or Non-thesis Master's Degree

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•       Resources       Choosing Between a Thesis or Non-thesis Master's Degree

As of 2015, approximately 25.4 million Americans held advanced degrees , with more citizens joining these ranks each year. As studies continue to show the career advancement and salary benefits of completing a master's degree, more and more students elect to pursue advanced educations. When considering their options, many question whether to enroll in a master's requiring a thesis or not. The following guide examines some of the reasons degree seekers may want to write a thesis while also highlighting why they might not. Students on the fence about this important decision can find expert advice, actionable tips, and relevant guidance to help them make an informed choice in the guide that follows.

Understanding the Master's Thesis

What is the difference between a thesis & non-thesis master's program, the decision not to do a thesis.

As students research various master's programs in their chosen discipline, it's common to find that many degrees require a thesis – especially if they want to enter a research-heavy field. While this word gets thrown around a lot in academia, some learners may want more information regarding what it entails in order to make an informed decision.

What is a Master's Thesis?

The master's thesis is an original piece of scholarship allowing the student to dig into a topic and produce an expanded document that demonstrates how their knowledge has grown throughout the degree program. These documents require significant independent research of primary and secondary sources and, depending on the subject, may require interviews and/or surveys to support the overarching argument.

Individual schools and departments dictate the length of these documents, but they typically range between 60 and 100 pages – or approximately 20,000 to 40,000 words. While tackling a document of such heft may seem overwhelming at first, learners need not fret. Each master's candidate receives a faculty advisor early in their tenure to provide support, feedback, and guidance throughout the process. Because the final thesis is expected to be of a publishable quality, learners seeking the highest marks typically send their supervisor excerpts of the document as they write to ensure they are on the right track.

When picking a thesis topic, no magical formula exists. Students should consider their interests and read extensively on that topic to get a better sense of existing scholarship. They should also speak to other academics working in that sphere to familiarize themselves with ongoing projects. Only after they feel reasonably well-read should they begin looking for uncovered angles or interesting ways of using emerging methodologies to bring new light to the topic.

When considering formatting, degree seekers should check with their specific schools and departments, as they may have unique requirements. To get a general understanding of what to expect, learners can review Simon Fraser University's guidelines on thesis formatting. After completing the thesis, some programs require an oral defense before a committee while others read the document and provide a grade. Check with your prospective schools to get a better sense of procedure.

Format & Components of a Master's Thesis

While this guide attempts to provide helpful and actionable information about the process of deciding whether to follow a thesis or non-thesis track in a master's program, readers should remember that specific components and requirements of a thesis vary according to discipline, university, and department. That being said, some commonalities exist across all these – especially when it comes to what students must include in their final drafts.

As the first section a reader encounters after moving through the table of contents and other anterior text, the introductory allows the writer to firmly establish what they want to accomplish. Sometimes also called the "research question" section, the introductory must clearly state the goals of the paper and the overarching hypothesis guiding the argument. This should be written in a professional yet accessible tone that allows individuals without specializations in the field to understand the text.

This section allows learners to demonstrate their deep knowledge of the field by providing context to existing texts within their chosen discipline Learners review the main bodies of work, highlighting any issues they find within each. Constructive criticism often centers around shortcomings, blind spots, or outdated hypotheses.

Students use this section to explain how they went about their work. While scientists may point to a specific method used to reach conclusions, historians may reference the use of an emerging framework for understanding history to bring new light to a topic. The point of this section is to demonstrate the thought processes that led to your findings.

This section allows for learners to show what they learned during the research process in a non-biased way. Students should simply state what information they gathered by utilizing a specific framework or methodology and arrange those findings, without interpretation, in an easy-to-read fashion.

After providing readers with all the necessary information, the discussion section exists for candidates to interpret the raw data and demonstrate how their research led to a new understanding or contributed a unique perspective to the field. This section should directly connect to the introduction by reinforcing the hypothesis and showing how you answered the questions posed.

Even though the previous sections give prospective degree seekers a better sense of what to expect if they decide to write a thesis during their master's program, they don't necessarily help learners decide whether to pursue a thesis or non-thesis track. The following section highlights some of the reasons students frequently choose to complete a thesis or bypass the process altogether by providing a pros and cons list.

Why a Thesis Program

• Especially when entering a research-heavy discipline, completing a thesis shows prospective schools and employers that you possess the skills needed for researching and writing long-form reports.
• Students hoping to pursue a Ph.D. stand in better stead with admissions panels if they wrote a thesis during a master's program.
• Individuals hoping to enter a field that values syntax and grammar often better their writing skills by completing a thesis.
• Students who write a thesis can submit the final product to various academic journals, increasing their chances of getting published.
• Theses expand students' understanding of what they're capable of, deepen their ability to carry out an argument, and develop their skills in making connections between ideas.

Why a Non-thesis Program

• Because they don't require a significant written product, non-thesis master's tend to take less time to complete.
• Often mirrors a bachelor's program in terms of structure, allowing learners to complete classes and take exams without a great deal of research or writing.
• Students who excel in project-based assignments can continue building skills in this arena rather than focusing on skills they don't plan to use (e.g. research)
• Provides learners the opportunity to work more closely and more frequently with faculty on real-world projects since they don't spend hundreds of hours researching/writing.
• Allows learners to take more classes and gain hands-on skills to fill the time they would have spent researching and writing a thesis.

How to Choose a Master's Program: FAQs

Within some academic disciplines and professional fields, research and writing plays a key role in work done on a daily basis. Because of this, master's programs in these fields require learners to complete theses to compete against peers and be seen as competent in their work. Other disciplines, conversely, rely on other tools to accomplish work and progress ideas – making theses less important.

Yes. Master's programs focused more on application than research typically don't require a thesis – although they may still give students the option. Examples of common non-thesis master's programs include nursing, business, and education.

Even though non-thesis students won't be writing a 100-page paper, that doesn't mean they avoid completing a significant project. In place of a thesis, most applied master's programs require students to take part in at least one internship or complete a culminating project. These projects typically ask learners to take what they learned throughout coursework and create an expansive final project – examples include case studies, creative works, or portfolios.

While students who followed a non-thesis path routinely receive acceptance to Ph.D. programs, those with theses often find the process easier. Even if a learner pursues a Ph.D. in a discipline that isn't research-heavy, admissions panels still want to get a sense of your academic interests and ability to engage in independent, nuanced thought. Students with theses can provide solid proof of these skills, while those without may struggle to demonstrate preparedness as thoroughly.

The answer to this question depends on many factors, but typically it is okay not to do a thesis if you plan to enter a field that doesn't depend heavily on research or writing, or if you don't plan to complete a Ph.D.

Students wanting to work in academic, research, or writing should always opt for the thesis track. They should also follow this path if they have any doctoral degree aspirations.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to complete a thesis rests with the individual student. Figuring out how to proceed on this front requires lots of careful consideration, and learners should ensure they consider various aspects before coming to a final decision. The following section helps students consider how they should and should not come to a conclusion.

Dos and Don'ts of Choosing a Thesis or Non-thesis Program

• Consider the longevity of your decision: will you feel the same in 5-10 years or are you making a decision based on current desires?
• Talk to others who with experience in this area. Ask them questions about their decision-making process and if they regret their choice.
• Research potential thesis topics before starting a program. Going in with a game plan can help you feel more confident and settled about the process than if you're scrambling for a topic while in school.
• Reach out to prospective schools to speak with faculty and/or current students following both tracks. This will provide knowledge specific to the school while also expanding your network if you choose to attend there.
• Research Ph.D. entrance requirements to ascertain if the majority expect learners to possess a thesis when applying. This will give you a sense of whether you may experience issues later on if you do not complete one.
• Decide not to complete a thesis simply because you have never taken on such a task and feel overwhelmed or fearful that you will fail.
• Complete a thesis simply because you think it will look good on your resume. Theses require intense devotion over an extended amount of time; learners who complete them without conviction often find the process miserable.
• Forget to research alternatives to writing a thesis. Just because you don't complete a research paper doesn't mean a non-thesis track lacks rigor or challenging coursework.
• Forget to read examples of theses by previous students. If you feel overwhelmed by the task, reading work other people have done can often make the task at hand feel less scary.
• Let yourself off easy by taking the non-thesis path. If you find you have extra time in the program, talk to your advisor about taking more classes, develop meaningful projects for yourself, or see about presenting at an academic conference.

