Overview

The Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE) at the University of Miami (UM) has partnered with the University of Bologna (UNIBO) in Italy to offer a dual Master of Science degree program in Civil Engineering (Dual MSCE).  Each dual degree program is structured in four semesters and consists of courses and research with two semesters to be completed at UM, and two semesters to be completed abroad at UNIBO. The degrees conferred by each institution are as follows:

Dual Degree Program Area of Emphasis                                                                       

Civil Engineering                                                                                 

Environmental Engineering                   

                                                                                       

Academic Degree Obtained at UNIBO           

Laurea Magistrale in Civil Engineering (Classe LM) - Taught in English  

Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria per l'Ambiente ed il Territorio (Classe LM 35) - "Earth Resources Engineering" International Curriculum taught in English

 Academic Degree Obtained at UM

MS in Civil Engineering

MS in Civil Engineering (Environmental Emphasis)  

Upon Completion of the Dual Degree Program requirements, the students will be awarded two separate and distinct Master's of Science degrees.                                     

Admission Requirements

This program is open to students who are admitted to the graduate program at the end of their junior year as part of the 4+1 (BS + MS) program. Students applying for this program must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Once enrolled in the 4+1 (BS+MS) program, students are eligible to apply to the dual MS degree program. The five-year program leading to a B.S. and dual M.S. degrees (BS/2MS) can be completed in 10 semesters as long as the student makes satisfactory progress.

The 5-year dual M.S. in Civil Engineering degree program is open to undergraduates majoring in either civil or architectural engineering.  Civil engineering majors will receive a BSCE, and two MSCE degrees (one from UM and one from UniBo).  Architectural engineering majors who satisfy the pre-requisites for the master's-level civil engineering coursework are also eligible.  They will receive a BS in Architectural Engineering, and two MS degrees in Civil Engineering (one from UM and one from UniBo).

Admission to the 4+1 (BS+MS) program and the BS + dual M.S. program is conducted through the College of Engineering Admissions Office. Any student interested in applying should contact the Director of Admissions in the College of Engineering and their academic advisor in the CAE Department. Both should conduct an overview and feasibility study based on the student's current program of study, and discuss the application requirements and timeline.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum for the dual M.S. degree program consists of courses that are required for the MS-UM degree, courses for the MS-UNIBO degree, and common courses shared between the programs. In general, students will enroll in the following program of study during their 4th year (Senior Year), and 5th year (at UNIBO). The table is shown in UM credit equivalents:

Plan of Study Grid
Senior Year
Fall Semester ICredit Hours
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours6
Spring Semester II
CAE 604 Master's Design Project 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours12
Plan of Study Grid
Fifth Year (Graduate)
First SemesterCredit Hours
Transfer Graduate Level Course 3
Transfer Graduate Level Course 2
Transfer Graduate Level Course 2
Graduate Course for UNIBO MS
Graduate Course for UNIBO MS
CAE 795 Special Problems 2
 Credit Hours9
Second Semester
Transfer Graduate Level Course 3
Transfer Graduate Level Course 2
Transfer Graduate Level Course 2
Graduate Course for UNIBO MS
Graduate Course for UNIBO MS
CAE 795 Special Problems 2
 Credit Hours9
 Total Credit Hours18

Students shall submit an individual Program of Study to select courses as part of the program. The individual study program must be approved by both institution's Academic Coordinators.  A thesis is required as part of the program and will be completed at UNIBO while working with an advisor at UM. Students must defend their Master's Thesis according to the rules and modalities of UNIBO to obtain the Laurea Magistrale degree.

Program credits are reported using two systems: the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the United States College Credit System (US). The transfer rate between the systems is 2 ECTS credits = 1 US credit. The credit requirements for each MS program are based on the transfer credits between the institutions.

Any deviation from the designated course lists requires pre-approval by the student's UM supervisory committee, the UM CAE Graduate Program Director, and the UNIBO Academic Advisor prior to course registration.

5 YEAR BS/DUAL MS

COURSE SCHEDULE FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING

4TH Year (Senior Year at UM): All courses in Table A (24 U.S., 48 ECTS) + 2 courses in Table B (6 U.S., 12 ECTS) 

5th Year (at UNIBO): The remaining courses in Tables B and C (24 U.S., 48 ECTS) + Civil Engineering Research (6 U.S., 12 ECTS) + CAE 795: Special Problems (4 U.S., 8 ECTS). Courses in Table C consist of Curriculum courses and Elective courses which can be chosen by the student, depending on the study area they are interested. They are shown in Tables E, F, and G. 

TABLE   A

Courses offered at UM
CAE 402Professional Engineering Practice3
CAE 450Transportation Engineering II3
CAE 470Foundations and Earth Retaining Systems3
CAE 520Advanced Design of Concrete Structures3
CAE 530Water Resources Engineering II3
CAE 604Master's Design Project3
As well as TWO Courses among the following:
CAE 611Advanced Structural Analysis3
CAE 621Advanced Design of Steel Structures3
MAE 607Advanced Mechanics of Solids3
CAE 711Theory of Elasticity3
Total Credit Hours24
Courses offered at UNIBO
Infrastructure Systems9
Advanced Hydrosystems Engineering9
Design Projects6
Civil Engineering Research A6
Advanced Design of Structures9
Advanced Structural Mechanics9
Total Credit Hours48

TABLE   B 

Courses offered at UM
CAE 460Construction Management3
MAE 601Methods of Engineering Analysis3
CAE 670Advanced Foundation Engineering3
MAE 705Finite Element Methods in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering3
Total Credit Hours12
Courses offered at UNIBO
Managing Engineering and Construction Processes6
Numerical Methods I6
Geotechnical Engineering6
Numerical Methods II6
Total Credit Hours24
 
*Numerical Methods I & II may be offered in a combined course worth 12 credit hours.

