Civil Engineering, M.A.Sc.

Master’s Degree

A candidate for the Master’s degree may proceed by either a thesis (M.A.Sc.) or project (M.Eng.) program. In each case the candidate is required to spend at least one calendar year in full-time graduate study, or the equivalent in part-time graduate study at McMaster University.

Requirements

Candidates will be required to complete satisfactorily the equivalent of at least two full courses, of which at least one must be from within the Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University. Additional course work may be prescribed if deemed necessary by the candidate’s research supervisor. A dissertation must be presented which will embody the results of an original investigation; the dissertation is to be defended in an oral examination. This program is intended mainly for full-time candidates but may be taken on a part-time basis. Regulations for Master’s examinations are available from the Department.
 

In addition to the above course requirements, all full-time Master’s candidates must attend and participate in the Department of Civil Engineering Graduate Student Seminar Day each year, for the first 6 terms (24 months) of study.

An Accelerated Option is also available to students currently enrolled at McMaster as undergraduate students in the Civil Engineering Department whereby the M.A.Sc. degree may be completed in 16-20 months of full-time study. In exceptional circumstances, students from other Engineering departments in McMaster may apply for entry into the accelerated option by contacting the Civil Engineering Associate Chair (Graduate). Application for entry into the Accelerated Option, through the Associate Chair (Graduate), occurs in the penultimate year of undergraduate studies. Applicants must have maintained a minimum cumulative average of 9.5 for their undergraduate coursework with a sessional average of 10 at the time they are applying for the option. The Accelerated Option requires students to complete at least one term of their research project (typically the summer of their penultimate year of undergraduate studies) with a supervisor from the department prior to the completion of their undergraduate degree. For students enrolled in the Accelerated Option, research conducted in CIVENG 4Z04 can count towards the accelerated option and therefore towards partial fulfillment of the graduate M.A.Sc. thesis work. A one-term 600-level course is required under the accelerated option in the final undergraduate year for graduate credit provided it is listed within the department. Entry into the M.A.Sc. program under the Accelerated Option must occur less than one year after completing one’s undergraduate degree and must meet the same requirements for admission as other candidates.