From the Expert

Sudiksha Joshi, Ph.D. is a learning advocate. Her mission is to empower our youth to think bigger, bolder thoughts and forge a career path that will change the world. She taps into her natural curiosity and ability to identify strengths to help students and those in transition find their path from feeling lost in the traditional ways of achieving success to charting their own path. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Medium and LinkedIn.

Why might a student decide to follow a thesis track? Why might they follow a non-thesis track?

A student might decide to take a thesis track if she/he wants to pursue a Ph.D. Also, if the students want to focus on careers where research and writing have a strong focus, the students opt for the thesis option. Research assistantships at the graduate level are also more often available to students who opt for the thesis option.

A student who might feel that writing is not one of their strengths might choose to go the non-thesis track. Likewise, a student who has other work commitments may find a non-thesis option more convenient.

Do you have any tips for deciding on a program?

I chose a thesis option because being able to conduct independent research was a big reason to go to graduate school. Also, showing the ability that I could do research was what afforded me research assistantships which meant that my tuition was paid for and I got a stipend that paid for expenses while I was in graduate school. This also allowed me the opportunity to work closely with the faculty mentor that provided me with the support and the accountability I wanted.

I would not recommend taking a non-thesis option if all the degree requires is for you to take courses. You have little to show in terms of your learning other than your grades unless you are already working on something on the side that does that for you and all you need is a certificate.

Opt for a non-thesis option if you can still work closely with a professor or on a project and if you'd rather be involved in multiple projects rather than focus on a single project. If you already have a good (informed) reason for choosing one over the other, go for it.

What's the most important thing to consider when choosing a program?

The most important thing to consider when choosing a program is getting excited about the projects that at least one of the faculty members are involved in. Do some research and see why you are excited about a particular work that at least one of the faculty members have been involved in.

Who should students talk to when considering options?

Students should talk to other students and also reach out directly to the graduate coordinator and even individual faculty members. This means that students should have done prior homework and have some good questions ready. Asking good questions will get you at least halfway through to make the right decision.

Home > Electronic Theses and Dissertations > Engineering ETDs > Civil Engineering ETDs

Civil Engineering ETDs

For information about submitting your thesis or dissertation, or its availability here, please see the Overview of Thesis & Dissertation Policies and Procedures or contact the Office of Graduate Studies .

Theses/Dissertations from 2024 2024

PHYSICAL AND STOCHIOMETRIC CONTROLS ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ECOSYSTEM RESPIRATION IN CONTRASTING SITES , Jancoba K. Dorley

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION OF WASTEWATER SLUDGES FOR ENERGY RESOURCE RECOVERY , Carl L. Abadam

INVESTIGATION OF ISSUES CONCERNING WELLBORE LEAKAGE , Ishtiaque Anwar

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF ENGINEERED CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITES WITH ULTRA-HIGH TENSILE DUCTILITY , Amir Bakhshi

3D PRINTING OF EARTHEN MATERIALS: TOWARD THE CARBON-ZERO CONSTRUCTION , Shiva Bhusal

Role of Endophytic Fungi on Arsenic Uptake in Solution: Insights For Bioremediation , Taylor Lillian Busch

Gold Thin Film Electrodes for High Sensitivity & Selectivity Electrochemical Detection of Arsenite in Water , Tybur Q. Casuse Driovínto

Early-Age Strength and Failure Characteristics of 3D Printable Polymer Concrete: Numerical Modelling and Experimental Testing , Mohammad Amin Dehghani Najvani

Repair of a Wellbore Microannulus , Serafin Garcia Fernandez

EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FLUID FLOW BEHAVIOR THROUGH FRACTURED WELLBORE CEMENT , Mahya Hatambeigi

POST-WILDFIRE EXPORT REGIMES OF SOLUTES ALONG THE GALLINAS-PECOS RIVER-SANTA ROSA FLUVIAL NETWORK , Asmita Kaphle

DEVELOPMENT OF THE NAVIGATOR: A LAGRANGIAN SMART SENSING SYSTEM TO CHARACTERIZE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS. , Aashish Sanjay Khandelwal

Modeling of Asphalt Concrete for Cross-Anisotropic Visco-Elasticity and Heterogeneity , Zafrul Hakim Khan

IDENTIFYING THE REQUIRED ECOLOGICAL FLOW FOR SEDIMENT MOVEMENT IN THE RÍO CHAMA: FIELD DATA INFORMED VISUAL SPATIAL MODEL , Cristian Kremer

THE IMPACT OF ALBUQUERQUE’S BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY , Martina Mercure

Combining Semi-Continuous and Discrete Water Quality Data to Characterize Solute Transport, Biogeochemical Processes, and Wildfire Disturbances in Fluvial Systems , Justin Rae Nichols

HYDRAULIC HABITAT SUITABILITY FOR THE RIO GRANDE SILVERY MINNOW AT THE LOS CHAVEZ IRRIGATION OUTFALL, NEW MEXICO , Haley A. Ormsbee

Additive Manufacturing of Lightweight Concrete Mixtures , Kourosh Rashidi

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF E-TICKETING TECHNOLOGIES ON ASPHALT PAVING PROJECTS IN NEW MEXICO , Gena C. Robertson

Strength as a Function of Liquid Water Content in Different Snow Types - Results from field experiments using a blade hardness gauge , Mikael Schlumpf

Assessment of Forest Stand Characteristics and Environmental Conditions on Soil Burn Severity and Post-Wildfire Flooding in the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire , Raquel L. Valdez

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Permeability and Porosity of Loose Granular Salt , Evan J. Babcock

An Investigation of Emerging Technologies to Advance the Understanding of Dynamics Between the Floodplain and Main Channel due to Riparian Vegetation , Smriti Chaulagain

THE IMPACT OF MURALS ON TRAFFIC SAFETY: A BEHAVIOR AND CRASH ANALYSIS , Maria Cecelia Cruz

Techno-Economic Analysis of Atmospheric Water Harvesting Across Climates , Natalie Gayoso

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of 3D-Printed Viscoelastic Dampers , Mohammed Jaradat

THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC INVESTIGATION OF U(VI) AND AS(V) REACTIONS: INSIGHTS FOR RISK ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION , MARIA ISABEL MEZA

Interfacial Interactions of Uranium and HDPE in agricultural soil and their bioacummulation in Mentha arvensis , Casey Miller, Andrew Neidhart, Kendra Hess, Abdul-Mehdi S. Ali, Angelica Benavidez, Michael Spilde, Laura Green, José M. Cerrato, Jorge Gonzalez Estrella, and Eliane El Hayek

Reactions In the Microannulus of a Wellbore System with Produced Water from The Permian Basin , Ernesto J. Perea

Co-occurrence of microplastics, uranium and arsenic in heavy metal-contaminated freshwaters and their potential interaction , Jasmine Anne Quiambao

Rapid Response Protocol (RRP) for Monitoring Water Quality Parameters for Wildfire Disturbance , Paige G. Tunby

MONITORING OF STRUCTURAL QUALITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION USING 3D POINT CLOUD DATA , Xinxing Yuan

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

The effect of pH on organic carbon uptake and biological phosphorus removal by Tetrasphaera polyphosphate accumulating organisms , Derek Belka

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEHICULAR EMISSIONS AND TRAFFIC OPERATIONS AT ISOLATED SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS , Abiral Dulal

AN INVESTIGATION OF PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL BY PURPLE BACTERIA IN DAIRY WASTEWATER LAGOONS , Lauren M. Gomez, Andrew J. Schuler, Jose M. Cerrto, and David T. Hanson

Strength, fracture evolution, and permeability changes from confined Brazilian tests on sandstone , Tyler Louis Hagengruber

