Overview

The Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE) offers a 5-year BS/MS program that allows students to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in civil or architectural engineering. 

The educational objectives, specialty areas, and learning outcomes of each Master of Science program are shown in their respective sections MSAE and MSCE

This 5-Year program is open to students who are admitted to the graduate program at the end of their junior year. Students applying for this program should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students of the CAE department having a GPA of 3.0 or better are encouraged to apply to the 5-year BS/MS program during their junior year. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, and three letters of reference. Admission criteria are described under College of Engineering - Graduate Admission Requirements

Graduation

Requirements for graduation are:

  • Minimum of 30 graduate-level credits with a GPA of at least 3.000, and no grade lower than C; refer to the Curriculum Requirements for details regarding the distribution of the credits
  • Completion of the BS degree requirements

Curriculum Requirements

The Program of Study is the student's specific set of coursework that defines the course requirements for graduations and must be approved by an advisory committee (known as the Supervisory Committee). The Program of Study is tailored to the student's background and goals by their advisor, and must be approved as constituting an MS in Civil Engineering by the student's Supervisory Committee. 

The graduate course requirements for graduation are:

  • Minimum of 30 graduate-level credits with a GPA of at least 3.000, and no grade lower than C.
  • The requirement list is provided below.  The classification of courses into their respective Groups can be found in the CAE Courses section.
BSCE Requirements (127 credits)
Engineering Courses
CAE 111Introduction to Engineering I3
CAE 115Introduction to Engineering II: Geospatial Data (Surveying and GIS)1
CAE 210Mechanics of Solids I3
CAE 211Mechanics of Solids II3
CAE 212Structural Laboratory1
CAE 310Structural Analysis3
CAE 320Concrete Structures3
CAE 321Steel Structures3
CAE 330Fluid Mechanics3
CET 340Introduction to Environmental Engineering3
CAE 350Transportation Engineering I3
CAE 370Geotechnical Engineering I3
CAE 371Geotechnical Laboratory1
CAE 402Professional Engineering Practice3
CAE 403Senior Design Project I - Engineering Design3
CAE 430Water-Resources Engineering I3
CET 440Water Quality Control Systems3
CAE 450Transportation Engineering II3
CAE 470Foundations and Earth Retaining Systems3
CAE 530Water Resources Engineering II3
MAE 303Thermodynamics3
ISE 311Applied Probability and Statistics3
CEN Tech Elective Course3
CEN Structural Design Elective3
Math and Science Courses
MTH 151Calculus I for Engineers5
MTH 162Calculus II4
MTH 211Calculus III3
MTH 311Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
CHM 151Chemistry for Engineers3
CHM 153Chemistry Laboratory for Engineers1
PHY 221University Physics I3
PHY 222University Physics II3
PHY 223University Physics III3
PHY 224University Physics II Lab1
PHY 225University Physics III Lab1
Additional Required Courses
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 107First-Year Writing II: STEM3
GEG 199Geographic Information Systems for Engineers1
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People and Society Cognate9
Basic Science Elective3
MS Requirements (30 credits)
6 credits from Group A6
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
3 credits from Group G3
Group G: CAE Master's Design Project
Master's Design Project
9 credits from any of the following Groups: A, and/or B9
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
9 credits from any of the following Groups: A, B, C, and/or D9
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group C: 600- or 700-level CAE courses in Construction Management (CM)
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE and UMI
3 credits from any of the following Groups: A, B, D, and/or E3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE Courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE and UMI
Group E: CAE Independent Study (Special Problems)
Special Problems
Special Problems
Total Credit Hours154
Notes
  1. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated
  2. Master's Thesis (CAE 810) will not count towards the degree requirements 
  3. Courses may not count towards multiple requirements
  4. The following graduate-level courses in CET (previously offered in CAE) will count as CAE courses:  CET 633CET 640CET 641CET 642CET 643CET 730CET 735.

Refer to the Additional Details section (below) for additional options and restrictions. 

Transfer of credits from other institutions

  • A total of 6 credits of transfer and/or exchange coursework not counted towards the student’s B.S. may be taken at another institution and used to satisfy requirements for the M.S. The number of eligible credits for transfer is 9, when pre-approved coursework is taken as part of a semester abroad experience.

Additional Details

  • The classification of courses into their respective Groups can be found in the CAE Courses section.
  • 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. 
  • The Supervisory Committee 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 PhD

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

Plan of Study

The course requirements for the BS and MS portion of the five-year BS/MS program can be met as follows:

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CAE 111 Introduction to Engineering I 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5
PHY 221 University Physics I 3
PS Cognate 3
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
CAE 115 Introduction to Engineering II: Geospatial Data (Surveying and GIS) 1
GEG 199 Geographic Information Systems for Engineers 1
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
WRS 107 First-Year Writing II: STEM 3
PHY 222 University Physics II 3
PHY 224 University Physics II Lab 1
CAE 210 Mechanics of Solids I 3
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore Year
First Semester
CAE 211 Mechanics of Solids II 3
CAE 212 Structural Laboratory 1
ISE 311 Applied Probability and Statistics 3
PHY 223 University Physics III 3
PHY 225 University Physics III Lab 1
MTH 211 Calculus III 3
AH Cognate 3
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
CAE 310 Structural Analysis 3
MTH 311 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
CHM 151 Chemistry for Engineers 3
CHM 153 Chemistry Laboratory for Engineers 1
Basic Science Elective 3
AH Cognate 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior Year
First Semester
CAE 320 Concrete Structures 3
CAE 330 Fluid Mechanics 3
CET 340 Introduction to Environmental Engineering 3
CAE 350 Transportation Engineering I 3
MAE 303 Thermodynamics 3
PS Cognate 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
CAE 321 Steel Structures 3
CAE 370 Geotechnical Engineering I 3
CAE 371 Geotechnical Laboratory 1
CAE 430 Water-Resources Engineering I 3
CET 440 Water Quality Control Systems 3
CAE 450 Transportation Engineering II 3
AS Cognate 3
 Credit Hours19
Senior Year
First Semester
CAE 403 Senior Design Project I - Engineering Design 3
CAE 470 Foundations and Earth Retaining Systems 3
CEN Design Elective 3
PS Cognate 3
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
CAE 402 Professional Engineering Practice 3
CEN Tech Elective Course 3
CEN Design Elective 3
CAE 604 Master's Design Project 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Fifth Year
First Semester
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours9
Second Semester
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
Graduate Level Course 3
 Credit Hours9
 Total Credit Hours154