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Master of Science in Civil Engineering

College
College of Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Level
Masters
Study System
Thesis and Courses
Total Credit Hours
33 Cr.Hrs
Duration
2-4 Years
Intake
Fall & Spring
Location
Sharjah Main Campus
Language
English
Study Mode
Full Time and Part Time

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Introduction
Civil Engineering is a vital profession in the development of cities and societies. Civil Engineers are involved in the planning, analysis, design, and problem solving of a variety of projects that directly serve the needs of societies for buildings, bridges, roads, water supply systems, dams, canals, sanitation systems, environmental protection systems, and risk management systems. Civil engineering includes a variety of sub-disciplines, including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. To meet the demands of the rapid developments in the field, civil engineers must be up to date in their knowledge, motivated self-educators, and involved in lifelong learning.

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Sharjah offers a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) Program that prepares graduates to confidently confront current and future challenges in an exciting profession and equip them with advanced knowledge, practical skills, knowledge discovery, and application skills. The MSCE program is officially accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The Department has well qualified faculty and lecturers with many years of academic and practical experience both regionally and internationally. The expertise of the academic staff spans the main disciplines of modern civil & environmental engineering. In addition, the department has laboratory facilities that are furnished with the state-of-the-art equipment and analytical instruments in support of advanced experimental work for teaching, research, and community service. The laboratories are also staffed with qualified and well-trained laboratory assistants, technicians, and engineers.

The MSCE Program offers two broad specialization streams (areas) with optional concentration areas within the streams, as follows:

1. Structural Systems Engineering Stream, with the following concentration areas:
a. Structural Engineering;
b. Materials & Construction Engineering; and
c. Geotechnical Engineering.

2. Infrastructure Systems Engineering Stream, with the following concentration areas:
a. Environmental Engineering;
b. Water Resources Engineering; and
c. Transportation Engineering

The two specialization streams enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the MSCE Program, which helps students to get advanced knowledge, practical skills, and knowledge discovery and application skills in more than one area of civil engineering specialization. This equips students with the means to confront current and future challenges in an exciting multidisciplinary civil engineering profession, which requires specialized and advanced knowledge, and skills in more than one area in civil engineering. Completing the requirements of a concentration in a particular stream requires completing at least two (2) Courses in the concentration area + completing the Thesis course in the concentration area appropriate to the chosen stream. Students who wish to have a particular concentration area recognized in their transcripts need to make a request in writing to the Department during the final semester of their studies.

 

Program Objectives
The CEE Department aims at offering degree programs that are recognized and accredited, preparing graduates for professional life and advanced graduate studies, and responding to the research and development needs of the community, especially in the UAE and the region:

The overall objective of the Master's Program is to provide the opportunity for qualified engineers to advance their knowledge and knowledge discovery skills in the modern civil engineering specializations. The program supports the development of quality and relevant research, especially applied research.  In addition, the program aims to satisfy the demand for highly educated professionals who can contribute to and lead the scientific and technological development of the UAE and the region.

Graduates of the MSCE Program will be able to fulfill the following educational objectives:

  • PEO1:  Will successfully assume leading roles in professional practice, and research and development.
  • PEO2: Will contribute to fulfilling the specialized needs of the civil engineering and related industries in the UAE and the region using their acquired advanced knowledge and skills.
  • PEO3: Will pursue scientific inquiry and lifelong learning opportunities, actively participate in scientific and professional activities, and undertake further research and doctoral studies in civil engineering or related areas.
  • PEO4: Will embrace the principles of professional ethics, environmental consciousness and sustainability, personal responsibility, and service to the community. 

Upon successful completion of the MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the student will have developed:

  • LO1:  Ability to apply advanced mathematical, analytical and numerical techniques to formulate and solve complex civil engineering problems.
  • LO2: Ability to conduct independent research to solve challenging problems and contribute to the body of knowledge in a specialized area of civil engineering.
  • LO3:  Ability to synthesize and integrate advanced technical knowledge from various civil engineering and related disciplines including traditional and emerging knowledge.
  • LO4:  Ability to evaluate and design complex systems, components or processes to meet desired needs that appropriately accounts for the global, environmental, and socio-economical aspects.
  • LO5:  Ability to lead teams and work on the planning, management, analysis, and design of related civil engineering projects.
  • LO6:  Ability to integrate environmental and sustainability factors with management concepts and leadership principles for effective and professional practice of civil engineering.
  • LO7: Ability to effectively communicate technically complex ideas, concepts, and research findings orally and in writing to the professional and scientific community.
  • LO8:  Ability to value the principles of professional ethics and practices, contemporary issues, and personal responsibility in serving the community and the profession.
  • LO9:  Ability to adopt the latest relevant knowledge through life-long learning process.