Measurement of Resilience Performance for Infrastructure Construction Project Delivery , Fei Han

Evaluation of Fine and Coarse Graded Asphalt Mixes , Md Mehedi Hasan

3D PRINTED CONCRETE & POLYMER CONCRETE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE APPLICATIONS , Daniel Heras Murcia

Monitoring Damage Occurrence, Post-Peak Crack Propagation and Air Permeability in Concrete Using the Brazilian Indirect Tension Test , Angel M. Padilla

Effect of Degradation Environment and Relative Humidity on Fracture of Cement , Patience L. Raby

Development of a Low-cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensor for Strain (LEWIS-S) and Applications in Measuring Nonlinear Dynamics , Eric Robbins

Soil Moisture Dependent Runoff in a Dryland Region: An Investigation of the Role of Antecedent Conditions, Monitoring, and Modeling Strategies , Gerhard Schoener

Dynamic HVAC Energy Management Using Commercial Building Occupancy Metrics & Neural Networks , Krishna Chaitanya Jagadeesh Simma

NIGHTTIME PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS: GIS-BASED ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT , Amir Tarighi

PSEUDO-DUCTILE 3D PRINTED FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES , Shreya Vemuganti

A Practical Methodology to Detect, Quantify and Characterize Experimental Uncertainties in the Dynamic Testing of Structures , James L. Woodall

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

VISUALIZATION OF REAL-TIME DISPLACEMENT TIME HISTORY SUPERIMPOSED WITH DYNAMIC EXPERIMENTS USING WIRELESS SMART SENSORS AND AUGMENTED REALITY , Marlon Frank Agüero Injante

Biogeochemical Processes Affecting Arsenic (As) Release and Bioavailability Near Abandoned Mine Wastes , Cherie L. DeVore

EVALUATING PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO: A FIXED-ROUTE BUS SERVICE ANALYSIS , Risa E. Gutierrez

Effect of Membrane Aging and Operating Conditions on the Rejection of Trace Organics for Potable Reuse , Jose Pedro Hernandez

Thermal Mapping and Evaporation Estimation of Cochiti Lake Using Landsat 8 Imagery , Claudia Jimenez Arellano

Resilience Engineering: Theory and Practice , Michaela Jones

Introducing the Self-Cleaning FiLtrAtion for Water quaLity SenSors (SC-FLAWLeSS) system , Aashish Sanjay Khandelwal

COMBINING HIGH-FREQUENCY SENSOR DATA AND NUTRIENT ADDITION EXPERIMENTS TO IDENTIFY UPTAKE DYNAMICS IN STREAMS , Justin Rae Nichols

POST-WILDFIRE GEOMORPHIC STREAM RESPONSE IN SIX NEW MEXICAN WATERSHEDS , Aljaz Praznik

Spatial Analysis of Bias Corrected Rainfall Data Sets within Albuquerque, New Mexico Metropolitan Area , Cassy Scarlott- McClintock

Chemical interfacial reactions affecting the speciation and solubility of uranium in organic-rich environments , Carmen A. Velasco

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

NITRATE DYNAMICS IN AN ARID IRRGATION NETWORK: CAN NUTRIENT LOOPS BE CLOSED WITH MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES? , Kelsey B. Bicknell

VALIDATION OF THE STATE BASED PERIDYNAMIC LATTICE MODEL , Anima Bista

The Development of a Novel Experiment on Confined, Flattened Brazilian Disks to Correlate Damage and Permeability in Brittle Geo-Materials , Samuel H. Boyce

Low Loading Gold Vapor Deposited Electrode for High Sensitivity As (III) Detection , Tybur Casuse

RETROFIT OF CORRODED CORRUGATED METAL CULVERTS USING GFRP SLIP-LINER , RahulReddy ChennaReddy

The Collison Floating Evaporation Pan: Design, Validation, and Comparison , Jacob William Collison

Evaluating Sustainable & Equitable Financing For Pedestrian Infrastructure Maintenance And How The Quality Of Pedestrian Infrastructure Affects The Choice To Walk , Alexis Corning Padilla

Drivable Space Datasets Created by Airborne LiDAR and Aerial Imagery , Ryan E. Dow

Source-Separated Urine Nitrification and Ion Accumulation in Sub-Irrigated Planters Using Domestic Wastewater , David A. Forrest

ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT RISKS IN FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS , Claudia Garrido Martins

Implementations of Resilience Engineering for Natural System Disturbances: A Panarchical Perspective , Mark Charles Stone Victoria Jaramillo

An investigation of runoff sources to headwater streams and implications for hydropower projects using stable isotope analyses , Paulina Lima

HUMAN-INFRASTRUCTURE INTERFACES (HII) ENABLED USING AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) , Dilendra Maharjan

DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIONABLE METRICS FOR WATER LOSS REDUCTION IN WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS , James R. Markham

Is Transportation Planning Effective? A Critical Review of Long-range Regional Transportation Planning in the United States , Razieh Nadafianshahamabadi

Quantification of Sediment Yields from Semi-Arid Watersheds using Unmanned Aerial Systems and Photogrammetry Techniques , Jared L. Romero

Biointerfacial Studies of Nitrifying Biofilms on Physically and Chemically Modified Surfaces , Philip Marley Roveto

EFFECTS OF COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION ON UNBONDED CONCRETE OVERLAY DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE , Gauhar Sabih

Application of Cation Exchange and Nanofiltration to treat Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater , Ayush R. Shahi

Organic/Inorganic Interfacial Interactions Affecting Metal Reactivity: Water Treatment and Sensor Applications , Mohamed Nabil Shaikh

SYNTHESIS & CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER-MODIFIED CALCIUM SILICATE HYDRATE FOR WELLBORE APPLICATIONS , Jeremy J. Starr

Multi-year water quality data reveal highly variable timing and magnitude of metabolism and physicochemical drivers in an aridland river network , Betsy Marie Summers

Recovery of gypsum & magnesium hydroxide from brackish water by chemical precipitation , Sugam Tandukar

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Physical and Chemical Interactions Affecting U and V Transport from Mine Wastes , Sumant Avasarala

An investigation into remote sensing techniques for describing hydraulic roughness , Smriti Chaulagain

Understanding Asphalt Concrete Aging Using Nanoindentation , Hasan M. Faisal

CHARACTERIZING PATTERNS IN E. COLI LEVELS IN RIO GRANDE RIVER WATER AND RIVERBED SEDIMENTS NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NM , James Fluke

Characterization of wellbore microannuli , Serafin Garcia Fernandez

An Engineered Fit-For-Purpose Polymer Nanocomposite Seal Repair Material for Wellbores , Moneeb Genedy

Growth of an Algae Polyculture and Dunaliella Tertiolecta in Oilfield Produced Water at a Range of Salinities and Nutrient Concentrations for Biofuels Production. , Thomas C. Hopkins

DECISION-MAKING FRAMEWORK FOR THE SELECTION OF SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES FOR ENERGY-RETROFITS , Amirhosein Jafari

Experimental Investigation of and Constitutive Model for the Thermo-Poro-Mechanical Deformation of Granular Salt Under Hydrostatic Compression , Brandon C. Lampe

Modeling and Simulation of Damage In The Brazilian Indirect Tension Test Using The Finite-Discrete Element Method , Jeremiah C. Leyba

INVESTIGATION OF ANION AND CATION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FOR ENHANCING DESALINATION AND POWER GENERATION IN A MICROBIAL DESALINATION CELL , Francisco Lopez Moruno

Elevated Temperature Progressive Damage and Failure of Duplex Stainless Steel , Darren P. Luke

Investigation of Acetaminophen and Caffeine Removal Using Manganese Oxides and Granular Activated Carbon in Column Experiments , Rachael E. Miera

INDUSTRY REQUIREMENT GAP ANALYSIS FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY , Parya Nickbeen

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF CITIZENS TO TRAFFIC RELATED AIR POLLUTANTS IN A LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN , Amir Poorfakhraei

METAL REACTIVITY IN LABORATORY BURNED WOOD FROM A WATERSHED AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES , Asifur Rahman

STUDY OF BUILDING VIBRATIONS CAUSED BY MACHINERY , Bipesh Shrestha

The Investigation of Silica Removal in Reverse Osmosis Concentrate by Changing Design Parameters , John M. Stomp IV

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The Best Civil Engineering Thesis Topic [ 99+ Topic Ideas}

Hi everyone are you searching for the best civil engineering thesis topic? If yes you are in the right place to find out your unique thesis topic . You can choose one of the best topic ideas for your thesis program. I hope you are very happy to see this article on the civil engineering thesis topic ideas. Don’t confuse what is your best topic to graduate your study career.

