Structural Engineering Concentration for Civil Engineering, MSCE or PHD

About the Concentration

What gives an engineer confidence to project and build something as large and graceful as the Golden Gate Bridge (the creation of late Purdue professor Charles A. Ellis) knowing that it has to withstand the demands of gravity, wind, and earthquakes? Why did Gaudi think of the Sagrada Familia “upside-down” before he started building it? Who decides how much reinforcing steel goes into a reinforced concrete column supporting 100 floors in a skyscraper? And how do they make that decision? How far apart can we place the supports of steel girders in our bridges?

These are the sorts of questions that spark the interest of structural engineers. Students in the Structural Engineering area can test to failure structural models in one of the largest laboratories in the country, and ultimately leave a mark that will benefit and inspire many.

Required Courses (21-30 credits)

At the master’s level, both a non-thesis and a thesis option are available. The 30-credit requirement for a master’s degree is satisfied by completing 30 course credits (non-thesis option) or 21 course credits plus a thesis (9 credits) for the for thesis-option.