 
Program Structure
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Sharjah has been offering its offered the Master's program starting since Fall 2004/2005. The MSCE Program is officially accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The degree is titled: "Master of Science in Civil Engineering."


The MSCE Program requires completion of 33 credit hours, which consists of 24 credit hours of course work in addition to 9 credit hours of thesis. The courses in the curricula are distributed among three sets of requirements, which are:
 
  1. Compulsory General Courses Requirements (courses taken by all students in the program)
  2. Compulsory Specialized Courses Requirements (courses taken by students in their respective stream /area of specialization in the program); and 
  3. Elective Courses Requirements (courses taken by students from a list/basket of courses)


The minimum degree requirement is 33 credit hours distributed as follows:

Requirements Credits
Compulsory General Courses 9
Compulsory Specialized Courses 9
Elective Courses 6
Graduate Seminar 0
Thesis 9
Total 33
 


Curricula

The curricula requirements are classified into the following categories:
(I) General Compulsory Courses
(II) Specialized Compulsory Courses
(III) Elective Courses
(IV) Graduate Seminar
(V) Thesis

I – General Compulsory Courses

Students must take the following three general courses:

Course No. Course Title Credits Prerequisite
0401564 Environmental Impact Assessment and Risk Analysis 3 Grad Standing
0401509 Advanced Numerical Methods 3 Grad Standing
0401506 Applied Engineering Statistics 3 Grad Standing
 

II – Specialized Compulsory Courses

The MSCE Program is comprised of two major streams (general specialization) namely, the structural engineering and infrastructure engineering.  Under these general specializations there are areas of concentration (shown below) where the student has the option to choose one of these concentration areas under his major stream.

1. Structural Systems Engineering Stream, with the following concentration areas:
a. Structural Engineering;
b. Materials & Construction Engineering; and
c. Geotechnical Engineering.

2. Infrastructure Systems Engineering Stream, with the following concentration areas:
a. Environmental Engineering;
b. Water Resources Engineering; and
c. Transportation Engineering
 

The students must select three (3) courses from the following two lists of specialized courses listed under the Structural Systems Engineering and Infrastructure Systems Engineering general specializations.

Structural Systems Engineering Stream

Course No. Structural Engineering Concentration Credits
0401511 Advanced Structural Mechanics 3
0401512 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 3
0401513 Advanced Behavior & Design of Concrete Structures 3
0401514 Advanced Structural Steel Design 3
Course No. Materials & Construction Engineering Concentration Credits
0401531 Advanced Concrete Technology 3
0401532 Advanced Materials in Construction 3
0401533 Cost Analysis for Construction Projects 3
0401534 Management of Construction Projects
3
​0401535
​Infrastructure Planning and Management
​3
Course No. Geotechnical Engineering Concentration Credits
0401552 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering 3
0401553 Soil Improvement 3
0401554 Soil Dynamics 3
 

Infrastructure Systems Engineering Stream

Course No. Environmental Engineering Concentration Credits
0401551 Environmental Geotechnology 3
0401561 Water Quality Engineering 3
0401562 Wastewater Treatment and Reuse 3
0401563 Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering 3
Course No. Water Resources Engineering Concentration Credits
0401541 Fluvial Hydraulics 3
0401542 Mathematical Hydrology 3
0401543 Water Resources Planning & Management 3
0401544 Hydraulic Structures 3
Course No. Transportation Engineering Concentration Credits
0401521 Traffic Flow Theory 3
0401522 Applied Traffic Operations 3
0401523 Urban Transportation Planning 3
0401524 Intelligent Transportation Systems 3
 

The list of specialized courses is categorized based on the concentration areas. The student can select any course related to his/her stream. However, for the student to be qualified for the concentration area in a particular stream, he/she should complete a minimum of two out of the three required specialized courses in his/her area of concentration in addition to the thesis.
 