This is a very difficult task to graduate in civil engineering. Generally, you should give many days to collect unique ideas and original information and also search in a particular field. So this is very hard to complete the thesis in a civil engineering career. I hope this is all the thesis topic ideas that are very helpful to your thesis program in civil engineering.

If you are successful in the civil engineering thesis program. In this context, one way to facilitate its achievement is to choose a thesis topic that really interests you. The original ideas are always original, but you should spend many days researching unique and latest information for the thesis program. I have included the best civil engineering thesis topics that help to improve your Thesis quality.

The civil engineering thesis topics have a wide range in the world. However, you are confused about choosing the best thesis topic because of the limited information on the particular topic. So if you search little more information on the original topic that is the best in your civil engineering thesis.

After selecting the best civil engineering thesis topic and making it easily approved by your teachers. They shouldn’t be confused to approve your thesis topic.

Table of Contents

Best civil engineering Thesis topic to do your Thesis

Once you have chosen your thesis topic, your chosen thesis topic needs to be approved by your professors. Here, we present several key areas within civil engineering where you can find your thesis topic. Naturally, these broad categories should encourage you to dig deeper and refine your topic into a more specific topic.

Sustainable Building Materials

Traffic Management Systems

Bridge Design Innovations

Geotechnical Site Assessment

Water Quality Monitoring

Urban Transportation Planning

Seismic Retrofitting Techniques

Environmental Impact Assessment

Coastal Erosion Control

Pavement Performance Analysis

High-Speed Rail Systems

Construction Project Management

Renewable Energy Integration

Flood Risk Management

Green Infrastructure Design

Structural Health Monitoring

Soil Stabilization Methods

Hydraulic Modeling Applications

Geospatial Data Analysis

Public Transportation Accessibility

This is a major thesis topic but every topic has its own sub-topics. You should search for more information in the given subheadings. I have highlighted some of the most important subtopics for the best civil engineering thesis topic . I’m sure these are the core of your thesis.

Sustainable building materials and techniques

Seismic analysis and retrofitting of structures

Traffic management and intelligent transportation systems

Water resources management and flood control

Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization

Environmental Impact Assessment of Infrastructure Projects

Bridge Design and Maintenance

Urban planning and smart cities

Coastal Engineering and Shoreline Protection

Energy-efficient building design

Waste management and recycling in construction

Construction project management and cost control

Structural health monitoring and maintenance

Sustainable transportation and public transit systems

Water quality and treatment in urban areas

Disaster resilience and emergency response planning

Green infrastructure and sustainable urban drainage systems

Climate Change Adaptation in Civil Engineering Projects

Innovative materials for construction

Risk assessment in infrastructure development

General Civil Engineering Thesis Topic list

Following are the general civil engineering thesis topic lists that you choose for your thesis program. I hope these are unique topics to you, and that are easily approved by your professor:

Evaluating Sustainable Urban Development Strategies in Growing Cities

Innovations in Earthquake-Resistant Building Technology

Integrated Water Resources Management in Arid Zones

Advances in Geotechnical Engineering for Foundation Design

Promotion of Green Infrastructure for Environmental Sustainability

Optimizing Traffic Flow in Urban Transport Networks

Coastal Erosion Control and Coastal Protection Measures

Enhancing Infrastructure Resilience to Climate Change Impacts

Risk Analysis and Management in Large-Scale Construction Projects

Innovative Approaches to Bridge Design and Rehabilitation

Effective Waste Management Practices in Construction

Planning and Implementation of Smart City Infrastructure

Energy-Efficient Building Design for Sustainable Construction

Structural Health Monitoring System for Infrastructure

Analysis of Seismic Behavior of Transmission Tower Systems

Financing Strategies for Transportation Infrastructure Projects

Environmental Impact Assessment Techniques in Civil Engineering

A study of fiberglass-reinforced compression elements filled with concrete

Accessible Urban Planning and Inclusive Design Principles

Sustainability and Durability in Highway Pavement Design

Research on Spatial Analysis of Stresses of Large Underground Project

Application of Geospatial Technology in Civil Engineering Project

Reuse and Recycling of Construction Materials

Reducing Urban Heat Island Effects Through Design

Innovations in Water Treatment and Distribution Systems

Effective Traffic Management for Congested Urban Areas

Soap-free emulsion polymerization for sealing new buildings

Resilient Infrastructure for Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

Geosynthetics and their applications in civil engineering

Improving Public Transport Systems for Urban Mobility

Strategies for Reducing the Construction Environmental Footprint

Advanced Materials for Sustainable Construction

Urban Drainage System for Flood Risk Reduction

Applying BIM Technology to Infrastructure Projects

Structural Engineering Thesis Topic ideas

All the mentioned Thesis Topics for structural Engineering are original for your thesis:

Innovations in Sustainable Building Materials for High Rise Structures

Assessing the Seismic Vulnerability of Historic Masonry Structures

Effects of climate change on bridge design and maintenance

Optimizing wind-resistant design for tall buildings

Life-cycle assessment of timber structures in construction

Enhancing Earthquake Resilience in Urban Infrastructure

Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Structural Health Monitoring

Efficient Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations

Evaluating the Structural Performance of Composite Materials

Resilient infrastructure design for flood-prone areas

Advanced Techniques for Rehabilitation of Aging Bridges

An innovative approach to retrofitting non-ductile buildings

Sustainable design of urban transport networks

Analysis of the joints between beams and pillars of steel structures

Assessment of Structural Health Using Remote Sensing Technologies

Seismic retrofitting of critical infrastructure facilities

Optimizing Tall Building Foundations in Soft Soils

Biomimicry in Structural Engineering for Sustainable Design

Assessing the Resilience of Infrastructure Systems to Natural Disasters

Performance-based design for seismically active areas

Efficient design of cable-stayed bridges

Integration of Smart Materials in Structural Applications

Life-cycle cost analysis in bridge maintenance and repair

Seismic Design of Energy Storage Systems

Structural Analysis of Underground Tunnels in Urban Environments

Innovations in sustainable infrastructure for rural communities

Sustainable design of high-performance concrete mixes

Wind-Induced Vibrations in Long-Span Bridges: Analysis and Mitigation

Structural Fire Engineering for Building Safety

Optimizing tall building facade systems for energy efficiency

Advanced techniques for bridge safety monitoring and maintenance

These topics should provide a good starting point for your structural engineering thesis research.

