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Detailed Information

Program of Study

Graduate work leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in civil engineering is offered by the College of Engineering. The program provides advanced study in the areas of environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic and water resources engineering, and structural engineering. All students must complete at least 30 hours of course work, 18 of which must be earned within the department. Students can complete either the thesis or the nonthesis option. In the former, the thesis should demonstrate the student’s ability to complete a full cycle of problem formulation, methodology, research, and evaluation under the direction of the student’s graduate faculty committee. Upon completing the thesis, the student must satisfactorily defend it as part of a comprehensive exam given by the entire graduate faculty committee and covering all of the student’s graduate work. Parts of this examination may be written, at the discretion of the graduate faculty committee. The student’s performance on the examination is evaluated by the graduate faculty committee and reported to the Graduate School. The thesis defense is open to the public. If a student prefers a nonthesis option, a minimum of 36 semester hours is required, of which at least 21 must be earned in civil engineering courses. In addition, the student must prepare a research paper and is required to pass a comprehensive examination. The student’s performance on the examination is evaluated by the student’s graduate faculty committee and reported to the Graduate School.

Research Facilities

The environmental research labs are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation, including gas chromatography, ultraviolet (UV) analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis equipment, and 2-D physical models for groundwater research. The geotechnical engineering research laboratory is equipped to perform shear strength tests using triaxial compression and direct shear equipment, hydraulic conductivity tests using flexible wall permeability equipment, consolidation tests, swelling tests, California bearing ratio tests, and bearing capacity tests on model foundations. Most of the equipment is attached to a digital data acquisition system for obtaining precise measurements. The Water Resources Computational Laboratory houses two networked Pentium IV 650-MHz PCs, one Pentium III 500-MHz PC, and a Xeon 3.6-GHz dual-processor PC. An array of software is available, including the latest programming environments and compilers (e.g., FORTRAN, Visual Basic, C++) and geographic information system packages (e.g., ArcView 3.3, ArcGIS 8.2, Spatial Analyst, 3-D Analyst), as well as typical word processing and spreadsheet software. These computing facilities are being used to test new computational algorithms and to construct state-of-the-art computer simulation and spatial decision support models. The models combine traditional hydraulic engineering and hydrology principles with new search algorithms to provide solutions to a variety of complex problems in environmental and water resources engineering. The structural engineering research laboratory is equipped with computers and the computer software able to perform the linear and nonlinear static finite-element analysis for concrete and steel structures in various types of structural systems. These structural systems include the concrete shear wall, a steel-braced frame, and steel moment-resisting frame systems. The Materials Testing Research Laboratory houses sophisticated equipment to evaluate the performance of the materials commonly used in construction for structural as well as nonstructural applications. There are several Instron Testing Machines available to evaluate the performance of the material in tension, compression, or bending and facilities to evaluate these materials using nondestructive techniques. The laboratory houses state-of-the-art facilities to perform durability studies on construction materials and sophisticated computers, software, a high-speed Internet connection, and data acquisition systems. The John Deere Research Laboratory (JDRL) is an advanced, state-of-the-art joint industry-University research laboratory that investigates the fatigue and fracture resistance of fiber-reinforced composite materials at their virgin and service states.

Financial Aid

Graduate teaching and/or research assistantships that carry a stipend of $1404 per month for master’s degree students and $1506 for Ph.D. students for the 2008–09 academic year, in addition to a tuition waiver, are available in the departments. A few fellowships with stipends ranging from $12,000 to $13,000 per calendar year and a tuition waiver are also available on a competitive basis.

Cost of Study

In-state graduate tuition is $328 per credit hour in 2009–10. Out-of-state tuition is 2.5 times the in-state tuition rate ($820 per credit hour). Graduate students with at least a 25 percent appointment as a graduate assistant receive a tuition scholarship. Fees vary from $589.03 (1 credit hour) to $1557.50 (12 credit hours). Students with a graduate assistantship receive a 25 percent reduction in the primary care medical fee.

Living and Housing Costs

For married couples, students with families, and single graduate students, the University has 690 efficiency and one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments that rent for $499 to $720 per month in 2009–10. Residence halls for single graduate students are also available, as are accessible residence hall rooms and apartments for students with disabilities.

