The University of Nevada Reno provides excellent opportunities for graduate studies in Civil Engineering. Four areas of emphasis are available: Bridge and Structural Engineering, and Pavement/Materials Engineering. Continuing education beyond the Bachelor’s degree is recommended for prospective civil engineering professionals. The Master’s degree programs are a recommended course of study for civil engineers. The department offers programs leading to both the Master of Science degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering.

Bridge and Structural Engineering

Contact Dr. Ian Buckle: igbuckle@unr.edu

Also visit: http://bric.ce.unr.edu/ - Bridge Research and Information Center (BRIC)

The graduate program in Bridge and Structural Engineering emphasizes the behavior of reinforced, prestressed, and steel structures under gravity and lateral loads. The new Bridge Structures Laboratory has an area of 5,600 square feet with 36 ft. clear height. The primary components of the lab are the strong floor, strong walls, modular reaction blocks and the earthquake simulators. The strong floor is 3ft. thick reinforced concrete with sockets spaced at 2ft. intervals both ways. A 20x20x2ft post-tensioned strong wall is located on the east wall of the lab. The lab has twenty 4x4x8 ft. modular blocks that may be used as reaction devices. Two 25-ton radio controlled bridge cranes provide for a total lift of 50 tons anywhere in the lab. All sockets are accessible from the lab basement. The total weight of the strong floor and basement is 2,500 tons. A 265-gpm hydraulic hardline distribution system delivers hydraulic power to four ports down the center of the lab. The lab has an earthquake simulator system that consists of two 50-ton 14x14 ft. MTS shaking tables. The maximum stroke is 12 in with a velocity of 40 in/sec and an acceleration of 1g. The lab also has three digital data acquisition systems and an array of hydraulic push-pull MTS actuators with a maximum capacity of 500 kips. In addition the lab has a eccentric mass shaker capable of continuously delivering 20 kips at 10 Hz. 

A major upgrade under the NSF NEES (Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation) program is adding a third shake table to the two existing ones. The three platforms can be operated simultaneously to test larger specimens.

Environmental Engineering

Contact Dr. V. D. Adams: vdadams@scs.unr.edu

The graduate program in Environmental Engineering is an interdisciplinary engineering program within the College of Engineering. Emphasis is placed on water quality management, industrial wastes treatment, hazardous wastes management, water reuse, and unit operations and processes of water and wastewater treatment. Elective courses are available in the fields of air pollution measurement and control, water resources engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, biology, and hydrology and hydrogeology. The Environmental Graduate Research Laboratory is equipped with basic laboratory equipment for the analysis of water quality and many types of hazardous waste samples. Major analytical instrumentation includes; a gas chromatograph with electron capture; flame ionization; thermal conductivity detectors and an auto sampler; a total carbon analyzer; an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace; a liquid scintillation counter; a number of UV/VIS spectrophotometers; electrolytic aerobic and anaerobic respirometers; an inductively coupled plasma-emission spectrometer; and a liquid chromatograph with ourescence/UV detector. Standard laboratory equipment for process research is also available. All of the major equipment yields maximum analytical capability, sensitivity, and flexibility to perform routine and nonroutine procedures.

Pavement/Materials

Contact: Dr. Peter Sebaaly: Sebaaly@scs.unr.edu

Also visit: http://www.t2.unr.edu - Western Regional Super Pave Center

The purpose of the program is to train students to conduct research in pavement/materials. The program’s laboratory facilities include the state of the art equipment to evaluate the behavior of paving mixtures under all combinations of loading and environmental conditions. The program funds graduate student research on a regular basis. The supported students are specially selected according to GPA and academic achievment. They work on both academic projects and sponsored research. The goals are to integrate academic learning with hands-on experience and to increase writing and communication skills by interacting with faculty, research sponsors, and technology transfer experts.

Geotechnical Engineering

Contact Dr. Gary Norris: norris@ce.unr.edu

The graduate program in Geotechnical Engineering prepares students to critically analyze (analytically and through lab and field testing) soil behavior as needed for a variety of civil and mining engineering projects. Students are made aware of their future professional and ethical responsibility to affect public policy (e.g. advising the Regional Planning Commision regarding development in areas of geotechnical hazards such as swelling soil, slope stability, seismic shaking or liquifaction) and in training and/or advising others (e.g. building officials). The geotechnical faculty and students interact with the Structures Group on seismic foundation issues (e.g. pile foundation and abutment wall behavior and developing liquefaction) as part of the larger Bridge Engineering Research Group in quantifying pavement response to traffic loading. The geotechnical group has recently undertaken to research the behavior of unsaturated soil particularly as it relates to landfill cover design in arid regions. The graduate lab employs both GDS and CKC triaxial consolidation test equipment.

Admission and Degree Requirements

Admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs normally requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 and 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), respectively. The deadline for application is March 1 for Fall Semester enrollment and November 1 for enrollment in the Spring. Additional applications will be considered at any time during the academic year; however, assistantships are normally assigned by June for the next academic year.

M.S. - Students are eligible for admission to a master’s degree program under the condition that he/she holds a minimum 3.0 GPA. Two options are available to M.S. students upon graduate committee approval.

• Plan A Thesis - 30 credits: 6 thesis credits, 12 credits 700 level, and 12 credits 600 level (21 credits on campus)

• Plan B Non-Thesis - 32 credits: 15 credits 700 level and 17 credits 600 level (23 credits on campus)

Ph.D. - Upon recommendation from the department and academic dean, graduates from accredited colleges and universities may be admitted to work toward a Ph.D. degree in the graduate school. In order to gain admission, students must hold an overall GPA of at least 3.5 on all undergraduate and graduate courses, and satisfactorily complete the necessary prerequisites of credits in a chosen major field.