TABLE  C

Courses offered at UM
Curriculum Course3
Curriculum Course3
Curriculum Course3
Curriculum Course3
Elective Course3
Elective Course3
Total Credit Hours18
Courses offered at UNIBO
Curriculum Course6
Curriculum Course6
Curriculum Course6
Curriculum Course6
Elective Course6
Elective Course6
Total Credit Hours36

TABLE  D 

Courses offered at UM 
CAE 810Master's Thesis6
Total Credit Hours6
Courses offered at UNIBO
Civil Engineering Research B12
Total Credit Hours12

TABLE  E

Curriculum 1 - Structural Engineering
Mechanics of Historical Masonry Structures ECTS6
Structural Safety ECTS6
Structural Strengthening & Rehabilitation ECTS6
Computational Mechanics ECTS6
Earthquake Engineering ECTS6

TABLE  F

CURRICULUM 2 -Territorial Infrastructures
Applied Geomatics ECTS6
Context-Sensitive Design in Transportation Infrastructures ECTS6
Advanced Hydrology & Water Resource Management ECTS6
Coastal Engineering ECTS6

TABLE  G

ELECTIVE COURSES
Engineering Geology ECTS6
Science and Technology of Composite Materials ECTS6
Sustainability in Construction ECTS6
Biotechnology for the Sustainable Reclamation of Contaminated Lands and Waters ECTS6

COURSE SCHEDULE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

4th Year (Senior Year at UM): All the courses in Table A (24 U.S., 48 ECTS) + 2 courses in Table B (6 U.S., 12 ECTS)

5th Year (at UNIBO): The remaining courses in Tables B and C (24 U.S., 48 ECTS) + Civil Engineering Research (6 U.S., 12 ECTS) + CAE 795 Special Problems (4 U.S., 8 ECTS)

TABLE   A 

Courses offered at UM
CAE 402Professional Engineering Practice3
CAE 430Water-Resources Engineering I3
CET 440Water Quality Control Systems3
CAE 530Water Resources Engineering II3
CET 533Water-Quality Control in Natural Systems3
CET 540Environmental Chemistry3
CET 542Solid and Hazardous Waste Engineering3
CAE 604Master's Design Project3
Total Credit Hours24
Courses offered at UNIBO
Industrial Ecology M9
Advanced Hydrosystems Engineering M9
Water Engineering - Advanced Hydrology & Water Resources Management M6
Industrial Safety M6
Resources and Recycling M6
Laboratory of Environmental Engineering3
Laboratory on Alternative and Renewable Raw Materials3
Environmental Engineering Research A6
Total Credit Hours48

TABLE   B

Courses offered at UM
MAE 601Methods of Engineering Analysis3
CET 641Environmental Engineering Microbiology3
CAE 670Advanced Foundation Engineering3
Total Credit Hours9
Courses offered at UNIBO
Numerical Methods I6
Biotechnology for the Sustainable Reclamation of Contaminated Lands and Waters M6
Geotechnical Engineering6
Total Credit Hours18

TABLE   C

Courses offered at UM
CET 730Environmental Hydrology3
CET 735Water and Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse3
CAE 743Risk Analysis3
Elective Course3
Elective Course3
Elective Course3
Elective Course3
Elective Course3
Total Credit Hours24
Courses offered at UNIBO
Applied Geomatics M6
Minerals Production Systems M6
Engineering Geology M6
Petroleum Geosystems M6
Coastal Engineering M6
Elective Course6
Elective Course3
Elective Course 3
Total Credit Hours42

TABLE   D

Courses offered at UM
CAE 810Master's Thesis6
Total Credit Hours6
Courses offered at UNIBO
Environmental Engineering Research B12
Total Credit Hours12

Grade Equivalencies

The following conversion table of grades applies once a course  is completed:

Grade at UM
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F
I (Incomplete)
W (Withdrawal)
Grade at UNIBO
30L
30
28
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
Failed/Respinto
No Equivalent
No Equivalent

Additional Details

  • Each Student is required to complete a Program of Study and have it approved by their Supervisory Committee and the Graduate Program Director prior to entering the program.
  • Internships, Practical Training, Workshops, or other types of practicum are neither required nor optional credit-earning components in the established graduate curriculum (Program of Study). Credit earned through these experiences (such as UMI 605) will not count towards any CAE degree requirements. CAE 665 - 669 and CAE 765 - 769 shall not count towards the degree.
  • Credits completed at UniBo (that count towards the MS-UM degree) will be facilitated by students enrolling in SAP (Study Abroad Program) sections at UM.  Graduate work that counts towards the MS-UM degree (i.e. SAP sections) must be completed with no grade below "C". 
  • All graduate courses that count towards the MS-UM degree (including SAP courses) must be completed with an overall average of "B" or better and no grade below "C".
  • The Supervisory Committee at the University of Miami must have a minimum of 3 members, including:
  1. Committee Chair (Advisor) shall be full-time CAE Faculty and a member of the Graduate Faculty
  2. Full-time or Part-time CAE Faculty
  3. Non-CAE member with an earned Ph.D.

In addition to the Committee Chair, at least one member must be tenured/tenure-earning or a member of the Graduate Faculty.