CVE 7901 - Civil Engineering Graduate Capstone I

1 lecture hours 0 lab hours 2 credits

Within the M.S. Civil Engineering degree program, students have the option of completing a one-semester capstone experience or a two-semester capstone experience. Students opting for the one-semester capstone experience will complete CVE 7901 and other course work. Students opting for the two-semester option will complete CVE 7901 and CVE 7902.

In CVE 7901, students work one-on-one with a capstone advisor to define a research question, perform a critical literature review, and define the methodology needed to analyze the research question. By the end of CVE 7901, the student will, at a minimum, be poised to begin the data collection/analysis phase of their research upon commencement to CVE 7902; or, in the case of students opting for the one-semester capstone experience, the student will be able to fully articulate research opportunities for others to pursue and to propose viable methodologies for doing so.

Satisfactory progress and completion of CVE 7901 is to be determined by an academic committee typically composed of the faculty advisor and two faculty members. (prereq: graduate program director consent) (coreq: CAE 7810 )

• Devise the initial phases of an independent research project, including research question definition, critical literature review, and identification of an effective research methodology to effectively analyze the stated problem
• Produce the results of these initial phases of the research project in a written capstone paper that clearly conveys all technical information related to the initial phases of the research project (i.e., research question definition, critical literature review, and identification of an effective research methodology) and that properly cites all scholarly references
• Communicate the results of the initial phase of the research project clearly to a technical audience as part of the project oral defense

• Knowledge in the student’s specialty area

• Determined by student and faculty advisor. Students are expected to meet, at a minimum, once weekly with the faculty advisor to consult on the progress of the project.