Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering

Master of Science (MS) with Engineering Report (Plan B)

Program Overview

The engineering report option (non-thesis) provides an opportunity to investigate an applied topic in area sub-discipline of civil and environmental engineering (e.g., structures, water resources, hydrology, hydraulics, geoengineering, fluid mechanics, etc.). The scope and depth of an MS Plan B engineering report typically is less than that of a MS Plan A thesis. However, the report should be at a professional level with the scope agreed upon between the student, faculty advisor, and student’s graduate committee. The completion of the engineering report exemplifies the development of skills in synthesis and analysis of data and/or information that typically is not available through coursework. There is no publication requirement for this degree program.

Curriculum Requirements

Courses selected for the engineering report option are intended to provide depth of study in a particular area of interest. Selection of courses should be conducted with the faculty advisor who is supervising the engineering report to ensure that the courses taken complement the engineering report. Some sub-disciplines of focus require specific courses to be completed. Please reference your sub-discipline of interest for any required courses. Depending on the student’s bachelor’s degree, background courses may be required in addition to the following specifications.

  1. A minimum of 32 credit hours is required, of which at least 16 credit hours must be in regular graduate-level courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
    • Regular graduate-level Civil and Environmental Engineering courses include courses with a CIVE prefix that are numbered 5XX, 6XX, or 7XX and with the last two digits ranging from 00 through 82 (e.g., CIVE 655).
  2. An engineering report must be written and is allocated from 2 to 3 credit hours of independent study towards the engineering report (CIVE 695A-K).
    • The combination of Independent Study (CIVE 695A-K) focusing on the development of the engineering report and supervised college teaching (CIVE 584 or CIVE 684) may account for up to 3 of the required 32 credits hours.
  3. Up to 3 credit hours of Independent Study (CIVE 695A-K), in addition to the engineering report, may be allowed.
  4. Up to 6 credit hours of 300- or 400-level coursework may be taken.
  5. Up to 3 credit hours of a 300- or 400-level CIVE courses may count towards the degree if the course is not required to satisfy background coursework. Examples of a 300- or 400-level background coursework that may be taken include CIVE 367, 441, 442, 438, 466 and MIP 300.
    • No lower-division (100- and 200-level) courses may be used to satisfy graduate program requirements, although these courses may be included as background courses.
  6. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be earned at Colorado State University, 21 of which must be earned after admission to the Graduate School. Credits used for one master’s degree may not be used for a second master’s degree.
  7. A final examination covering the engineering report and coursework is required.

Recent Examples of Plan B Reports