Behind every successful construction project lies a blend of vision, strategy, and technical expertise. The world needs leaders who can not only manage complex projects but also adapt to the evolving demands of sustainable practices, advanced technologies, and integrated delivery methods.
This program includes technical courses associated with traditional civil engineering subdisciplines, including:
LTU’s College of Engineering, Civil and Architectural Engineering Department focuses on advanced-level courses in civil engineering, with an emphasis on infrastructure design and project management. The program includes 30 credits for both thesis and non-thesis students, and all students are required to complete coursework associated with a specialization in one or more traditional civil engineering subdisciplines.
As a graduate student, you’ll gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge facilities, including:
MS in Civil Engineering and MA in Construction Management are no longer accepting students. The programs have been combined and renamed MS in Civil Engineering and Construction Management.
Initiation of a graduate thesis based on applied research. Normally available only with an approved and funded project.
ECE6073
3
Completion of thesis. Normally available only with an approved project.
ECE6083
3
Technical Electives
24
Total Credits:
30
Technical Electives
30
Total Credits:
30
This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of geographic information systems. Topics include: coordinate systems and transformations; raster and vector data; mapping; spatial databases; topology; analyzing patterns; spatial relationships; data queries; and decision making with spatial data. The concepts will be applied to the fields such as environmental and water resources, transportation/urban planning, land development, and infrastructure management. State-of-the practice software is implemented in the course.
ECE5103
3
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Coverage of construction methods and techniques that employ the principles of sustainable development. Materials and methods of construction, infrastructure planning and development, and environmental implications of construction activities.
ECE5113
3
Graduate Directed Study
ECE5911–3
1-3
May need the permission of the department chairperson. Topic or topics of current interest in the field of civil engineering. Course content subject to change each time the course is offered.
ECE5923
3
Initiation of a graduate thesis based on applied research. Normally available only with an approved and funded project.
ECE6073
3
Completion of thesis. Normally available only with an approved project.
ECE6083
3
An in-depth of physical and mechanical properties of concrete mixtures is conducted during this course. Major topics include hydration of cement and supplementary cementitious materials at the microstructure level, fundamental behavior of concrete to applied and environmental loads and the effects admixtures have on fresh and hardened properties. Analysis of the procedures and interpretation of various concrete tests and analysis of laboratory and field data to solve practical problems in concrete acceptance are also covered.
ECE6113
3
Students within the MSCECM program are required to select a concentration and complete a minimum of five graduate level courses (15 credits) within that concentration. Concentrations either include one traditional subdiscipline or two traditional subdisciplines in civil engineering. The concentrations are listed as follows:
Note: If a student declares a concentration including two traditional subdisciplines, they must take a minimum of two classes for each.
Remediation management at contaminated sites involving remedial investigation and feasibility study process. Remedial investigation focuses on data collection and site characterization. Feasibility study emphasizes data analysis and decision making on applicable remedial technologies. Discussion of subsurface transport fate of contaminants. Must have Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
ECE5323
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor Methods of source testing and monitoring. Control of air pollution by process modification and various air pollution control methods. Design techniques coupled with air dispersion modeling and their relative effectiveness.
ECE5333
3
Recent advances in the design of operations in water and wastewater treatment plants. New developments in natural systems for waste management and treatment practices. Microcomputer applications. Must have Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
ECE5343
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor Designing and implementing environmental regulations and impact assessment programs. Techniques used in environmental impact assessment and regulation. Methods of analysis and the process of environmental planning and management.
ECE5353
3
Management models in the cause-effect analysis of water bodies such as lakes, estuaries, bays harbors, streams and rivers. Waste load allocation management strategies to reduce waste inputs to surface water bodies. Water quality modeling and control in the transport and fate analysis of contaminates in surface water. Must have Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
ECE5363
3
May need permission of department chairman. Materials of a specified nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5393
3
This course examines the technological advancements and management models, and will present design considerations and criteria for water and wastewater treatment at a variety of industrial operations, including automotive, manufacturing, food and beverage, chemical, and pharmaceutical. Physical, chemical, and biological processes are also examined with respect to applicability and design criteria.
