Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Civil Engineering.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the department. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

Provisionally admitted students meet with the program adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remove any deficiencies.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental Student Affairs Officer (SAO) regarding graduate student procedures, requirements and implementation of policies.

Areas of Study

Civil Engineering Materials; Environmental Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering; Structural Mechanics; Structural/Earthquake Engineering; Structures and Civil Engineering Materials, Transportation Engineering.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

There are two plans of study that lead to the M.S. degree: the thesis plan and the capstone plan (comprehensive examination). For both plans, at least nine courses (36 units) are required, a majority of which must be in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. At least five of the courses must graduate level (200 series).

a) In the thesis plan, seven of the nine must be upper division (100-series) or graduate level (200-series) courses. The remaining two may be 598 courses involving work on the thesis.

b) In the capstone plan (comprehensive examination), 500-series courses may not be applied toward the nine-course requirement. Courses completed outside of the department must be equal in rigor and related to the Civil and Environmental Engineering program of study and recommended to be quantitative in nature.

In addition, M.S. students must enroll in CEE 200 seminar each quarter. A minimum 3.0 grade-point average is required in all course work and in all 200-level course work applied toward the degree. All courses counting toward the 9 course requirement, except for 598, must be taken for letter grade.

Each major field has a set of required preparatory courses that are normally completed during undergraduate studies. Equivalent courses taken at other institutions can satisfy the preparatory course requirements. Preparatory courses cannot be used to satisfy course requirements for the master’s degree. Courses for the master’s degree must be selected in accordance with the lists of required graduate courses and elective courses for each major field listed below. Courses not listed below may be applied toward the course requirement if pre-approved by the faculty advisor and Student Affairs Officer.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division (<100) courses may be applied toward graduate degrees.

Civil Engineering Materials

Required Preparatory Courses. General chemistry and physics with laboratory exercises, multivariate calculus, linear algebra and differential equations, introductory thermodynamics. Other preparation could include Civil and Environmental Engineering C104, 120, 121, 135A, 140L, 142 and Materials Science and Engineering 104.

Required Graduate Courses. Two courses must be selected from Civil and Environmental Engineering C204, C205, 226, 253, 258A, 261B, M262A, 263A, 266, 267.

Other Elective Courses. Remaining courses (at least two) must be selected from; Chemical Engineering 102A, 102B, 200, C219, 223, 230, 270; Chemistry and Biochemistry 103, 110A, 110B, 113A, C213B, C215A through C215D, C223A, C223B, 225, C226A, C275, 276B, 277; Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, M135C, 153, 154, 155, 157B, 157C, M166, C206, C211, 220, 224, 226, M230A/B/C, 235A/B/C, 243A/B, 254A, 258A, 261; Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials M210, M215, M216, M250; Environmental Health Sciences 410A; Materials Science and Engineering 110, C111, 130, 131, 200, 201, 210, C211, 270; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 101, 105A, 131AL, 133A, 156A, C232A, 256F, 261A, 261B, 296A, 296B; Statistics: 201A.

Environmental Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Chemistry and Biochemistry 20A, 20B, 20L; Mathematics 32A, 32B, 33B (or Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 82); Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 103; Physics 1A/4AL, 1B.

Required Graduate Courses (4). Civil and Environmental Engineering 254A, 255A, 255B, 266.

One (1) of the following: Civil and Environmental Engineering 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D. Select remainder of courses (9 total for the capstone plan option; 7 total for thesis option) from the approved elective list (or get approval for other electives).

Approved Electives: Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157A, 157B, 157C, 157L, M165, 226, 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 251C, 251D, 252, 253, 254A, 255A, 255B, 258A, C258, C259, 260, 261A, 261B, M262A, 263A, 263B, 266 or other elective courses approved by the student’s academic adviser and the graduate adviser. Electives in the fields of Biostatistics/Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Environmental Health Sciences are commonly approved to satisfy course requirements. No more than two courses may be completed outside of Civil and Environmental Engineering unless pre-approved for exceptional circumstances. No more than two undergraduate courses may be applied towards the 9 course requirements unless pre-approved for exceptional circumstances.