III – Elective Courses

Student must take and complete two (2) elective courses. Courses in this category are selected by the student in coordination with the supervisor from any one (or combination) of the following:

1. Graduate course(s) offered by the department.
2. Up to two graduate level courses from outside the department subject to department approval (i.e., department approval based on recommendation of advisor and graduate studies committee).
3. Courses selected from the following list:

Course No. Course Title Credits Prerequisite
0401505 Advanced Applied Engineering Mathematics 3 1440261
0401507 Buildings, Energy & Health 3 Graduate Standing
0401508 Finite Element Methods 3 0401310
0401519 Advanced Topics in Structural Engineering 3 Depends on Topic
0401529 Advanced Topics in Transportation Engineering 3  
0401539 Advanced Topics in Construction and Materials 3  
0401549 Advanced Topics in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering 3  
0401559 Advanced Topics in Geotechnical Engineering 3  
0401589 Independent Studies in Civil Engineering 3  
 

IV – Graduate Seminar
All students enrolled in the MSCE Program must successfully complete a zero Credits graduate seminar course, as follows:

Course No. Course Title Credits Prerequisite
0401590 Graduate Seminar 0 Grad Standing
 

V – Master Thesis
All students must complete nine (9) Credits Research-Based Thesis, as follows:

Course No. Course Title Credits Prerequisite
0401599 Master Thesis 9 Completion of at least 12 credits
 

Special Admission Requirements
To check admission requirements, Click Here


Course Description
The course descriptions in this section will be grouped in relation to the discipline and area of specialization. The detailed description is also presented in the UOS graduate Catalog.


0401505
Advanced Applied Engineering Mathematics (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0112261  Differential Equations for Engineers (or equivalent)

Complex functions, application of conformal mapping, Fourier series and integrations, special functions, Legendre polynomials, Bessel functions, Laplace Transforms and its application to ODE's in engineering practice, Partial Differential Equations. ​ ​
 

0401506 Applied Engineering Statistics (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0212281  Introduction to Probability and Statistics (or equivalent)

Moments and expectations of functions of single and multiple random variables.  Taylor series expansion for approximating mean and variance of functions. Common probability distributions.  Extreme Value Theory.  Verification of distribution models.  Linear and non-linear multiple regression analysis. Nomographs.  Design of experiments and analysis of variance. Computer Simulation. ​ ​
 

0401507 Buildings, Energy and Health (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

Solar Radiation, Shading Control, Daylight and Building Design, Human Comfort, Properties of Moist Air, Heat Transfer in Building Structures and Air Change and Natural Ventilation in Buildings. ​ ​
 

0401508
Finite Element Methods (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401310  Structural Analysis (or equivalent)

Theoretical basis of the finite element method.  Finite element discretization, Formulation of Finite Elements for use in the solution of two-and three-dimensional problems. Plate-bending problems and shell problems. Computer implementations and Applications. ​ ​
 

0401509 Advanced Numerical Methods (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401405  Numerical Methods (or equivalent)

Numerical differentiation and integration, Solution of linear and differential equations related to structural engineering, problems in structural dynamics, Initial value problems. Newmark's method.  Series methods, finite method and energy methods applied to problems in Civil Engineering. ​ ​
 

0401511
Advanced Structural Mechanics (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401310  Structural Analysis (or equivalent)

Studies of stress and strain, failure theories, and yield criterion, flexure and torsion theories for solid and thin-walled members and energy methods. ​ ​
 

0401512 Structural Dynamic and Earthquake Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401243 Dynamics  & 0401310  Structural Analysis (or their equivalents)

Dynamic behavior of structural systems of one or more degree of freedom; transient, steady state, and modal responses; nonlinear structural response, distributed-parameter systems; analysis and design of earthquake-resistant structures, including simplified seismic code procedures. ​ ​
 

0401513 Advanced Behavior & Design of Concrete Structures (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401314  Reinforced Concrete Design 1

Study of flexural, shear, torsion, combined forces, creep, shrinkage, deflection, limit analysis and design applied to beams and frames; moment redistribution; yield-line theory of slabs; deflection of two-way edge supported and flat slabs; behavior and design of brackets, corbels, bearing walls, shear walls and beam-column joints. ​ ​
 

0401514
Advanced Structural Steel Design (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401418  Steel Design (or equivalent)

Bolted and welded connections, Building Connections, Rigid   Steel frames, elastic and plastic design methods, supports of rigid frames, composite design.  ​ ​
 

0401519 Advanced Topics in Structural Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing and Consent of the instructor

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​ ​
 

0401521 Traffic Flow Theory (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321  Transportation Engineering (or equivalent)

Introduction to elements of traffic flow theory including principles of traffic stream characteristics, capacity, queuing theory, and shock waves; application of traffic flow theory to freeway and arterial traffic flow problems.
 