ECE6313
3
The salient aspects of shallow and deep foundation design. Selection of the type; determination of bearing capacity and settlement of spread footings, mats, single piles, pile groups, drilled piers and caissons.
ECE5413
3
Waste containment facilities design, construction and operation; including linear systems and geosynthetics, interaction of soil with chemicals and transport of chemicals and water in soils. Must have Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
ECE5423
3
Practical and innovative design methods for ground improvement related to soft ground, deep foundations, slope stability, seismic activity, and geosynthetics. Combines investigation of case histories, current projects, design methodology, and geotechnical engineering theory.
ECE5433
3
Design methodology for civil engineering application using geosynthetics. Geosynthetics are planar products manufactured from polymeric materials used with soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical engineering related material as an integral part of a man-made project, structure, or system. Manufacturing, material testing, and design aspects related to reinforcement, filtration, drainage, separation, and containment applications, Design approaches are emphasized. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5443
3
Analysis and design of retaining walls, braced cuts, tie back cuts, and mechanically stabilized earth. Lateral earth pressure due to soil, water, surcharge, and other effects; local and overall stability; and the design of eart retaining systems.
ECE5473
3
May need permission of department chairman. Material of a specialized nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5493
3
An in-depth study of physical and mechanical properties of soils is conducted during this course. Major topics include mineralogy, permeability and capillarity, compressibility, shear behavior, and compressibility of soils. Determination and interpretation of these properties and their engineering applications are also covered.
ECE6413
3
Course covers geotechnical aspects of earthquake engineering and explains the fundamentals of propagation of earthquakes through soils. Plate tectonics, seismology and dynamic properties of soils are the topics covered in the first half of the course. Hazard analysis, ground response analysis, seismic slope stability analysis and liquefaction analysis are covered in the second half of the course.
ECE6423
3
Construction and engineering concepts related to timber or wood design. Review of applicable building codes. Design based on the ASD/LRFD National Design Specification for Wood Structures, latest edition. Design topics include lumber specifications, design values, strength modification values, beam design, shear design, bearing design, column design, beam-columns, tension members, structural walls, and diaphragms. Connection topics using nails, screws, bolts and split rings.
ECE5703
3
May need the permission of the department chairperson. Use of prestressed concrete in infrastructure applications: prestressing principles, analysis and design of pre- and post-tensioned systems, losses flexture, shear, bond, camber and deflection continuous prestressing, columns, and circular prestressing. Use of advanced composite materials such as prestressing strands to solve infrastructure problems. ACI and PCI prestressed concrete design manual discussed.
ECE5713
3
May need the permission of department chairperson. A unified presentation of the entire field of structural analysis, including introduction to the analysis of indeterminate structures, force method analysis and applications, displacement method analysis and applications, analysis of shear walls, plastic analysis of continuous beams and frames, and concrete, steel and wood design topics.
ECE5723
3
This course covers construction and engineering concepts for masonry design with an emphasis in concrete masonry structures. Both ASD/SD methods are employed in the course following MSJC “Building Code and Specifications for Masonry Structures”. Design topics include material properties, section properties, flexural design, axial load design, combined loading, shear wall design, slender wall design, prestressed masonry design, anchor bolt design, unreinforced masonry design and concentrated load analysis.
ECE5733
3
Advanced topics in reinforced concrete design using the most recent ACI 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. Topics include the design of columns, design of slender columns, design of two-way slab systems for flexure, shear, and deflections, deep beam design, torsional design, wall design, and analysis of beam-column joints.
ECE5753
3
May need the permission of department chairperson. Definitions, mechanical properties and durability of advanced and composite materials. Protruded sections and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bars. Concrete structures reinforced and/or prestressed with FRP with bars; behavior and strength in bending and shear. Repairs and rehabilitation of structures. New applications and design concepts.
ECE5763
3
Advanced topics in structural design using the most recent AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. Includes advanced connection design such as truss connections, moment connections, bracing connections, eccentric connections, HSS connections, and the concept of prying action. Includes stability analysis and design per AISC code and advanced stability concepts. Methods also presented for plate girder design, composite beam design, torsional analysis and design, fiber-based models, inelastic analysis and design, and introduction to seismic detailing.