Thesis Research Topic for Bridge Engineering

The following are the best civil engineering thesis topics in bridge engineering

Investigating Sustainable Materials in Bridge Construction

Dynamic Analysis of Long-Span Suspension Bridges

Optimizing Bridge Design for Seismic Resilience

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Bridge Rehabilitation

Load transfer mechanism of a hybrid beam cable-stayed bridge

Innovations in Cable-Stayed Bridge Construction

Examining the Role of Advanced Materials in Bridge Engineering

Traffic Load Effects on Bridge Structural Health

Resilience of Bridges in Extreme Weather Conditions

Load transfer mechanism of a steel-concrete joint

Bridge Monitoring Systems for Safety and Maintenance

The Future of Smart and Connected Bridges

Design and propagation analysis of a new drop-down bridge section

Long-term stress variation in rigid structure bridge

The thesis research topic of Concrete Technology

There is a list of thesis research topics in the field of Concrete Technology:

Innovations in Sustainable Concrete Mix Design for Green Construction

Utilizing Recycled Aggregates to Improve Concrete Sustainability

Advanced Admixtures for Enhancing Concrete Durability

Investigating the Influence of Nano-Scale Materials on Concrete Properties

Carbon Capture and Utilization in Concrete Production

Self-Healing Concrete: Materials and Mechanisms

Assessing the Performance of High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Concrete Corrosion Prevention Strategies in Marine Environments

The standard deviation of compressive strength of recycled concrete

The Role of Fiber Reinforcement in Mitigating Shrinkage Cracking

Sustainable Practices in Concrete Curing and Moisture Control

Modeling analysis of crack repair of concrete structures

Optimizing the Use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Concrete

Characterization of Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete Structures

Durability and Longevity of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete

Development of Low-Carbon Concrete Mixes for Climate Resilient Infrastructure

Evaluating the Impact of Elevated Temperatures on Concrete Structures

Geopolymer Concrete as an Alternative to Traditional Portland Cement Concrete

Innovations in Non-Destructive Testing of Concrete Structures

Durability of Concrete Exposed to Extreme Weather Conditions

Efficient Reinforcement Techniques for Concrete Pavement

Assessing the Fire Resistance of High-Strength Concrete Mixes

Concrete Fracture Mechanics: Modeling and Simulation

Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Concrete Building Systems

Influence of Aggregates Grading on Workability and Strength of Concrete

Smart Materials and Sensors for Monitoring Concrete Structures

Comparative Analysis of Various Surface Finishes for Decorative Concrete

Performance-Based Design of Concrete Bridge Structures

Improving Concrete Resistance to Chemical Attack in Industrial Settings

Sustainable Approaches to Concrete Repair and Rehabilitation

Microstructure Analysis of Cementitious Materials

Assessment of Structural Integrity and Load-Carrying Capacity in Aging Concrete Bridges

These topics include an extensive number of concrete technology research options, from sustainability and durability to fresh materials and testing methodologies. For their thesis study, researchers might select a topic that corresponds to their interests and ambitions.

Geotechnical Engineering thesis topics

Here is a list of geotechnical engineering thesis research topics of the best civil engineering thesis topic:

Landslide mitigation using innovative geosynthetic materials and reinforcement techniques

Evaluating soil-structure interaction in deep foundation systems for skyscrapers

Liquefaction Susceptibility Assessment in Earthquake-Prone Regions with Advanced Modeling

Geotechnical Challenges in Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation Design and Installation

Sustainable Soil Stabilization Methods for Improving Transportation Infrastructure

Geotechnical aspects of sustainable construction in soft soil environments

Characterization of Geothermal Energy Potential in Subsurface Geology for Effective Utilization

Measuring the impact of climate change on soil erosion and stability

Erosion control strategies for riparian and coastal protection using geoengineering

Innovative technologies for monitoring and management of groundwater pollution

Geotechnical considerations in the design of earth dams and embankments

Evaluation of Geosynthetics in Landfills for Enhanced Environmental Protection

Exploring bio-inspired geotechnical solutions for slope stabilization and erosion

Geotechnical Challenges in Urban Tunneling and Underground Infrastructure Development

Evaluating the behavior of soil-structure systems during extreme loading events

Geotechnical aspects of sustainable mining practices and tailings management

Analysis of Soil-Structure Interaction in Dynamic Machine Foundation Design

Seismic risk assessment and foundation design for critical infrastructure

Studying the effect of vegetation on soil erosion control on slopes

Geotechnical Considerations in the Design of Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms

Characterization of expansive soil behavior and mitigation of foundation problems

Innovations in geotechnical instruments for real-time monitoring of soil properties

Evaluating the geotechnical properties of soil-cement mixtures for construction

Geotechnical Challenges in the Design and Construction of Underground Bunkers

Evaluation of geosynthetic-reinforced retaining walls for sustainable urban development

Investigating the impact of climate change on permafrost and infrastructure stability

Geotechnical solutions for mitigating coastal erosion and protecting coastlines

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Deep Geothermal Energy Extraction

Geotechnical analysis of soil liquefaction risk in urban areas during earthquakes

Innovative soil improvement techniques to enhance base performance

This topic covers a wide range of geotechnical engineering areas and can serve as inspiration for your thesis research.

Thesis topic for transportation, Road, and railway engineering

The mentioned topics are the best civil engineering thesis topics for transportation, Road, and railway engineering:engendering:

Assessing the impact of autonomous vehicles on urban mobility

Sustainable road infrastructure for climate-resilient cities

Optimizing traffic management systems for congestion reduction

High-Speed Rail: Economic and Environmental Benefit Analysis

Innovations in road materials for durability and safety

Research on the purification capacity of porous asphalt pavement

Integrating public transport modes for seamless commuting

Smart Cities: IoT Applications in Transportation Planning

Railway electrification for green and efficient mobility

Safety Enhancement Strategies at Railway Crossings

Evaluation of Hyperloop technology for future transportation

Urban Street Design for Pedestrian and Cyclist Access

Optimizing rail freight transportation for supply chain efficiency

Traffic signal synchronization and adaptive control systems

The resilience of transportation networks to natural disasters

Sustainable Transport Planning in Developing Countries

Advanced materials to reduce noise on highways

Efficient transportation infrastructure financing model

Railway track maintenance technology for longevity

Mobility as a Service (MaaS): Future Trends and Implications

The role of big data in enhancing transportation operations

Water Supply and Drainage Engineering Thesis Topic

The following are the best civil engineering thesis topic which is directly connected to water supply and drainage engineering:

Optimizing Water Distribution Systems for Urban Resilience and Sustainability

Impact of Climate Change on Water Supply Infrastructure and Management

Smart Technologies for Efficient Water Leak Detection and Prevention

Assessing Water Quality in Distribution Networks for Public Health”

Designing Sustainable Stormwater Management Solutions in Urban Areas

Water Recycling and Reuse Strategies to Conserve Water Resources

The Role of Community Engagement in Water Supply and Drainage

Improving Water Supply in Rural Areas: Challenges and Innovations

Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Drainage Systems

Integrated Water Resource Management for Urban Development Planning

Reducing Non-Revenue Water in Municipal Water Supply Systems

Water-Energy Nexus: Efficiency in Water Pumping and Distribution

Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Water Supply and Drainage

Adaptive Strategies for Water Supply Resilience in Extreme Events

GIS and Remote Sensing Applications in Water Infrastructure Planning

Water Conservation Measures for Sustainable Urban Development

Public-Private Partnerships in Water Infrastructure Development

Managing Groundwater Resources for Sustainable Water Supply

Innovative Financing Models for Water Supply and Drainage Projects

Assessing the Socioeconomic Impacts of Water Infrastructure Projects

Geological Engineering thesis topics list

I have also listed geological engineering thesis topics which are mentioned below:

Landslide Mitigation Technologies: Analysis and Innovations.

Groundwater Contamination: Assessment, Prevention, Remediation.

Geotechnical Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Development.

Seismic risk assessment for critical structures.

Sustainable Materials in Geotechnical Engineering Practices.

Geothermal energy extraction and subsurface effects.

Coastal Erosion Management: Strategies and Effectiveness.

Landslide susceptibility mapping using advanced techniques.

Underground storage of nuclear waste repositories.

Geotechnical Aspects of Dam Safety Assessment.

Soil liquefaction risk assessment in urban areas.

Geothermal heat pumps for energy-efficient buildings.

Remote Sensing Applications in Geoengineering.

Slope stability analysis in mining operations.

Land improvement techniques for soft soils.

Tunneling challenges in urban environments.

Climate change affects geotechnical engineering.

Geohazards and their impact on infrastructure.

Geotechnical monitoring for urban development projects.

Geotechnical considerations in offshore construction.

These are the geological engineering thesis topics list you can select for your thesis research. I hope this is very helpful to you.