Geotechnical Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 108, 120, 121.
Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 220, 221, 223, 225.
Major Elective Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 224, 226, 227, 228, C239, 245.
Other elective courses may be taken with prior approval from faculty advisor.

Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering:

Required Preparatory Courses. Chemistry and Biochemistry 20A, 20B, 20L; Mathematics 32A, 32B, 33B (or Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 82); Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 103; Physics 1A/4AL, 1B.

Required Graduate Courses (4): Civil and Environmental Engineering 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D.

One (1) of the following: Civil and Environmental Engineering 254A, 255A, 255B, 266. Select remainder of courses (9 total for capstone plan option; 7 total for thesis option) from the approved elective list (or get approval for other electives).

Approved Electives: Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157A, 157B, 157C, 157L, M165, 226, 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 251C, 251D, 252, 253, 254A, 255A, 255B, 258A, C258, C259, 260, 261A, 261B, M262A, 263A, 263B, 266 or other elective courses approved by the student’s academic adviser and the graduate adviser. Electives in the fields of Biostatistics/Statistics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Environmental Health Sciences are commonly approved to satisfy course requirements. No more than two courses may be completed outside of Civil and Environmental Engineering unless pre-approved for exceptional circumstances. No more than two undergraduate courses may be applied towards the 9 course requirements unless pre-approved for exceptional circumstances.

Structural Mechanics

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 130, 135A, 135B.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 232, 235A, 235B, M237A, 244.

Elective Courses. Undergraduate – maximum of two courses from Civil and Environmental Engineering M135C; Graduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering M230A, M230B, M230C, 233, 235C, C239, 246, 247, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 269B.

Structural/Earthquake Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 135A, 135B, and 141 (or 142).

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 235A, 246 and at least three courses from Civil and Environmental Engineering 235B, 241, 243A, 244, 245.

Elective Courses. Undergraduate – no more than two courses from Civil and Environmental Engineering M135C, 143 and either 141 or 142 (whichever was not used as a requisite for graduate courses). Geotechnical Area: Civil and Environmental Engineering 220, 221, 222, C223, 225, 227. General Graduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering M230A, M230B, M230C, 232, 233, 235B, 235C, 236, M237A, C239, 241, 243A, 243B, 244, 245, 247, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 269B.

May not count 125 as an Elective.

Structures and Civil Engineering Materials

Required Preparatory Courses. General chemistry and physics with laboratory exercises, multivariate calculus, linear algebra and differential equations, introductory thermodynamics, structural analysis (CEE 135A, 135B), steel or concrete design (CEE 141 or 142). Other preparation could include Civil and Environmental Engineering C104, 120, 121, 140L, and Materials Science and Engineering 104.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering C204, 235A, M230A or 243A, and C282.

Elective Courses. At least one course from Civil Engineering Materials: 226, 253, 258A, 261B, M262A, 266, 267; and if M230A is selected, one course from Structural Mechanics: M230B, M230C, 232, 236, M237A; or if 243A is selected, one course from Structural/Earthquake Engineering: 241, 243B, 244, 245, 246, 247.

Other Elective Courses. Remaining courses selected from the following with no more than two undergraduate courses allowed. Chemical Engineering 102A, 102B, 200, C219, 223, 230, 270; Chemistry and Biochemistry 103, 110A, 110B, 113A, C213B, C215A through C215D, C223A, C223B, 225, C226A, C275, 276B, 277; Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, M135C, 141 or 142 (whichever was not used as a requisite for graduate courses), 143, 153, 154, 155, 157B, 157C, M166, C206, C211, 220, 221, 222, C223, 224, 225, 226, 227, M230A/B/C, 232, 235A/B/C, 236, M237A, C239, 243A/B, 244, 245, 246, 247, 254A, 258A, 261; Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials M210, M215, M216, M250; Environmental Health Sciences 410A; Materials Science and Engineering 110, C111, 130, 131, 200, 201, 210, C211, 270; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 101, 105A, 131AL, 133A, 156A, C232A, 256F, 261A, 261B, 296A, 296B; Statistics 201A.

