Dec 30, 2024  
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Graduate Catalog | 2023-2024 Previous Edition

Construction and Facilities Engineering, M.S.

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Construction Engineering is a program that prepares individuals to manage, coordinate, and supervise the construction process from concept development through project completion on timely and economic bases.  Such programs include instruction in commercial, residential, mechanical, highway/heavy civil, electrical, environmental, industrial, and specialty construction; facilities management; project planning; budgeting and cost control; logistics and materials management; personnel management and labor relations; site safety; construction contracting; construction processes and techniques; organization and scheduling; and applicable codes and regulations.

Facility Engineering is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology.  The body of knowledge required for facility engineering degree programs includes facility function (professional practice), human and environmental factors, planning and project management, finance, operation and maintenance, real estate, written and oral communication, information technology, quality management and assessment procedures (research and analytical methods), and integrative and problem-solving skills.

Construction and facility engineering professionals work with owners, engineers, architects, specialty and sub-contractors, government agencies, and others to deliver, operate and maintain constructed projects and facilities.  This M.S. program provides the advanced professional development and graduate education necessary for construction and facility engineering professionals to work in the increasing high tech, rapidly changing construction industry and related careers such as real estate and land development, infrastructure development, code enforcement, and insurance.  The program also has a special relationship with and focus on sustainability and energy infrastructure as part of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) and Innovative Design, Engineering, and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center initiatives at UNC Charlotte.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for the program are:

  • An earned undergraduate degree in construction management, facility management, engineering technology, engineering, architecture, or a closely related field
  • An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above
  • Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the GRE
  • Positive recommendations
  • A combined TOEFL score of 220 (computer-based) or 557 (paper-based) is required if the previous degree was from a country where English is not the common language
  • Integral and differential calculus (MATH 1120, MATH 1121, or ETGR 3171 or equivalent)
  • Statistics (STAT 1220 or STAT 3128 or equivalent)
  • Other credentials as required by the Graduate School

Documents to be Submitted

  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • Official GRE scores
  • Official TOEFL scores
  • The UNC Charlotte application for graduate admission online
  • Three professional recommendations
  • Others as required by the Graduate School

GRE Waiver

The GRE requirement will be waived for the following applicants:

  • UNC Charlotte students currently enrolled in engineering technology, construction management, engineering, or architecture
  • Applicants having earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering or engineering technology from an ABET accredited program; or a bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, building construction, or building science from an ACCE accredited program; or a bachelor’s degree in architecture from an NCARB accredited program
  • Applicants having an earned graduate degree

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Application Deadline

Applications can be received by the Graduate Admission Office any time prior to the published deadlines.  In order to be considered for assistantships and tuition grants for the following academic year, students should apply by March 1 for priority consideration.  The first round of award decisions typically occurs by March 15.  However, the Department will evaluate admission applications at any time complete applications are received by the Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

The program leading to the Master of Science degree in Construction and Facilities Engineering is a 30 credit hour program.  The program consists of a 9 credit hour common core and a capstone experience, including either a non-research-focused sequence of 21 credit hours of electives or a research-focused sequence of 15 credit hours of electives with a formal 6 credit hour graduate research thesis and completion of the 3 credit hour CMET 6160  course.  At least 15 credit hours must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.  The 30 credit hour degree program is outlined below:

Common Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Elective Courses (21 credit hours)

Select from one of the following sequences:

Master’s Thesis and Research Sequence (21 credit hours)

Required Courses (9 credit hours)
Elective Courses (12 credit hours)

Select from the following or others with director approval:

Coursework Sequence (21 credit hours)

Elective Courses (21 credit hours)

Select from the following or others with director approval:

Note:

Additional new major electives courses may be created based on industry needs and faculty research interest.  In addition, appropriate existing graduate level courses from other programs may be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Experiences

Students pursuing the M.S. in Construction and Facilities Engineering have two options to complete the 30 credit hour program:

  1. 24 credit hours of coursework plus 6 credit hours of thesis project
  2. 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive examination

Both options require the formation of a program committee.  The thesis option is reserved for students who are attending the on-campus program and are performing research under formal graduate research or teaching assistantships.  Students receiving such assistantships may be required to pursue the thesis option.  The thesis option requires students to submit a written thesis and orally defend their work before their program committee.

All non-thesis students must complete 30 credit hours of coursework and successfully complete a formal comprehensive examination.  The comprehensive examination is a written exam.  A student’s exam will be scheduled when they have at least 24 hours of course credit completed or in progress.  The student’s graduate advisor and the examining committee will coordinate the examination (to be offered once in the Fall and once in the Spring semesters), preparing the exam with the assistance of members of the student’s program committee.  The exam will measure the student’s mastery of theories and applications in the selected area of specialization within the discipline.  Students will have only two opportunities to receive passing marks on the examination.

Other Requirements

The program has both a thesis and non-thesis track.  After admission to candidacy, thesis students will complete a comprehensive oral exam while non-thesis students will complete a comprehensive written exam.  Residence will be per Graduate School rules.  There is no language requirement.  While full-time students will typically take three semesters to complete the program, part-time students are expected to take no more than seven years to complete the program, as per Graduate School rules.

Degree Total = 30 Credit Hours

Grades Requirement

All candidates must earn an overall 3.0 GPA to graduate. Accumulation of one U grade or three C grades will result in the suspension of the student’s enrollment in the program.

Advising

Each student is supervised by their graduate advisor and a program committee.

Application for Degree

Each student should submit an Application for Degree prior to graduation. If a student does not graduate in the semester identified on the Application, the student must complete a new form and repay the application fee to be considered for graduation in a subsequent semester.

Program Committee

The Program Committee shall consist of at least three graduate faculty members.  A graduate faculty from outside the Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management or from outside the student’s major area-of-study may serve as a member of the Program Committee.  The student’s CMET graduate advisor shall chair the committee.

Transfer Credit

The department, at its discretion, may accept transfer of graduate courses (6 credit hours maximum) taken at another institution or from another program prior to admission to the M.S. in Construction and Facilities Engineering program.  Only courses in which the student earned a grade of B or above may be transferred.

Assistantships

Research and teaching assistantships are available from the Department on a competitive basis to highly qualified applicants/students.

Tuition Grants

Tuition grants, including out-of-state tuition differential waivers and in-state tuition support, are available on a competitive basis for both out-of-state and in-state students, respectively.

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