School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Kelly Fletcher : At the interface of Engineering and Biology

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Graduate Admissions FAQ

General Application Questions

Can I apply directly into the PhD program, or is a Master’s degree required before doing so?: Students may apply for admission directly into the PhD program from their undergraduate studies. Many PhD students will complete a Master’s degree during the course of the doctoral program, but it is not required to do so. Students may also enter as Master’s students, and later apply for admission into the PhD program.
Can I apply for the Spring term? What is the deadline for Spring term?: A small number of students are admitted to enter in the Spring. Generally, Spring matriculation is better for PhD students, for many Spring courses taken by MS students have prerequisites offered only in the Fall semester. The application deadline is August 31, and all materials should be submitted within a month of this date to insure full consideration.
Can I apply to more than one Georgia Tech department?: Yes, but a separate online application must be submitted for each department.
Can I have the application fee waived?: No, the application must be paid as part of the submission of the online application. The fee can not be waived, and the application is not transmitted to Georgia Tech until the application fee has been processed.
Can I submit a supporting document after the deadline?: Yes, whenever materials are received they will be added to an applicant’s record. If materials are submitted after the faculty may have declined an application, the student may request that their application be reconsidered.
Can students earn Joint or Dual Masters degrees with other departments?: The only formal dual degree program in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering is between the City Planning program of the College of Architecture and CEE’s Transportation program. Students must apply separately to both programs, and meet both programs’ degree requirements, but would receive Master’s degrees from both programs. Even though no other formal programs exist, students may pursue multiple graduate degrees with other Georgia Tech departments. Students would apply separately to both programs, and must meet both programs’ degree requirements, but would receive Master’s degrees from both.
Can you evaluate my chances of admission before I apply?: No, a complete application package is necessary before the faculty can consider a student for admission, and possible funding. By reviewing the minimum scores and GPA for admission, as well as the average scores of those enrolled, you can get a general idea of how competitive your application may be.
Do I have to complete the online application in one sitting (one login session)?: No, you can save your entries, and return to complete the application at a later time.
How do I apply to the Savannah Campus?: The online application will ask for your campus preference.
If I do not have an engineering background, am I eligible to be considered for a MS or PhD degree in engineering? Will I need to take any pre-requisites before being accepted?: Although a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required, there is no requirement for it to be in a specific field of study. If the faculty feel that a student is admissible, but lacks certain engineering background, the admission may be offered on the condition of completing some specific courses (which could not be counted toward the graduate degree).
May I apply to more than one area of concentration within Civil & Environmental Engineering?: Applications will only be considered by one area at a time. Once an admission decision has been issued by the area initially applied to, then an applicant may request that their application be forwarded to a second area. Applicants may also ask that their area be changed before a decision is made, and their file will be transferred accordingly.
What Distance Learning options are available?: The School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) offers a Distance Learning (DL) option for the Master’s degree in CEE’s Environmental Engineering program. At this time, the CEE’s other areas of concentration do not offer a DL option.
What is the cost to attend?: Current tuition and fee information is found at the Georgia Tech Bursar’s Office web site: http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/ Select the “Tuition and fees” option, then the term(s) you wish to view. If you then click on the heading “Graduate”, you can view totals of all graduate level tuition and fees.
Where can I learn about the faculty’s research?: Go to http://www.ce.gatech.edu/fac_staff/faculty_list.php for a list of all faculty members in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Each professor’s web page will provide information on their research interests.
Where should I mail supporting materials for my application?: Mail to: Graduate Admissions Georgia Institute of Technology 631 Cherry Street, Room 318 Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0321
Who makes the admission and funding decisions?: The faculty in the specific area of concentration within the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering to which you apply make the admission and funding decisions to the applicants requesting their area.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Can I apply for the Spring term? What is the deadline for Spring term?: A small number of students are admitted to enter in the Spring. Generally, Spring matriculation is better for PhD students, for many Spring courses taken by MS students have prerequisites offered only in the Fall semester. The application deadline is August 31, and all materials should be submitted within a month of this date to insure full consideration.
Can I submit a supporting document after the deadline?: Yes, whenever materials are received they will be added to an applicant’s record. If materials are submitted after the faculty may have declined an application, the student may request that their application be reconsidered.
Do I need to take the GRE exam?: All applicants are required to submit GRE scores, except Georgia Tech undergraduate CE students applying to the BS/MS program.
If I do not have an engineering background, am I eligible to be considered for a MS or PhD degree in engineering? Will I need to take any pre-requisites before being accepted?: Although a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is required, there is no requirement for it to be in a specific field of study. If the faculty feel that a student is admissible, but lacks certain engineering background, the admission may be offered on the condition of completing some specific courses (which could not be counted toward the graduate degree).
If I have a degree from a university where English is the language of instruction, do I still have to take the TOEFL?: International applicants who have attended a U.S. college or university for a minimum of one academic year will not be required to provide a TOEFL score. However, a transcript must be provided in order to qualify for this exemption.
If my GRE, TOEFL, or GPA scores are below GT requirements, can I still apply and be considered for admission?: Yes. Faculty can request a limited number of exceptions to the minimum score requirements when one item is slightly below the required level. Admission is rarely offered if more than one item is below minimum.
What are the application deadlines?: The application dates are December 30 for Fall or Summer enrollment and August 31 for the Spring. All application materials should be received within a month of the deadlines to insure full consideration of an application.
What are the minimum GRE and TOEFL scores and undergraduate GPA for the graduate program?: - The minimum GPA for admission is 3.00 (on Georgia Tech's 4-point scale). If the faculty should wish to admit an applicant with a GPA below 3.00, then they may request an exception. Only a limited number of exceptions are permitted. CEE is enrolling no new students with an undergraduate GPA below 2.8. - The minimum GRE scores for admission are: Verbal: 400 / Quantitative: 700 / Analytical: 4.0 - The minimum score on the original computer-based TOEFL is 213, and is 79 for the current version of the TOEFL. Paper-based test scores are still accepted, the minimum score is 550. These minimums are set by Georgia Tech, and absolutely no exceptions are permitted. - The average scores of those admitted are well above the minimum scores, and funding is generally offered only to those with the most outstanding credentials.

