gradstudents.M.S. degree program

The goals of the Master's program for both the non-thesis and thesis options, are to:

• Solidify the student's understanding of the fundamentals of engineering sciences acquired in undergraduate studies,
• Develop a superior level of the student’s understanding of civil and environmental engineering concepts in a particular area of study,
• Introduce the student to the skills required for civil and environmental engineering research, and
• Provide the student the opportunity to engage in an independent study experience.

The Graduate Program helps the student achieve these goals through the following aspects of the program:

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements for a Master of Science program are specified online. In addition, students who wish to switch between the Master's of Science Program or the Ph.D. Program must formally apply by the general deadline to compete for admission with all other applicants. Each admitted student first identifies a track and signs up for one or more core courses (either departmental or track specific [materials, structures and geosystems or environmental engineering tracks] ). Typically, each student in both degree programs registers for 12 course credits each semester (4 courses at 3 credits per course) until earning the requisite number of credits.

Faculty Advisor

A faculty advisor is assigned to each graduate student after his/her arrival at Duke. Typically, students identify their advisors during the admission process. Otherwise, the DGS assigns an interim faculty advisor. During the first semester in residence, a student may request an appointment of a permanent academic advisor. In the absence of such a request, the interim advisor automatically becomes permanent.

It is the responsibility of the faculty advisor to determine the student's knowledge deficiencies, to advise him/her to enroll in courses that would correct such deficiencies, and to determine if the non-thesis or thesis option will be exercised. Within a year, students are expected to achieve proficiency in basic skills in the areas covered by the departmental and track-specific core courses and in those recommended by the Advisor.

Faculty Committee

During the first year, the student meets with his/her advisor and together they nominate a Faculty Committee. The Committee should meet the student as early as possible and its nomination needs to be submitted to the Graduate School at least 10 days before the defense. Typically, three faculty members serve on an M.S. candidate’s committee. One member is usually from outside the department or from the area of study within the department but outside that of the candidate. The DGS and the Dean of the Graduate School must then approve the committee. The nominated committee members are listed on an official Graduate School form, supplied by our Department. The Faculty Committee is necessary whether or not the student does the Master’s thesis.

Non-Thesis Option

The student takes an oral exam given by his/her faculty committee in the semester that he /she is completing the 30 credits of course work. This exam may cover the course work taken by the student and the Master’s project.

Thesis Option

The Master's Thesis should follow the format defined in Guide for Preparation of Theses and Dissertations, and should include the following items:

• An abstract with objectives and clearly stated unique contributions,
• A survey and discussion/synthesis of pertinent literature,
• Discussions of the completed research tasks, including theory development, data collection, analysis, and documentation, and
• A set of conclusions that emphasize new theoretical, modeling, or experimental contributions; or novel applications of existing theories.

The quality of the Master’s Thesis should allow the material to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Thesis Defense

Upon the completion of the written thesis, the student must defend it orally. The thesis Advisor must approve the thesis for the defense before its final submission to the Faculty Committee. In a letter to the Graduate School, the Advisor states that he/she has read the thesis and that it is complete and ready for defense. The defense takes place no less than one week after the student has submitted the thesis to the Graduate School and presented copies to the Faculty Committee members. The oral presentation is public and shall be announced by the DGS. The Faculty Committee generally examines the candidate in a closed meeting following the open oral presentation.

During the defense, the Faculty Committee may examine the student on both the content of the thesis and on the content of the student's previous course work. The possible outcomes of the Master's Examination are:

• The student passes. A majority of supporting votes are required, in addition to the approval of the Advisor.
• The student passes conditionally, contingent on specific changes made in the Thesis. These changes must be approved by the advisor and the Faculty Committee, who may then pass the student.
• The student fails. Re-examination might be permitted upon the recommendation of the advisor and the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Graduate School Documents and Procedures

1. The student should file the Intention to Receive Degree form by:

• July 1st for degree in September
• November 1st for degree in December
• January 25th for degree in May

The student should check with the Bulletin of the Graduate School each semester for these and other deadlines. Items 3-5 below do not apply to those with the non-thesis option.

2. The student should submit the Faculty Committee Approval form to the Director of Graduate Studies as early in the program as possible. The time and place of the final exam should be noted on the form. Otherwise a separate memo must be sent to the Graduate School when the exam is scheduled

3. The student must coordinate the writing of the Thesis with the Advisor and the Thesis Committee. Once a version is acceptable for distribution to the Committee, the student must take all necessary copies to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will loosely bind each copy, and return the copies and the Examination Card to the student. The student gives the Advisor the Examination Card for reporting results of the final exam.

4. If the Committee is to be given a draft only of the Thesis before the final exam, the Advisor must request in writing (with the consent of the committee) that the Graduate School accept the draft before the examination.

5. The student is responsible for ensuring that each Committee member has a copy of the Thesis and is informed in writing of the time and place of the Thesis Defense.

6. The student should ensure that all Graduate School requirements and deadlines are met for the semester in which he/she is seeking the degree. Students should not rely on the Director of Graduate Studies, the Faculty Committees, or the Advisor to watch for these deadlines and requirements.

Thesis Defense

All Degree Candidates with an M.S. Thesis:

1. Reserve a room (usually Room 132 Hudson Hall) for the defense in the departmental office.

2. Submit to the Director of Graduate Studies one week prior to the defense the following:

• A one page Abstract of the Thesis, for inclusion in the official announcement of the defense.
• One copy of the Thesis, which shall be made available for review in the Department Lounge or office.