Master of Engineering in Structural Design

• Structural engineering deals with analytical and experimental studies of the behavior of structures and components under both service loads and extreme loads and develops procedures for design based on desired performance.
• Our study program emphasizes
  • elastic and inelastic behavior of component materials including steel, reinforced concrete, timber, masonry and composites.
  • earthquake resistant systems and blast resistant systems.
  • static and dynamic characteristics of loadings and implications for design.
  • modern computational software to evaluate the functional demands on the designed structures
  • use of experimental facilities in structural engineering.
• A Master of Engineering
  • reponds to the needs of structural design practice for having engineers capable of dealing with increases in complexity of modern structures and recent developments for the design, analysis and testing of structures and components.
  • prepares the students for a career in a structural design office.
  • USC is located in one of the more seismically active regions in the world. Students have the opportunity of studying the behavior of actual structures during earthquakes and methods for repairing structures that have been damaged during strong earthquakes.
  • Current research work in Structural Engineering includes
    • implementation of new materials
    • linear and nonlinear dynamic response analyses
    • new and improved methods of dynamic control of structures, both active and passive
    • large scale and full scale experimental studies on structural components
    • experimental vibration studies of reduced scale structural models and components on shake tables.
  
  Prerequisites
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering or Architectural Engineering.
  
  Requirements
  

  • A minimum of 30 units of course work (may include up to 6 units of directed research or Master’s Thesis)
  • 21 units of required courses
    • Structural Analysis (2 courses, 6 units)
      • CE 459 - Introduction to Structural Dynamics (3)
      • CE 540 - Limit Analysis of Structures (3)
      • CE 529a - Finite Element Analysis (3)
    • Structural Design (4 courses, 12 units)
      • CE 528 - Seismic Analysis and Design of Reinforced Concrete Bridges (3)
      • CE 536 - Design for Dynamic Loads (3)
      • CE 537 - Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (3)
      • CE 538 - Prestressed Concrete Design (3)
      • CE 539 - Advanced Steel Design (3)
    • Design Project ( 1 course, 3 units)
      • CE 549 - Building Design Project (3)
      • CE 590 - Directed Research (3)
      • CE 594 - Masters Thesis (3-6)
  • 9 units of elective courses selected after consultation with an academic advisor (3 courses, 9 units)
    
    • CE 457 - Reinforced Concrete Design (3)
    • CE 458 - Theory of Structures II (3)
    • CE 478 - Timber and Masonry Design (3)
    • CE 480 - Structural Systems Design (3)
    • CE 482 - Foundation Design (3)
    • CE 488 - Computer Applications (3)
    • CE 501 - Function of the Constructor (3)
    • CE 533 - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (3)
    • CE 525b - Engineering Analysis (3)