Degree Requirements

Can I apply directly into the PhD program, or is a Master’s degree required before doing so?: Students may apply for admission directly into the PhD program from their undergraduate studies. Many PhD students will complete a Master’s degree during the course of the doctoral program, but it is not required to do so. Students may also enter as Master’s students, and later apply for admission into the PhD program.
How long does it take to complete the degree?: Although the time to complete a degree is up to the individual, a full-time student will usually complete a Master’s degree a year and a half. PhD degrees generally take four to five years beyond the Bachelor’s degree, with most of the time involved with researching, and writing, the doctoral thesis.
What are the course requirements for the Master’s degree?: A minimum of 30 credit hours is required for the Master’s degree (24 hours, plus 6 thesis hours, if writing a Master’s thesis). Each area of concentration within the School of Civil & Environmental determines their own specific courses options.
What are the course requirements for the PhD degree?: The PhD is primarily a research degree. The specific courses to be taken are established for each student by their faculty advisory committee. Doctoral students generally take 50 to 60 credit hours of course work beyond the Bachelor’s degree. All doctoral students must also complete a Minor course of study, consisting of at least 9 credit hours in a separate field of study.
What are the differences between the MS, MSCE, and MSEnvE degree requirements?: To receive the MSCE degree, a student must have an undergraduate degree specifically in Civil Engineering. The MSENVE degree requires an undergraduate degree in engineering, but the area does not matter. The undesignated, MS, degree is for students who do not meet the undergraduate degree requirements. Otherwise, the course requirements are generally the same, except that the MSENVE also requires either a thesis or research project.

Funding

Can I have the application fee waived?: No, the application must be paid as part of the submission of the online application. The fee can not be waived, and the application is not transmitted to Georgia Tech until the application fee has been processed.
How do I apply for financial aid/assistantships?: There is not a separate application for funding. By answering "Yes" to either of the two questions in the online application ("Do you request funding?" and/or "Do you require funding?"), the faculty will consider you for funding during the application evaluation.
What is the cost to attend?: Current tuition and fee information is found at the Georgia Tech Bursar’s Office web site: http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/ Select the “Tuition and fees” option, then the term(s) you wish to view. If you then click on the heading “Graduate”, you can view totals of all graduate level tuition and fees.
What types of funding are available?: Virtually all funding from the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering is in the form of either a research or teaching assistantship (GRA or GTA). These require 20 hours per week of lab or class support, and provide a monthly stipend along with a waiver of most tuition. A few fellowships are awarded by the faculty, but are not specifically requested by applicants.
Who makes the admission and funding decisions?: The faculty in the specific area of concentration within the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering to which you apply make the admission and funding decisions to the applicants requesting their area.

