In lieu of a thesis, M.Eng. in structural engineering students complete a group design project. To fulfill this requirement, groups of three to five students team up to design a major structure over the course of the 10-month program. Each year students work on a new project, selected by the professor of practice with guidance from the program’s industry advisory council.
Our professional partners provide the students with actual architectural drawings of the structure, as well as other reports or data relevant to the project. Equipped with these real-world tools, students perform a comprehensive structural code review, investigate various structural systems, and select gravity and lateral force-resisting systems to complete the structural design.
Groups meet with the professor of practice on a regular basis to monitor progress and address questions. At various intervals students submit progress reports, including drawings, calculations and narratives, for her review. At the end of both the fall and spring semesters,the student groups formally present their respective designs to the faculty, industry advisory council, and invited guests.