Other best civil engineering thesis topic ideas

So guys all the above are the original thesis topic ideas in civil engineering. You can choose anyone for your thesis research. But I have mentioned the following other thesis topic ideas you can go through your research project. List of other best topic ideas:

Air Pollution and Controlling Tips

Natural disaster management

Innovations in geotechnical applications

Flexible construction flooring

advanced technology in pavement design

recovery from natural disaster

Groundwater quality improvement

Dismantle of building

Improve power quality

Solar grid development

Collection of Rainwater

Improvement of Groundwater

So finally all the topics are the best civil engineering thesis topic . More than 100+ thesis topic ideas are included in this article. If you choose for thesis research topic from here, you should select the best topic that has not been researched before anyone. You should select original ideas and information. If possible you can take help from seniors or professors. Thanks for your time in this blog post. I hope this is very informative to you.

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Undergraduate thesis

Undergraduate Thesis

UNSW Engineering students are required to complete an undergraduate thesis project during the 4th year of their study. Students can choose from a variety of projects, with research and industry thesis options available. The standard thesis is 4 UoC (Unit of Credit) per term starting T1, T2 or T3.

You’ll enrol Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C and complete the thesis across three consecutive terms. Once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be taken consecutively in the two terms that follow.

Your school may also offer the option to complete a practice thesis. You’ll enrol in Thesis A and Thesis B, each worth 6 UoC over two consecutive terms.

For further information or questions, please contact your  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator .

All undergraduate students enrolled in the dual degree with Biomedical Engineering (regardless of undergraduate major), must enrol in 12 UoC of thesis courses with the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering.

Students will complete their thesis over three terms (4+4+4) or over two terms (4+8). A summary of the assessment is as follows:

BIOM4951 Thesis A : It is intended that Thesis A cover the scoping, planning, and completing preparations for the project.

BIOM4952 Thesis B : The primary intention behind Thesis B is to ensure students stay on track with their projects and project work as they progress through the year.

BIOM4953 Thesis C : Thesis C continues the project work. The key deliverable is the Written Report, alongside a poster presentation.

Before commencing Thesis A

You must nominate 3 different supervisors to work with.

Please follow the below instructions in order to view the projects available and to find a supervisor.

The instructions to view the projects are as follows:

You must complete this process and have a project allocated BEFORE starting BIOM4951. If you are planning on doing a project with industry, this requires an industry supervisor and a supervisor from GSBmE. Please contact me  [email protected] .

• Go the Moodle course  Selection of Biomedical Thesis Project  
• Self-enrol as a student using the key Student50
• The projects are listed under Thesis Database
• Contact the supervisor directly if you have any questions
• When ready, follow the instructions on the Moodle page for nominating your three supervisors. Project selection opens midway through the previous term (e.g. for Thesis commencing in T2, selection opens in Week 6 of T1). Selection closes on the last day of exams of previous term.

Undergraduate students are required to complete at least 12 UOC of thesis courses. The table below shows the default Thesis course sequence for your stream and any additional options you may have. The following sections provide more information about each of these sequences.

Research thesis (CEIC4951/2/3)

Research thesis  consists of three courses worth 4 units of credit each –  CEIC4951  Research thesis A,  CEIC4952  Research Thesis B &  CEIC4953  Research Thesis C. Undergraduate students may commence Research Thesis once they have completed at least 126 UOC from a School of Chemical Engineering discipline stream and their 3rd year core.

You  must  identify a supervisor and project prior to commencing CEIC4951. To find out more about Research Thesis courses, the projects available and how to find a supervisor, please join the  Research Thesis Projects  page on Moodle (enrolment key co3shyh).

• These courses are normally taken over three consecutive terms. However, students that make excellent progress in Thesis A, may be allowed to take Thesis B and Thesis C in the same term.
• High performing students may be permitted to take  CEIC9005  (or CEIC4005) in lieu of their regular Research Thesis courses. Contact the course coordinator for more information.

Product Design Project Thesis (CEIC4007/8)

Product Design Project Thesis  consists of two courses both worth 6 UOC –  CEIC4007  Product Design Project Thesis A and  CEIC4008  Product Design Project Thesis B. Undergraduate students may commence Research Thesis once they have completed at least 126 UOC from a School of Chemical Engineering discipline stream.  CEIC6711  Complex Fluids Microstructure and Rheology is a co-requisite course.

You do not need to secure a supervisor before commencing Product Design Project Thesis A.

Research Thesis Extension (CEIC4954)

Research Thesis Extension  ( CEIC4954 ) aims to provide you with an opportunity to go extend your thesis project by exploring your research problem in more breath &/or depth. The work you do in this course builds on the work completed in CEIC4951, CEIC4952 and CEIC4953. This course is especially relevant for undergraduate students considering a research career in fields related to chemical engineering and food science. The activities in this course are designed to introduce you to the ways in which research is practiced and communicated in a higher degree environment.

CEIC4954 is considered a practice elective in the Chemical Engineering stream (CEICAH) and a discipline elective in all other streams.

Students enrolled in an undergraduate degree within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering need to complete a thesis as part of their program. Students have the option of taking one of the following course combinations to complete their thesis requirement:

CVEN4951 / 4952 / 4953  (Research Thesis A/B/C)

Students must complete the  Thesis Application Form to be registered for the course. This combination of courses are worth 12UOC in total, and will take 3 terms to complete (or 2 with prior approval from the supervisor). A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry.

CVEN4961 / 4962 / 4963  (Higher Honours Thesis A/B/C)

Students must complete the  Thesis Application Form  to be registered for the course. This combination of courses are worth worth 24UOC in total and requires students to have a minimum WAM of 80.

Note: If you choose to undertake the Research Thesis option (CVEN4951/4952/4953 or CVEN4961/4962/4963) you must also complete CVEN4701 prior to finishing your studies.

CVEN4050 / 4051  (Thesis A/B)

Students are able to enrol themselves into this course directly via myUNSW, it has no minimum WAM requirement, and does not require students to find a supervisor.

If you would like to register for Research Thesis subjects in Summer, you must first obtain approval from your supervisor prior to Summer enrolment. Please check the course notes for more information.

Thesis Submissions

As of Summer 2024, students will need to submit their Thesis submissions via Moodle instead of the School’s intranet.

For the list of topics and available supervisors, you can visit:  Find a Supervisor or Project

UNSW  Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)  and  Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)  students can find a guide to getting started with Thesis A on the  CSE Thesis Topics Moodle site . Use cse-44747437 to enter the site as a student.

On this site, you will find the Thesis Topic Database. You can look through the topics or visit the academic supervisors' profile pages to find a topic you would like to work on. Once you have chosen your topic(s), you will then need to contact the relevant Supervisor for confirmation.

On this site, you can also find the course outlines of Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C, and the detailed instructions about finding a supervisor.

Final year students in Mechanical Engineering and Postgraduate coursework students are required to undertake a three-term, year long project. These projects are usually open-ended research or design projects, where the student works with an academic supervisor to find an answer to an engineering question. Students are required to manage and plan their projects over the three terms. The Thesis course can be started in any term and is generally completed in the final three terms of the degree.

If taking a Research Thesis (individual project), enrol in  Research Thesis A (MMAN4951) ,  Research Thesis B (MMAN4952)  and  Research Thesis C (MMAN4953) .

For Research thesis, you will first need to find a supervisor and get their approval. An approved application is required to undertake Research and to gain permission to enrol. The deadline to enrol in MMAN4951/MMAN9451 is Friday Week 1, but get in early to get the project and supervisor you want.

For information on available projects and the enrolment process, please see our  Sharepoint site , or contact Professor  Tracie Barber .

If you’re an Electrical Engineering student and planning to take Thesis course, you will need to find a supervisor and get their approval prior to enrolling to the course. The deadline to find a supervisor and enrol into the course is Friday week 1. Please follow the procedure below to look for potential supervisors, their topics and enrol into the course

• Go to:  https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/course/view.php?id=20890
• Enrol yourself as student using the enrolment key: EETTPstudent
• Login to Moodle course: 'EET School Thesis/Project'
• View research profiles of prospective supervisors and topics in 'Research Topics' section.
• Contact potential supervisor to discuss the possibility of working with them.. You must get their written permission to sign up on a topic before you can proceed to next step.
• a. Go to ‘Select Supervisor’, find the supervisor and click action box to become a member
• b. Go to ‘Register Topic,’ ‘Add Entry’ and enter your details and topic title.
• Enrol into Thesis course on myUNSW.

