Is it possible to be admitted to the civil engineering graduate program if your undergraduate degree was in an unrelated filed like political science. If so how much of a process is it. I have looked online but with no success in answering this question.

2/20/2007 11:01:30 AM

seems like you would get raped w/ no ENG background, unless of course you minored in it or something in undergrad

2/20/2007 11:50:19 AM

I can't speak specifically about the CivE department's procedures, but in general, it's possible but a hard sell. When I was a PhD candidate a lifetime ago in computer science, my entering class included philosophy, biology, and psychology majors.

The immediate questions I can see them asking you is as follows:

- Why do you want to switch? This is going to be one of the biggest as they're going to want to know whether or not you'll have the will to hack it through the entire program. If you have a good story, say after four years of political science you know you want to do urban planning and development policy and desire a CivE degree to further this effort, it will help ease their concerns. Afterall, they're investing resources into educating you, and they want to make sure you have a strong enough motivation to make it through the program, doubly so for you since it'll be an even more difficult road ahead for you.

- Do you have the mathematical and scientific background to survive the program? While you can probably get away without having a CivE background (most programs have remedial crash courses for people coming from outside the field), they'll want to know if you have the background to handle the material. The engineering series of calculus, physics and chemistry, and a rigorous statistics background will be a plus if you have them.

- How are your grades and GRE? If you have a strong GPA and a strong GRE score (especially with the analytical and quantitative sections), you'll demonstrate that you have the basic intellectual capacity to handle the concepts.

Finally, I strongly encourage you to call and talk with the CivE department. I would recommend Dr. David W. Johnson, the Associate Head for Graduate Programs. Ideally, make an appoint to talk with him, then explain to him your situation and your reasons for wanting to go into CivE. He should be able to give you advice on what your chances are and how to improve them.

Good luck!

[Edited on February 20, 2007 at 11:56 AM. Reason : .]

2/20/2007 11:54:28 AM

bottom line, yes you can.

I know someone who has done this. However, he needed to take some extra undergrad courses, not that they required it but he needed it to pass the qualifying exam. Basically he got "raped" during the oral exam. They let him continue but he needed to take quite a few undergrad classes--just the ones related to his field of interest.

For example, he was getting a masters in Aerospace, but he only needed to take all undergrad control theory classes cause that was his focus in grad school.

Now to boost your chances of being admitted you really need to go talk to the department head first. Then try and seek out every professor on the graduate admissions committee. Also, it would really really help if you could find one professor willing to work with you, i.e. hire you as an RA.

Now he was coming from a science field so he knew Calculus, diffeq, etc... I suspect you don't, so the situation is quite different. Bottom line, go talk to the department head.

2/20/2007 12:01:39 PM

[Edited on February 20, 2007 at 12:03 PM. Reason : .shit. double post]

2/20/2007 12:02:13 PM

Would you need to talk to the department head or the director of graduate school programs?

And yes it is possible, but get to know the program really well first and be prepared to put in even MORE time than the average graduate student.

2/20/2007 1:00:43 PM

I would think the most appropriate individual would be the head of the graduate program, Dr. Johnson. He would know the admissions process best. Besides, if you go straight to the department head, he'd probably just refer you back to the head of the graduate program anyways.

Also, before you go talk with him, I'd recommend that you do research into the requirements for the program, the courses you'd be expected to take as a graduate student, and etc. and then evaluate potential pitfalls and think of possible mitigation plans to address them.

2/20/2007 1:12:42 PM

Thanks for the various responses. First my degree from state was a few years ago. I then went to school for naval design after NC State in Maine and graduated this past july. The engineering that goes with yacht design is very complex so the math and engineering used would not be an issue. I now work for a civil engineering firm in Greensboro and plan on being here for quite awhile and was interested in further my education to be in a position to take the PE exams down the road. I have spoke with Mr. Johnson and he said the same thing as mentioned above "it is possible though I would need to take some courses at the undergraduate level". Thanks again for all the advice and comments as well.

2/20/2007 1:45:42 PM

Quote :

"if you go straight to the department head, he'd probably just refer you back to the head of the graduate program anyways."

yes, yes, my bad. Director of Graduate studies for the dept is the appropriate person.

2/20/2007 2:13:47 PM

2/20/2007 7:25:46 PM

Quote :

"When I was a PhD candidate a lifetime ago in computer science, "

Quote :

"RedGuard Age : 23 "

WTF?

2/20/2007 7:58:15 PM

Ive known people to go from Science and Math undergrads to Engineering Master's programs and be successful. My boss is one. very smart guy.



...but from a social sciences to engineering masters??

youre gonna need damn near 2 years worth of pre-reqs.

good luck

2/20/2007 8:00:40 PM

^^ My bad. I haven't updated the age in a while.

Quote :

"I then went to school for naval design after NC State in Maine and graduated this past july."

Well, that answers the "math and science" question.

2/20/2007 10:17:55 PM

What type of engineering do you do for your company now? Also what area of civil engineering are you planning to study in grad school?

2/20/2007 11:11:10 PM

some naval design doth not an engineering math course make.


yeah you can do it but the prereqs are gonna be a motherfucker. unless your yahct design courses were ABET accredited, you're gonna have a lot of catch up to do.

i mean it'd be totally worth it. but it'll be a totally hard.

2/21/2007 3:52:01 AM

Are you kidding me? Naval Architecture is an engineering discipline.

Quote :

"The engineering that goes with yacht design is very complex so the math and engineering used would not be an issue."

You are right Hondo.

[Edited on February 21, 2007 at 8:04 AM. Reason : .er]

2/21/2007 7:57:14 AM

Isn't one of the requirements to sit for the FE exam having an Engineering B.S. If you pull off grad school in CE, would you then be able to take the FE?

2/21/2007 8:20:15 AM

Patman

That is one of the reasons I am thinking of going this route. I have a letter into the State Engineering Board with that very question. I know without a BS in Engineering you have to wait like 4 years then another 8 for the FE then the other exams. I will let you know if if I get a response today from them and what they say on the matter.

2/21/2007 9:12:29 AM