Student Group

Of the 33 students, 10 are women and 6 are part-time. There are 22 students who are members of minority groups and 13 international students.

Location

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) is 350 miles south of Chicago and 100 miles southeast of St. Louis. The scenic main campus occupies 981 acres and includes a wooded area preserved in a natural state, a lake with a beach and swimming area, canoe- and boat-rental facilities, a walking (or jogging) trail, and fishing piers. The campus provides an array of cultural activities, including frequent performances by opera, theater, symphony, and dance groups, given by both local and traveling performers.

The University and The College

Since its chartering in 1869, Southern Illinois University Carbondale has grown into a comprehensive university with a student body of approximately 24,000. Supported by the state of Illinois, the University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, engineering, medicine, and law. The objective of the University is to provide a comprehensive educational program that meets a student’s needs.

The College of Engineering excels in engineering and technology education and research through the quality of its faculty and staff members, graduates, students, facilities, and programs. The College strives to provide world-class programs in engineering and technology education, research, and service so as to enhance the economic and social well-being of the citizens of Illinois, the nation, and the world.

Applying

In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s application requirements, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering or the equivalent and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. The nonrefundable $45 application fee must be submitted with the completed application. Applicants must also submit GRE and TOEFL scores. Applications are processed on a rolling basis.

The Faculty and Their Research

• James W. Blackburn, Professor; Ph.D., Tennessee, 1988. Biokinetics, biotechnology, chemical, and bioprocesses reduction and control of organic wastes/by-products; pollution prevention through tuning complex chemical processes and bioprocesses, bioprocess treatment of waste and wastewater, scale-up, and application of bioremediation processes, reduction, or control of organic air emissions.
• Rolando Bravo, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Houston, 1990; PE, PH. Hydraulics and hydraulic design, dewatering and ground subsidence.
• Gary Butson, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Illinois, 1981. Mechanical response of wire rope.
• Lizette R. Chevalier, Professor and Chair; Ph.D., Michigan State, 1994; PE. Environmental restoration of groundwater aquifers, experimental investigation of immiscible flow, numerical modeling of subsurface transport.
• Bruce DeVantier, Associate Professor; Ph.D., California, Davis, 1983; PE. Water resources, environmental engineering.
• William F. Eichfeld, Assistant Professor; M.S., Wisconsin–Madison, 1973; PE. Structural analysis, strength of materials, highways and highway construction materials.
• Roy R. Frank Jr., Assistant Professor; M.S., Southern Illinois at Carbondale, 1983; IPLSA. Surveying, photogrammetry, GIS, GPS, heavy construction.
• J. Kent Hsiao, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Utah, 2000; PE, SE. Structural earthquake engineering, structural reliability, structural design of buildings and bridges using steel, reinforced, or prestressed concrete masonry and wood.
• Aslam Kassimali, Professor; Ph.D., Missouri–Columbia, 1976. Nonlinear structural analysis, structural dynamics and stability, analysis of fiber-composite structures.
• Sanjeev Kumar, Professor; Ph.D., Missouri–Rolla, 1996; PE. Geotechnical earthquake engineering, dynamic soil structure analysis, piles under lateral loads, hydraulic conductivity of clays, landfill designs.
• John W. Nicklow, Professor and Acting Chair; Ph.D., Arizona State, 1998; PE. Hydraulics, hydrology, optimal control of water resources systems.
• Vijay K. Puri, Professor; Ph.D., Missouri–Rolla, 1984. Geotechnical engineering, soil dynamics, machine foundations, liquefaction of soils.
• Jale Tezcan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Rice, 2005. Nonlinear structural behavior, neural networks in systems identification and structural control.
• Shing-Chung (Max) Yen, Professor; Ph.D., Virginia Tech, 1984. Analysis of composite materials and structures, solid mechanics, structural dynamics and vibrations.

Correspondence and Information

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Mail Code 6603
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Telephone: 618-536-2368
Fax: 618-453-3044
Email: cedept@engr.siu.edu