Research Thesis

Research Thesis is a compulsory pathway in the Mining Engineering (Hons) degree, Engineering (Hons) – Petroleum Engineering [Main Stream], and an optional pathway for high WAM students doing Petroleum Engineering. This thesis allows a student to work closely with a particular supervisor, learn particular skills – like programming or laboratory work, conduct research and write up their findings. To take this stream, you will need to first enrol in MERE4951 Research Thesis A.

MERE4951 Research Thesis A

In this course you will be required to find a supervisor and topic to work on. You can find a list of our research strengths here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering//our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-research

You can also find an individual academic and ask them about topics that they work on. Academics from our school are available here:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/ourschools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/about-us/our-people

Once you enrol, make sure you have access to the Microsoft Team (the link is on the Moodle page), which is filled with information and has active forums for asking questions:

MERE4952 & MERE9453 Research Thesis B & C

These two units (4UoC each) can be taken in the same term or separately. Thesis B involves submitting a video/audio reflection of the work so far and an interim report. Thesis C involves writing your thesis and recording and submitting a scientific presentation of your results./engineering/our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-researchengineering/our-schools/minerals-and-energy-resources-engineering/our-research

All undergrad thesis sudents can find a list of thesis topics will posted on the  Thesis A Moodle site . The student key to access the site will be sent out by the thesis co-ordinator to all students who will be taking thesis the following term. You should review the list and discuss the topics with the relevant supervisor to get an idea of what it entails.

Once both the supervisor and student have agreed on the topic, a Thesis Nomination Form should be completed. This is submitted to the Thesis Coordinator and uploaded to the SOLA 4951 Moodle site prior to the student commencing work on their topic. All students must have chosen a supervisor by 9am Monday week 1 of term.

You can develop your own thesis topic, if you can find a supervisor from within the School. This will require you to attach a one page description of the thesis topic and signed by the supervisor to the Thesis Nomination Form.

The School also encourages students who wish to do an industry-led thesis topic. In this case the mentor from industry would be the student’s co-supervisor, however an academic staff member from the School must act as the supervisor of the thesis.

For an industry-led thesis, you must obtain approval from an academic of the School to supervise the topic. You should submit a signed letter from the industry representative and academic supervisor with a brief outline of the project with a Thesis Nomination Form.

All information needed for the deliverables of thesis A can be found in the course outline which is available on the SOLA4951 Moodle site.

Undergraduate Thesis FAQs

The Engineering thesis will be taken for the duration of three terms - as Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C.

Each course will carry 4 Units of Credit (UoC) for a total of 12 UoC. The total UoC requirement remains unchanged from current.

Students will have two options to take Thesis from 2019:

• Option 1 - Standard: (4 UoC per term starting T1, T2 or T3) : Students enrol in Thesis A, Thesis B and thesis C and complete the Thesis across three consecutive terms. Total of 12 UoC.  Note than once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be taken consecutively in the two terms that follow.  
• Option 2: (4+8: 4 UoC in one term and 8 UoC in the following term) : Students who demonstrate satisfactory progress in Thesis A may apply to their School to take a 4+8 UoC structure where both Thesis B and C are taken in the next single term of that year. Total of 12 UoC.  This option is subject to having demonstrated satisfactory progress in Thesis A.

Students who do not maintain satisfactory performance in Option 2 will revert to Option 1 and take Thesis across three terms.

Thesis A, Thesis B and Thesis C will run in every term (T1, T2 and T3).

Yes, it’s possible to start your thesis in any term, however once Thesis A is taken, Thesis B and Thesis C must be completed in each term consecutively afterward.

Depending on the thesis course you take, your topic may be provided to you or you will need to develop one.

If you need to develop one, most schools have a website that lists available topics and the staff willing to supervise those topics. You may wish to select a topic based on areas of engineering interest, extracurricular interests (such as the  ChallENG Projects ), or preference for working with a particular academic in your field.  You can even come up with your own in consultation with your thesis supervisor. Take a look!

The process is different for each school, so review the information above.

If you still have questions, contact your school’s  postgraduate thesis coordinator .

Doing thesis in industry is a great opportunity and worth pursuing. Some students are able to arrange a thesis project that follows on from an industrial training placement.

Students wanting to take an industry-based project still need to take the Research Thesis courses for their specialisation. You need to arrange a UNSW academic as a co-supervisor and apply for permission to take thesis offsite.

Please check with your school’s  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator  for further details.

Yes, there are a number of Humanitarian Engineering Thesis Supervisors within UNSW Engineering who can potentially supervise a thesis.

Students who demonstrate satisfactory progress in Thesis A may apply to their School to take a 4+8 UoC structure where both Thesis B and C are taken in the next single term of that year.

The 4+8 UoC option is intended for high performing students to finish their thesis project in two terms. Students enrolled in this structure will take Thesis A in the first term and then, provided that satisfactory progress has been reached, will take Thesis B and C in the term following Thesis A.

Yes. In addition to the Thesis, you can enrol in up to two additional courses per term. You should enrol in these courses when annual enrolment opens. Overloading is possible but will require program authority approval.

If progress is deemed as unsatisfactory at the end of Thesis A, the student will move to the default Thesis option: Thesis A, B and C (4 UoC).

Yes, you’ll still be able to enrol in up to two additional courses. Given the increased workload of having to do Thesis B and C together, two courses per term would be the maximum recommended by the Faculty.

An enrolment continued (EC) grade will appear against your Thesis A/Thesis B subjects until you’ve completed your thesis. At this time your final grade will appear against your Thesis C. Around a week after you have received your final mark, a roll back process will be run so that the EC grades previously against Thesis A and Thesis B will be updated to reflect your overall Thesis mark.

Information on honours calculations are available on the  Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) program  rules page.

It’s possible to take leave and then continue your thesis on your return. Talk to your supervisor about your situation and the dates involved so that you can work out a suitable plan together.

Most schools have a Moodle, intranet, or web page with detailed information about their thesis program. That should be your next port of call – check your school’s section above for access instructions.

Schools often run information sessions during the year. These will be advertised via email, on social media and/or during class. Keep an eye out for these events.

If you have questions related to enrolment or progression, contact the  Nucleus .

Finally, each school has an  Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator  who can answer specific questions related to your personal circumstances.

Why did the Baltimore bridge collapse so quickly? Engineering experts explain tragic structural failure

A huge shipping vessel that collided with a major bridge in Baltimore has left numerous people missing and could cause significant economic and social disruption, experts say.

Many questions remain about the collision , including why the ship hit with the bridge in the first place. But many of them are structural: how was the ship able to reach the bridge, why was it not protected against such collisions, and why the bridge collapsed so quickly once the collision had happened.

Experts say it may be too early to say exactly what happened during the collision and the collapse that resulted. But they caution that bridges of this kind are specifically built with protections against such crashes – and that it may have required a huge impact to make the bridge fall in this way.

Bridges have collapsed from collisions with ships before. Between 1960 and 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses that happened after they were hit by a marine vessel, said Toby Mottram from the University of Warwick.

That ever-present danger means that modern bridges are built specifically with such collisions in mind. Engineers have developed a range of requirements and safety solutions aimed at securing the integrity of the bridge even in the case of the collision.

Bridges of this kind – large, and crossing shipping lanes – are required to protect the piers or columns that hold them up. Those protections come in a variety of different forms, said Robert Benaim, a bridge designer and fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

“These protections are either in the form of structural protections like ‘sacrificial dolphins’, which are made of steel and embedded in the seabed to stop or divert a ship.  They can also be in the form of artificial islands; these are for very large ships and mean the ship will never reach the bridge pier itself.”

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is relatively modern, so experts would expect that it was built with the assumption that its supporting piers might experience a collision. Those piers are important because any structural failure in them – especially in the centre – means that the whole bridge would collapse.