0401522 Applied Traffic Operations (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321  Transportation Engineering (or equivalent)

Application of traffic simulation models to the design and operations of traffic facilities, including intersection, arterials, and freeways; assessment of traffic signal timing strategies and freeway management and control strategies. ​
 

0401523 Urban Transportation Planning (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321  Transportation Engineering (or equivalent)

Concepts and methods of transportation planning, including network modeling, travel demand forecasting, systems evaluation of multi-modal transportation systems and operations of public transportation systems. ​ ​
 

0401524 Intelligent Transportation Systems (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321  Transportation Engineering (or equivalent)

Concept and implementation of ITS; integrated ITS infrastructure; technical and institutional components of integrated ITS infrastructure; system architecture, instrumentation, communications, and implementation. ​ ​
 

0401529 Advanced Topics in Transportation Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Depends on Topic

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​ ​
 

0401531 Advanced Concrete Technology (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401233  Materials for Civil Engineers (or equivalent)

Hydration of Portland Cement, Gel formation, Cement paste microstructure, Relationship between pore structure and concrete strength, Curing, Concreting in cold and hot weathers, Introduction to fracture mechanics and failure mechanism, Shrinkage and creep of concrete, Quality control, Underwater concreting. ​ ​
 

0401532
Advanced Materials in Construction (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401233  Materials for Civil Engineers (or equivalent)

Performance and properties of advanced construction materials (light weight aggregates, high performance Concrete, FRC, FRP modified asphalt, and metal). It covers corrosion protection systems of metallic structures as well as method of durability testing. It also addresses the environmental and economic considerations in materials selection. ​ ​
 

0401533 Cost Analysis for Construction Projects (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

Detailed aspects of financial management skills needed by the construction managers. Understanding of costs control and communication with accountants or bookkeepers. Features include explanations of financial documents and cost reports and an overview of bookkeeping fundamentals. ​ ​
 

0401534 Management of Construction Projects (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

This course covers the scheduling and management aspects of construction projects. Topics include Introduction to construction management processes; Project estimating; Uncertainty in project scheduling and contingency analysis; Project planning and scope management; CPM/ PDM - critical path method; Crashing and time cost tradeoff; Resource allocation and management; Risk assessment and management; Line of balance (LOB); Program evaluation and review technique (PERT); Quality and safety management; Innovative practices and techniques to manage construction projects including digital twins, 3D printing, cybersecurity, and BIM; Presentations of research projects.
 

0401539 Advanced Topics in Construction and Materials (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Depends on Topic

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​
 

0401541
Fluvial Hydraulics (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

Equations of open channel flow; Hydraulics of ephemeral channels flow; Flood routing; Diffusion and dispersion in open channel flow; Bed and suspended sediment transport; Measuring devices; Hydraulic models; Methods of computation. ​ ​
 

0401542 Mathematical Hydrology (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

Classification of hydrologic processes; Analysis of hydrologic data; Modeling of hydrologic data; Simulation and forecasting of hydrologic series; Surface & ground water interactions; Floods & droughts; Use of computer packages.
 

0401543
Water Resources Planning & Management (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

Characteristics of water resources systems; Probability concepts in planning; Water resources planning objectives and identification. Water resources planning under uncertainty; Water quantity and quality management; Applications. ​ ​
 

0401544 Hydraulic Structures (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

Dam engineering; River engineering; Diversion works; Pump stations; Coastal engineering. ​ ​
 

0401549
Advanced Topics in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Depends on Topic

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​ ​
 

0401551 Environmental Geotechnology (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401353  Geotechnical Engineering (or equivalent)

                      0401441  Environmental Engineering (or equivalent)

General overview of groundwater hydrology, contamination and quality, physical & chemical aspects of fine-grained soils, contaminant transport, sorption, diffusion, hydraulic conductivity, soil-waste interaction, investigation of contaminated sites, remedial techniques and evaluation, flexible membrane, landfill & cap design, slurry walls. ​ ​
 

0401552 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401353  Geotechnical Engineering (or equivalent)

Normal Stress and shear resistance between soil particles; soil structure and clay  mineralogy; elastic theory; stresses, strains and rheological concepts; stress calculation within soil mass; static and dynamic stress-strain characteristics; drained and undrained shear strength of soils; soil hydraulics; permeability; capillarity and shrinkage; seepage in multi-layered soil; consolidation; dynamic loading of soils. ​ ​
 

0401553 Soil Improvement (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401353  Geotechnical Engineering (or equivalent)