Students may petition the department for permission to pursue programs of study which differ from the above norms.

Transportation Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Knowledge of calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations; Civil and Environmental Engineering 180 or equivalent courses or professional experiences; Geography 7, Urban Planning 206A or equivalent professional experiences. (Note: These preparatory courses may be taken while enrolled in the M.S. program, but none can count toward the required nine degree program courses.)

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering C181/281, C186/286; Civil and Environmental Engineering C185/285 or Urban Planning 253; choose 1 course from Civil and Environmental Engineering C211, 298 (Autonomous Driving for New Mobility), or a similar course as approved by the advisor; and choose 1 course from Urban Planning 251, 253, 254, 255, 256, 258, or similar course as approved by the advisor.

Elective Courses. Any 4 courses not counted as a required course from among: Civil and Environmental Engineering C185/285, C111/211; 298 (Autonomous Driving for New Mobility); Urban Planning 251, 253, 254, 256, 258. Other elective courses may be taken with prior approval from the student’s faculty advisor.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

In addition to the course requirements, a comprehensive examination is administered that covers the subject matter contained in the program of study. The comprehensive exam may be offered in one of the following formats: (1) a portion of the doctoral written preliminary examination, (2) examination questions offered separately on final examinations of common department courses to be selected by the committee, or (3) a written and/or oral examination administered by the comprehensive examination committee. The examination is administered by a comprehensive examination committee consisting of at least three faculty members. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once with the approval of the graduate adviser.

Thesis Plan

Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.

In addition to the course requirements, under the thesis plan students are required to write a thesis on a research topic in civil and environmental engineering supervised by the thesis adviser. A thesis committee reviews and approves the thesis. No oral examination is required.

Time-to-Degree

The normative duration for full-time students in the M.S. program on the Comprehensive Exam track is 4 quarters and on the Thesis Track is 6 quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is three years from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School. Each quarter students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Quarters taken on an approved Leave of Absence do not count toward the three-year time limit.

Comprehensive Exam Track

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	4	4	9

Thesis Track

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	4	6	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the department. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are required to meet with committee members once per year (Summer through Spring) after Advancement to Candidacy until graduation. Meetings may be one-on-one or as a group and members may participate remotely. Students will provide documentation of meetings annually to the Student Affairs. Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental Student Affairs Officer regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Civil Engineering Materials; Environmental Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering; Structural Mechanics; Structural/Earthquake Engineering, Transportation Engineering.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Ph.D. students are required to take five courses that will serve as the basis for the written portion of the preliminary exam. If comparable courses have been taken elsewhere, the students may satisfy this requirement with approval of the advisor. Students will take a minimum of four additional courses, as defined in their Ph.D. program of study, which must be approved by the student’s advisor. A minimum 3.25 grade point average is required of all course work. In addition, Ph.D. students must enroll in CEE 200 seminar each quarter until Advancement to Candidacy. At least 50% of course work applied toward Ph.D. program must be completed at UCLA, unless petition has been approved by the department.

For information on completing the Engineering degree, see Engineering Schoolwide Programs.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

After mastering the body of knowledge defined in the major field, the student takes a written preliminary examination in the major field. This preliminary examination should be completed within the first two years of full-time enrollment in the Ph.D. program. Students may not take an examination more than twice.

After passing the preliminary examination and substantially completing all minor field course work, the student is eligible to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The nature and content of the examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee but ordinarily include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. The doctoral committee also reviews the prospectus of the dissertation at the oral qualifying examination. The student must confirm with the committee the expectations of deliverables for the Prospectus including, but not limited to, written documents and an oral presentation.

Students nominate a doctoral committee prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written preliminary and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

The normative duration for full-time students in the Ph.D. program, after completing a M.S. degree, is 12 quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the Ph.D. degree, after completing the M.S. degree, is 24 quarters. Each quarter students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Quarters taken on an approved Leave of Absence do not count toward the time limit.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	12	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the major field written preliminary examination.

(3) Failure to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 in the minor field course work.

(4) Failure of the oral qualifying examination.

(5) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(6) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.