GRE & TOEFL Tests

Can I use my GRE or TOEFL scores if they are more than two years old?: Georgia Tech does not have a time limit on the use of test scores. However, an official score must be reported, either online from ETS, or by the printed score report issued to students by ETS.
Do I need to take the GRE exam?: All applicants are required to submit GRE scores, except Georgia Tech undergraduate CE students applying to the BS/MS program.
If I have a degree from a university where English is the language of instruction, do I still have to take the TOEFL?: International applicants who have attended a U.S. college or university for a minimum of one academic year will not be required to provide a TOEFL score. However, a transcript must be provided in order to qualify for this exemption.
If my GRE, TOEFL, or GPA scores are below GT requirements, can I still apply and be considered for admission?: Yes. Faculty can request a limited number of exceptions to the minimum score requirements when one item is slightly below the required level. Admission is rarely offered if more than one item is below minimum.
What are Georgia Tech’s codes for the reporting of GRE and TOEFL scores?: - Georgia Tech's Institute Code for GRE registration is R5248, and CEE's department code is 1102. - Georgia Tech's Institute Code for TOEFL registration is 5248, and CEE's department code is 65.
What are the average GRE and TOEFL scores and undergraduate GPAs of those who enroll in the graduate program?: The average undergraduate GPAs of those beginning their enrollment in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) in 2006 were: - Master's students: 3.45 - Doctoral students: 3.53 - Overall CEE average: 3.48 The average GRE scores (General Test) for Verbal (V), Quantitative (Q), and Analytical (A) sections of those beginning their enrollment in the School of CEE in 2006 were: - Master's students: V: 504, Q: 747, A: 4.46 - Doctoral students: V: 531, Q: 775, A: 4.36 - Overall CEE average: V: 516, Q: 760, A: 4.41 The average TOEFL scores of international students enrolling in the School of CEE in 2006 were: - Master's students: 263 - Doctoral students: 254 - Overall CEE average: 257
What are the minimum GRE and TOEFL scores and undergraduate GPA for the graduate program?: - The minimum GPA for admission is 3.00 (on Georgia Tech's 4-point scale). If the faculty should wish to admit an applicant with a GPA below 3.00, then they may request an exception. Only a limited number of exceptions are permitted. CEE is enrolling no new students with an undergraduate GPA below 2.8. - The minimum GRE scores for admission are: Verbal: 400 / Quantitative: 700 / Analytical: 4.0 - The minimum score on the original computer-based TOEFL is 213, and is 79 for the current version of the TOEFL. Paper-based test scores are still accepted, the minimum score is 550. These minimums are set by Georgia Tech, and absolutely no exceptions are permitted. - The average scores of those admitted are well above the minimum scores, and funding is generally offered only to those with the most outstanding credentials.

Problems with Online Application

Can I send in paper copies of my recommendation?: Although the online application will require email addresses of references, recommendations may be submitted on paper if the reference prefers to do so.
Where do I go when having problems with the online application?: If you have technical difficulties while completing your application or letters of recommendation, you should send an e-mail to help@collegenet.com and include your User ID in the e-mail. The technicians at CollegeNet will be able to look at your application or letters of recommendation and help clear the problem. If you are unclear on how to answer a particular question, you should go to www.gradadmiss.gatech.edu, and click on “Contact Us” at the bottom of the page. Choose the Subject: Problem With Online Application from the list, and under Comments, describe your problem. It is helpful if you provide your user ID and password.

Recommendations

Can I send in paper copies of my recommendation?: Although the online application will require email addresses of references, recommendations may be submitted on paper if the reference prefers to do so.
Is there a specific format for recommendations?: The online recommendation has specific questions that references are asked to answer, but there is also space for references to write whatever text they may wish to provide. If a reference prefers to submit a paper recommendation, then contact the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, at gradinfo@ce.gatech.edu, to request a copy of the School’s paper recommendation form; this form is not required, as only a letter is sufficient, but both the form and a letter are preferred.
My recommender has not received the email prompt to complete the recommendation. What should I do?: If you or your reference have technical difficulty with the online letter of recommendation system, contact CollegeNet directly at the following email address: help@collegenet.com or you may call CollegeNet at 503-973-5213. It may be necessary to provide CollegeNet with your user id and/or the name of the applicant or respondent. CollegeNet is the vendor that hosts the online application process.