ECE5773
3
This course introduces the structural design and evaluation of major elements of modern typical highway bridges. This course will also focus on maintenance, rehabilitation, budget constraints, and various other aspects of bridge network management a bridge owner is responsible for. The objective is to introduce students the concepts, requirements and fundamental skills for highway bridge design and evaluation. Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to design the major structural elements of typical highway bridges according to current AASHTO standards for both LFD and LRFD design specifications.
ECE5783
3
May need permission of department chairman. Material of a specialized nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5793
3
Course not found.
ECE6723
3
This course provides an understanding of finite elements in elasticity for civil engineering problems with an emphasis in structural engineering. Major topics include the formulation and use of several different types of elements such as truss elements, frame elements, beam elements, shell elements, and plate elements. The course also includes the calculation of different element stiffness matrices and the assembly of the global stiffness matrix. This course also discusses the use of different element types for unique problems and the importance of proper boundary conditions and constraints. Several other topics may include theory of elasticity, shape functions, interpolation methods, constant strain triangles, convergence criteria, virtual work, and energy methods.
ECE6733
3
Damped and undamped free vibration analysis of single and multiple degree of freedom systems; forced vibration analysis of single and multiple degree of freedom systems for harmonic loading and for random functions using integration and acceleration methods; generalized signal degree of freedom systems; elastoplastic analysis of dynamic systems; earthquake engineering and design spectrum applications; finite element applications; ASCE seismic design applications.
ECE6743
3
Analysis and performance of pavement structures: stress and deformation analysis of commonly used highway and airport structures subjected to static and repeated loading as well as thermal and moisture gradients; performance evaluation and predictions; and rehabilitation timing and techniques.
ECE5813
3
This course presents concepts and general considerations of the pavement management process. Major topics include pavement inventory, pavement condition and structural evaluation techniques, serviceability concepts and deterioration modeling, selection of project alternatives, maintenance vs. rehabilitation vs. reconstruction, economic consideration and life cycle cost analysis.
ECE5823
3
This course addresses concepts of traffic engineering, traffic studies and traffic control. Major topics include introduction to traffic flow theory, traffic control devices, traffic data analysis, freeway and multilane highway traffic management, signalized intersection analysis and emerging technologies in traffic management.
ECE5833
3
This course addresses concepts of highway safety engineering. Major topics include crash data analysis, statistical methods, site investigation methods, and principles and evaluation of effectiveness of highway safety improvements.
ECE5843
3
Presents the concepts and engineering considerations in airport pavement design and management. Content focuses on Federal Aviation Administration (AA) Advisory Circulars on airport pavement design, management, and construction. Fundamentals of stress and strain analysis due to aircraft loadings, pavement material characterization, design principles based on FAA circulars, airport pavement condition evaluation, and management principles are introduced. Industry-standard software for airport pavement design and management is utilized.
ECE5853
3
The course covers special topics in transportation engineering applicable to obtaining a specialization in the concentration. The material is of a specialized nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Registration needs permission of department chair.
ECE5893
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor An investigation into multi-purpose river usage. Sediment erosion, transportation and deposition in rivers and reservoirs. Channel modification practices and impacts. Hydraulic design of river structures. River restoration techniques. Computer modeling. Possible field trips.
ECE5523
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor An overview course on coastal engineering including Great Lake applications. Fundamentals of water wave motion including wave generation, propagation, and breaking. Coastal sediment transport and shore erosion processes. Functional planning and design of costal structures. Computer modeling. Possible field trips.
ECE5533
3
Theory, planning, analysis, and design of hydraulic structures in urban areas for stormwater management. Both traditional design and innovative low impact development techniques are included in course content. Computer modeling and possible field trips.
ECE5543
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor This course will investigate the design procedures behind ports and harbors ranging from private small craft harbors to large commercial ports. The course will focus both on hydrodynamic concerns and construction aspects such as breakwater design, bearthing layout, and dredging. Basic coastal engineering knowledge is preferred, but not a pre-requisite. See instructor if you have not taken a coastal engineering course.
ECE5553
3
May need permission of department chairman. Material of a specialized nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5593
3
Course not found.
