Degree programs at the M.S. and Ph.D. level are offered in two areas of concentration: (1) Civil and Infrastructure Systems Engineering and (2) Materials and Structural Engineering.
The M.S. degree has two options: (1) 24 hours of graduate-level course work (5000 level or higher) and a research thesis of at least 6 semester hours, or (2) 30 hours of graduate-level course work. Course work requirements also include 12 hours of didactic course work (i.e., excluding directed/independent study) from the relevant area of concentration core curriculum completed at Vanderbilt and 6 hours of didactic course work taken in the major area (i.e., with CE designation) completed at Vanderbilt.
The Ph.D. degree requires completion of 72 hours of graduate-level course work plus a dissertation. A minimum of 24 course credit hours must be completed at Vanderbilt. Course work requirements also include a minimum of 30 hours of graduate course work that include 12 hours of didactic course work from the relevant area of concentration core curriculum completed at Vanderbilt and 6 hours of didactic course work taken in the major area (i.e., with CE designation) completed at Vanderbilt. The remaining credit hours can be fulfilled with courses or research hours. In addition, all Ph.D. students must pass the Civil Engineering Graduate Program preliminary exam, must complete the university-required qualifying exam, and must write and defend a dissertation.