But those protections only go so far. “A vessel’s mass and velocity are key factors in the level of impact force generated and there is an economic and practical limit to what level of impact force can be designed for,” said Lee Cunningham, a reader in structural engineering at the University of Manchester. “Similarly, the direction of impact is also an important factor and design assumptions for this would likely be based on the position of the dedicated navigation channel.”

In the case of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, its design in the 1970s might not have taken account of the vast size and power of the ships that sail under it today. The ship that collided with the bridge – the ‘Dali’ – was vast, at 300 meters long and 48.2 meters wide, loaded with huge amounts of cargo and travelling at a still unknown speed.

“It’s conceivable that the piers weren’t designed to withstand the magnitude of today’s ship impacts, as vessels like the ‘Dali’ weren’t navigating the Port of Baltimore during that era,” said Professor Mottram. “Despite meeting regulatory design and safety standards of the 1970s, the Baltimore Key Bridge may not have been equipped to handle the scale of ship movements seen today.”

But, Professor Mottram noted, it is not only the technologies in the bridge that should help avoid such a disastrous collision. “Modern navigation technologies should have prevented the ship from striking the pier,” he said, noting that a priority of the investigation will be finding out how those technologies failed on the ship.

One remarkable thing about videos of the collapse is the speed at which it happens: once the bridge begins to buckle, it quickly falls away entirely. That is in part because it is built as a “continuous truss bridge”, made out of long steel truss that goes across the three main spans, rather than having connections on the piers.

““The collision of a vessel as large as the Dali container ship will have far exceeded the design loads for the slender concrete piers that support the truss structure, and once the pier is damaged you can see from the videos that the entire truss structure collapses very rapidly,” said Andrew Barr, a research fellow in the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering at the University of Sheffield.

“This is an example of what engineers call progressive collapse, where the failure of one structural element leads to the failure of neighbouring elements, which can’t support the new loads placed on them. In this case, the collapse of the pier caused the now unsupported truss above it to buckle and fall. Because this is one continuous truss, the loads are redistributed - the truss pivots around the surviving pier support like a seesaw, temporarily lifting the northern span into the air before the high tension forces cause this to fail too, and the whole truss collapses into the water.”

Dr Barr noted tha tthe video itself will be “incredibly useful to the teams” assessing the collapse, since they would otherwise have to rely on the remains of the structure and models.

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The collapsed Baltimore bridge didn't stand a chance against such a huge cargo ship, engineers say

• Engineering experts sought to explain how the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed.
• They centered on one factor: the sheer size of the cargo ship that hit it.
• Faced with such momentum, a total collapse was inevitable, they said.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore stood no chance against the huge impact from a cargo ship Tuesday morning, engineering experts told Business Insider.

The bridge was destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday, collapsing in a violent fashion after a large cargo ship, the Dali, hit one of its support pillars.

This video shows the impact:

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse pic.twitter.com/OcOrSjOCRn — BNO News (@BNONews) March 26, 2024

Understanding why and how the bridge collapsed could have big implications for safety, both in the cargo shipping industry and in civil engineering.

The physics of the impact are "pretty clear," said Leroy Gardner, a professor of structural engineering at Imperial College London.

"There's a heavy impact from a cargo ship into one of the piers," he said in a call with BI. "Once that collapsed, then the rest of the bridge followed soon after."

Experts told BI it was unlikely that any defects in the bridge's structure were relevant to the collapse, given the scale of the impact.

Engineers would probably have been unable to protect against such a huge impact. The Dali is a substantial vessel, 300 meters long and weighing some 95,000 tons, according to the website vesselfinder.com .

It's of comparable size and weight to a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the US Navy. The Dali was almost as tall as the bridge it was trying to pass under.

"All bridge piers will be designed to resist impact from a vessel. And I think this will be unquestionably no exception to that," Gardner said.

"I think it's the magnitude of the force in this case, which is extremely unusual, which has caused the problem for this bridge," he said.

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977. Its design is a steel truss bridge. The bridge was resting on concrete piers before the impact, experts said based on footage shared online.

"The support is a very, relatively, flimsy structure when you look at it — it's a kind of trestle structure with individual legs," Ian Firth, a structural engineer and bridge consultant in the UK, told the BBC . "So, the bridge has collapsed simply as a result of this very large impact force."

The impact from the Dali seemed to knock out one of the concrete piers, a "critical, significant part of the bridge," Gardner told BI.

"Structures generally are typically designed to have a certain amount of robustness. So if there's damage to a small part of it, the rest of the structure can remain intact," Gardner said.

"I think losing such an important element, I would expect the entire bridge to collapse, which is what happens," he said.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash. It also wasn't clear from the footage how quickly the Dali was moving, experts said. It had only recently left the port.

Barbara Rossi, an associate professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford, told BI in an email that the impacting force "must have been immense to lead to these massive (concrete) structures to collapse, leaving the superstructure without one of its supports."

Long investigations are likely to follow, said Mark Richards, director of NESTA Consulting Engineers.

"It's inevitable that the engineering community will look at this and investigate what happened very carefully, to learn lessons from it — if there are lessons to be learned from it," he told BI in a call.

"The bridges are designed for events that are considered by the wider community unit of engineering to be appropriate or probable. Maybe this event just steps outside of that," he said.

"It may be that those events could not be foreseen, and so we can't forget that," he said.

In an emailed statement to BI, a Danish engineering and architecture consultancy called COWI said that bridges are not usually designed to withstand a direct impact from a ship.

Instead, engineers would create structures near the bridge supports that a ship would hit first, absorbing the impact.

Then "the failure would be linked to that and not to the bridge itself," said Lorna Wharton, Head of Press and Public Affairs for COWI.

It was not immediately clear what defenses the Francis Scott Key bridge had, the experts said. COWI and Richards said that something may have been there.

Engineers will likely be considering not only the protections for the bridge itself, but how the broader dynamics of what routes ships took under and around the bridge, the experts said.

Watch: A Diwali celebration in western India turned to tragedy after a deadly bridge collapse

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Cong Chen and Zeki Hayran receive 2024 ECE Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Research Award

Cong Chen and Zeki Hayran are the winners of this year's ECE Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Research Award. The annual award is given to graduating Ph.D. students from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) based on the significance of their doctoral research. 

Chen’s research aims to drive the global energy transition toward a carbon-neutral future, which relies on the large-scale integration of renewables and electrification across transportation, civil infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing sectors. Her thesis addresses two challenges of energy transition: (i) the aggregation of small but vast distributed energy resources (e.g., rooftop solar and electric vehicles) to balance global energy demand and supply under the recent landmark ruling of the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency; (ii) the integration of battery resources for reliability, resilience, and economic efficiency of future power grids with high penetration of stochastic renewable energy.

“It’s my great honor to receive the ECE Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award, a profound encouragement for me to continue my exciting and challenging research journey. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supportive and inspiring advisor Lang Tong , my coauthors, my labmates from Digital Energy and Power Systems Group , my family, and my friends,” said Chen.

Hayran’s research focuses on metamaterials—materials engineered to possess specific optical properties—that vary over time. Historically, metamaterials had properties that varied only in space. Hayran’s work has demonstrated that by incorporating time as an additional degree of freedom, not only do many interesting physical phenomena emerge, but we can also surpass conventional performance limits for many applications. This opens the door to advancing next-generation photonic and electromagnetic systems with low-energy consumption and superior performance and capabilities.

“I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Francesco Monticone for his invaluable mentoring and guidance throughout my Ph.D. journey. Being recognized with this award is a true honor. It symbolizes not only the culmination of years of dedication and hard work but also the support and guidance I have received from mentors, peers, and collaborators. This accolade marks a significant milestone in my academic career and fuels my commitment to continue pursuing innovative research, aiming to contribute further to our collective understanding and advancement in the field,” said Hayran.

The ECE Graduate Committee reviews award nominations and the director of graduate studies oversees the process. In addition to a cash prize, the winner(s) will be presented with an engraved plaque near the end of the semester.

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