Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering
Faculty
Professors: Houck (Interim Director), Ryan
Associate Professors: Arciszewski, deMonsabert, Rathbone
Adjunct Professors: Chase, Freas, Gerstenzang, Harrop-Williams, Matusik,
Reddy, Spencer, Szykman
URL: http://engineering.gmu.edu
Introduction
The Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering program administers two
degree programs: the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Urban Systems Engineering.
These degree programs complement the study of civil and environmental engineering
with advances in information technology, and they focus on the physical and organizational
infrastructure essential to the functioning of an urban society. The urban systems
engineering degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology, Inc. (ABET).
Urban systems engineering is the study of land, transportation, water, energy,
and telecommunications systems from a civil engineering perspective, within a complex
social, political, economic, and environmental context. The focus of the program
is on how these systems are successfully conceived, developed, designed, built, operated,
maintained, and renewed in the built environment such as the Washington metropolitan
area.
An urban society thrives and prospers when adequate, appropriate, reliable, robust,
and cost-effective infrastructure systems to support the functioning of the society
are provided. The investment in existing infrastructure and other urban systems in
the United States is enormous. The investment required to maintain, operate, renew,
and manage the evolution of these urban systems in the future is even greater. The
need for highly educated professionals to confront and solve these continuing vital
problems is pressing. Examples of urban systems include water supply and distribution;
streets, roads, and highways; wastewater management; transit; stormwater management;
public utilities; energy supply and distribution; telecommunications; buildings,
facilities, and structures; and solid waste management.
Course Work
The Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering program offers courses
with the designator USE in the Course Descriptions
section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Degree (B.S.) in Urban Systems Engineering
The bachelor's degree program includes a solid foundation in the theory of urban
systems engineering. Students benefit from exposure to practical civil, environmental,
and infrastructure engineering problems and their solutions in the classroom, lab,
and field. There is also the opportunity for students to work as junior engineers
each summer.
The urban systems engineer can look forward to a career with land development,
architecture/engineering, and construction firms, or government organizations. The
program also prepares for continuing graduate studies in engineering and related
fields.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the general requirements for the B.S. degree, students must meet
the specific requirements for this degree.
Degree requirements for the B.S. in Urban Systems Engineering include courses
in three main areas:
Mathematics and Basic Sciences (30 credits): CHEM 251; MATH 113, 114, 213, 214;
PHYS 250, 350, 355; STAT 344
Humanities and Social Sciences (21 credits): ECON 103; ENGL 101, 302
- Literature electives (6 credits)
- Social science elective (3 credits from Area C; PSYC 100 is recommended)
- Humanities or social science elective (3 credits)
Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering Analysis and Design (69 credits):
CS 112; ENGR 107, 183, 210, 307, 310; USE 230, 290, 300, 301, 305, 340, 365, 367,
400, 440, 455, 463, 490
- Technical electives (9 credits)
The prerequisite structure for courses in any engineering curriculum is extensive
and complex. For a sample schedule that observes all the course prerequisites, please
consult the program's website (www.engineering.gmu.edu)
or visit one of the CEIE faculty.
All electives must be selected with the advice and approval of the academic advisor.
The technical electives must include at least six credits of USE-designated courses.
ECE 285 is recommended as a technical elective for those students preparing for the
Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university's writing-intensive requirement for urban systems engineering majors
is satisfied by the successful completion of USE 400.
Graduate Program (M.S) in Urban Systems Engineering
The M.S. program educates students in the theory and practice of urban systems
engineering. Information technology and automated tools for analyzing and solving
urban systems problems are important components of the program. The urban systems
engineer can look forward to pursuing a career in the private and public sectors
or to continuing graduate study toward the Ph.D.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, a candidate must:
- satisfy the general university requirements for admission to a graduate program;
- have earned a baccalaureate degree in engineering, physical sciences, economics,
or other urban systems engineering-related field; and
- have three letters of reference submitted by former professors or supervisors.
Acceptance to the degree program is based on an assessment of the applicant's
capacity to pursue these graduate studies successfully. Consideration is given to
the applicant's undergraduate record, any previous graduate work, professional work
experience, the letters of reference, and any recent Graduate Record Examination
(GRE) scores. Well-qualified students who present minor admission deficiencies may
be admitted subject to completing an articulation program. Courses taken in the articulation
program extend the minimum requirements for the degree.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Urban Systems Engineering program includes three core courses, one
methods course, electives selected by the student with the aid of a faculty advisor,
and a thesis or urban systems engineering project. Students must complete a faculty-approved
plan of study with a minimum of 30 credits of graduate work, including the thesis
(6 credits) or the research project (3 credits).
Core Courses
Students must complete the following three core courses. These courses provide
a common background for understanding the breadth and complexity of urban systems
engineering, and for introducing the application of information technology and the
systems approach to analyzing and solving problems in urban systems engineering.
USE 600 Infrastructure Planning and Management
USE 601 CEIE Modeling and Problem Solving
SYST 530 System Management and Evaluation
Methods Courses
Students must complete at least one of these courses:
USE 585 Automated Support Tools for Urban Systems Engineers
USE 670 Urban Systems Decision Methods and Tools
USE 680 Spatial Decision Support Systems
USE 685 Urban Systems Engineering Information Management
or other appropriate methods courses such as SYST 510, 520; OR 541, 542; and STAT
544, 554, 574.
Concentration Area
Each student must select an additional four or five electives that together constitute
a concentration area. With the prior approval of a faculty advisor, a student may
design his or her own concentration area, or may select from one of several standard
concentration areas, including the following:
Transportation Systems Engineering
Construction Management
Environmental Systems Engineering
Engineering Management
Water Resource Systems Engineering
Facilities Management
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