Methods of soil stabilization, compaction, dynamic compaction, chemical treatment, compaction piling, stone columns, dewatering, and soil reinforcement with stirrups, geomembranes and geogrids, ground freezing, stabilization of industrial wastes. ​ ​
 

0401554 Soil Dynamics (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401353  Geotechnical Engineering (or equivalent)

Problems in dynamic loading of soils, dynamic soil properties, liquefaction, dynamic earth pressure, foundations for earthquake and other dynamic loads ​ ​
 

0401559 Advanced Topics in Geotechnical Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Depends of Topic

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​
 

0401561 Water Quality Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

This unit covers the fundamental principles of water quality and water quality modeling.  Applications include surface water and groundwater water quality problems and engineering solutions. ​ ​
 

0401562
Wastewater Treatment and Reuse (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401343  Fluid Mechanics (or equivalent)

This course covers the conventional and advanced wastewater treatment processes, including biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal.  The course emphasizes water conservation and wastewater reuse in rural and urban areas especially in arid regions.  The topics cover the current professional practice and latest developments in the field. ​ ​
 

0401563 Unit Operations in Environmental Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401562  Wastewater Treatment and Reuse

This course is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in environmental sampling and analysis, and building and operating laboratory or field demonstration models for contaminated water, soil and air treatment and pollution control.  The models are based on biological treatment technology, physiochemical treatment technology, waste containment and stabilization technology; and water treatment membrane technology.  ​ ​
 

0401564 Environmental Impact Assessment and Risk Analysis
(3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401441  Environmental Engineering (or equivalent)

Introduction to environmental law – local, regional and international requirements.  Environmental planning and policy.  Introduction to risk analysis – human and environmental health.  Concept of the environment and project impacts.  Environmental quality and pollution.  Evaluation of alternative project proposals.  Framework for environmental impact assessment.  Impact assessment and analysis. Practical examples and case studies. ​ ​
 

0401569 Advanced Topics in Environmental Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Depends of Topic

Subject matter varies from semester to semester, depending on the interest of the students and the importance of the topic to the region as well as depending on the specialties of the instructor. ​ ​
 

0401589 Independent Studies in Civil Engineering (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing and Departmental Approval

The student is expected to carry out an independent study on a current issue in a selected area of Civil Engineering. This study is to be supervised by a faculty member and requires the approval of the department. The student is required to produce a formal report, which will be evaluated by his instructor. ​ ​
 

0401521 Highway Safety Analysis (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: 0401321 Transportation Engineering (or equivalent)

Understanding the evaluation and analysis of traffic safety and risk related to design and regulation of the road and street network, and how this network is applied by different user groups. Also understanding the crash data collection and database management, safety improvement programs, as well as development of statistical models, before-after studies and identification of the factors contributing to the crash occurrence. ​ ​
 

0401527 Advanced Pavement Analysis and Design (3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing and Departmental Approval    

Stress, strain, deflection calculations; back-calculation of layer moduli; characterization of pavement layer materials; mechanistic-empirical pavement design procedures; long-lasting pavement design; advanced pavement design computational tools and design software. ​ ​
 

0401535 Infrastructure Planning & Management
(3-0:3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing   

The course covers the following topics: Introduction to infrastructure planning and management; Role of governments in financing infrastructure projects; The fundamental characteristics of infrastructure projects, plans and programs, challenges and trends in the theories and practice of infrastructure planning and management ; Procurement of infrastructure projects through Public Private Partnership route-Types of PPP models, Contractual structure of PPP projects, Value for money evaluation, Lifecycle of PPP projects, PPP procurement process; Various financing models and risks involved in the infrastructure financing models and limitations on each models; International, national and regional policies and legislative frameworks, plus market contexts that surround mega infrastructure development. ​
 

0401590 Graduate Seminar (0-0:0)
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing

Students are required to attend a minimum of eight seminars by faculty members, visitors and fellow students and submit a summary report after every seminar to their corresponding advisor/supervisor. Each student is required to present at least one seminar (after their first semester in the program) on a timely research topic. ​ ​
 
 

0401599 Master Thesis (0-0:9)
Prerequisite: Completion of at least 12 credits

The student has to undertake and complete a research topic under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis work should provide the student with in-depth perceptive of a particular research problem in his chosen field of specialization.  It is anticipated that the student be able to carry out his research fairly independently under the direction of his supervisor.  The student is required to submit a final thesis documenting his research and defend his work in front of a committee. ​ ​