ECE6513
3
Students that select a Construction Engineering Management concentration must take a minimum of two classes outside of the construction engineering management concentration. These courses may be taken from the General Courses list or other courses in civil engineering (Course Number prefix ECE). It is acceptable to use the thesis option to complete this requirement.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor Project planning and control systems at the firm and project level. Topics: planning and scheduling techniques, including CPM, PERT, LOB; resource allocation; project control; supply chain models; treatment of uncertainty; and electronic integration of time and cost planning and control.
ECE5223
3
Minimum safety requirements are reviewed and discussed in a practical context for immediate application in the construction site. Course material includes review of the OSH Act, recording and reporting requirements, and citation policies. OSHA Standards for the construction industry are reviewed, as well as selected sections of OSHA standards for general industry, and general principles of construction safety management. Students who attain a minimum grade are eligible to receive an OSHA 30-Hour Training Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health for Construction.
ECE5263
3
Advanced procedures and methods to prepare quantity measurements, obtain material costs and develop conceptual estimates based on the building systems method. In-class and on-line lectures by the instructors and guest experts address generating estimates within the framework of integrated project delivery methods, such as design-build and construction management. Students participate in individual and group projects where they learn problem-solving and best practice techniques for generating conceptual estimates while utilizing the Uniformat classification system.
ECE5283
3
Content includes concepts in construction quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) management during the lifecycle of a project, from initiation through close-out. Topics include program level and project-level roles and responsibilities of a quality manager. To evaluate risk and improve profitability, students review QA/Qc requirements set forth in various industry standards such as the Project Management Body of Knowledge, and in standard industry contracts. Applying Lean techniques and ISO principles, students develop components of a quality management plan.
ECE5203
3
This course introduces students to the business, construction and design aspects of design-build project delivery. Students compare and contrast various delivery methods with traditional and hybrid design-build methods. Best practices for team building and integrating all aspects of the project are discussed. Prescriptive and performance specifications are discussed and contrasted. The procurement process for public and private projects, including quality based selection, is reviewed.
ECE5213
3
May need permission of the department chairperson. An in-depth evaluation of current and emerging construction techniques and methods that are designed to improve the constructability, performance and life-cycle costs of civil infrastructure projects. New materials,design approaches and construction techniques are investigated by examination of specific experiences in the construction industry.
ECE5233
3
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or permission of instructor Introduces the concepts and fundamentals of financial accounting and economics in general, and specifically in the construction industry. Financial statement understanding and analysis, accounting concepts, project accounting methods, and the nature of project costs. Case study of major construction contractor. Ownership structure, working capital, and the sources and uses of funds.
ECE5243
3
Content provides a systematic approach to the procedures employed in infrastructure asset management. Topics include the collection and analysis of asset condition data and the identification of potential maintenance practices for the timely and cost-effective extension of an asset’s operational life. Students evaluate the potential assets within a specified corridor and, based on condition and criticality, create an integrated capital improvement plan for rehabilitation/reconstruction.
ECE5253
3
This course is a survey of legal issues with respect to the construction industry. Topics discussed include bid errors and disputes, contract disputes involving schedule claims, and changed conditions. Students are provided an overview of the legal considerations of various project delivery methods, and the clauses found in proprietary and industry standard contract documents. The requirements of the Michigan Lien Law, the Builder’s Trust Fund, and other construction related statues are reviewed and discussed.
ECE5273
3
May need permission of department chairman. Material of a specialized nature that is of interest to faculty and students. Lecture 3 hours.
ECE5293
3
Construction engineering and management concepts related to the recent research developments in the application of risk management, decision analysis, and optimization tools. Topics include selection of construction managers and contractors, site layout planning, quantifying impact of weather and change orders, optimal resource utilization, and optimal planning and control.
ECE6223
3
This course addresses the contractual and practical risks and challenges experienced when integrative project delivery methods are utilized. The course is project management based: the five project management processes, initiation, planning, executing, closing-out and monitoring and controlling serve as the underpinnings for the review of various standard industry contract documents. Construction industry practitioners with extensive experience in integrative projects will guest lecture on various subjects, including design management and design-assist coordination.
ECE6213
3
*Core requirement for this concentration.