Holmes 383
2540 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7550
Fax: (808) 956-5014
Web: cee.hawaii.edu

Faculty

*Graduate Faculty

*P. Ooi, PhD (Chair)—geotechnical engineering
*C. Cho, PhD (Graduate Chair)—structural engineering
*M.S. Alam, PhD—structural engineering
*A. R. Archilla, PhD—transportation and infrastructure systems engineering
*S. Bateni, PhD—hydraulics
*R. Chen, PhD—transportation and smart cities
*O. P. Francis, PhD—coastal engineering and sustainable infrastructure; design, observations, numerical methods
*A. S. Kim, PhD—environmental engineering and physics, parallel computing
*J. Kim—environmental chemistry, environmental engineering
*J. H. Lee, PhD—groundwater monitoring, computational hydrology, uncertainty quantification, optimal control
*D. Moon, PhD—structural engineering
*H. Park, PhD—coastal and hydraulic engineering
*A. Rafiei, PhD—geotechnical engineering
*L. Shen, PhD—construction materials
*A. Singh, PhD—construction and cost engineering, risk analysis and decision making, legal affairs, project management, quality control
*O. Vitali, PhD—geotechnical engineering
*Z. Wang, PhD—environmental engineering
*T. Yan, PhD—environmental engineering, environmental microbiology
*G. Zhang, PhD—transportation engineering

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

S. Khanal, PhD—bioenergy and biobased products; waste to energy heat and mass transport in chemically reacting ecosystems, energy conversion, bioremediation
M. Kirs, PhD—microbial water quality and related public health issues
N. Lautze Maresca, PhD—geothermal/sustainable energy physical volcanology
W-W. W. Su, PhD—biochemical engineering, plant cell culture, molecular biotechnology
S. Q. Turn, PhD—thermo chemical energy conversion, fuels processing, energy systems

Degrees Offered: BS in civil engineering, BS in construction engineering, MS in civil engineering, PhD in civil engineering

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering (CECE) is to 1) educate civil and construction engineers that meet the requirements of the profession, are committed to life-long learning, and have the potential to be the future leaders of the profession; 2) create, develop, and disseminate new knowledge through high quality, innovative research; 3) provide service to various agencies of the state and counties of Hawai‘i and the engineering community; and 4) provide leadership to the civil engineering profession in the Asia/Pacific Region.

The Academic Program

Civil engineering is concerned with the activities of people and the environment. The civil and construction engineer conceives, plans, designs, constructs, operates, and maintains the physical works necessary for the environmental needs of people. Students who enter the program today can look forward to one of the most rewarding careers of the modern era, providing personal fulfillment, financial reward, and enduring service to humankind. The curriculum is uniquely designed to meet the demands of business, industry, and government.

The construction engineer has knowledge of the fundamentals of civil engineering and specialized expertise in the processes of material and supply flows, scheduling, crew management, site compliance and safety, construction law, etc. Construction engineers work with architects and civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers to build projects and manage on-site construction activities. Construction engineers deliver building and infrastructure projects.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

The five program educational objectives describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation:

  1. Graduates will practice civil engineering in the private and public sectors in Hawai‘i, the Asia/Pacific region, and elsewhere.
  2. Graduates will have obtained technical and non-technical knowledge/skills that contribute to personal and employer success and benefit the communities they serve.
  3. Graduates will recognize conflicts and adhere to professional ethical standards.
  4. Graduates will apply sustainability principles in their construction, environmental, geotechnical, hydraulics/hydrology, structural, and transportation engineering projects and designs.
  5. Graduates will continue their professional development and aim for advanced degrees and professional licensure.

The BSCE degree requires completion of at least 124 credit hours of course work, the equivalent of four years of full-time work. These requirements include at least 58 credit hours of civil and environmental engineering courses from the following areas: applied mechanics, structural analysis and design, hydraulics, transportation, construction, soil mechanics, hydrology, water resources, and environmental engineering. There are additional required courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as courses required by UH Mānoa in humanities and social sciences. The curriculum provides a broad-based background of fundamentals with coverage of the humanities and social sciences, basic sciences, mathematics, and the engineering design method. The undergraduate experience culminates in a senior capstone course in which students apply the knowledge they have gained throughout their undergraduate course work toward the planning and design of a comprehensive construction project. Course enrollment for all CECE majors is subject to the approval of an advisor. The requirements are described below and reflected on the check sheet and the list of course prerequisites.

All electives are subject to the approval of the academic advisor and the department conferring the degree.

The student learning outcomes (SLOs), also known as student outcomes, describe a skill set that students are expected to have at the time of graduation. The SLOs are:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

College Requirements

Students must complete the College Requirement courses for engineering (see “Undergraduate Programs” in this section).

Departmental Requirements

Students must complete specific civil (CEE) and non-CEE courses as listed on the CEE Curriculum Check Sheet corresponding to the year in which they are admitted to the program; see cee.hawaii.edu/undergraduate-study-2-2/. The check sheet also lists additional details about the program of courses to be followed. Most courses have prerequisites that have to be completed before enrollment. These are listed in the catalog of courses. Important requirements include the following:

  • C grade or better is required for PHYS 170.
  • C grade or better within two attempts is required for CEE 270.
  • C grade or better is required for CEE 370.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all registered credit hours.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all upper division courses (numbered 300-499) in mathematics, science, and engineering.
  • Must take one Technical Elective or Technical Elective in Sustainability (TES) course from the course options listed on the check sheet.

Specialty Tracks

The department offers two specialty senior year tracks, one in structural engineering and another in sustainability and innovation. Students who wish to pursue a specialty track should refer to the curriculum checksheet for alternative senior year course work and inform their academic advisor that they wish to switch to a specialty track.

Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering

The five program educational objectives describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation:

  1. Graduates will practice construction engineering in the private and public sectors in Hawaii, the Asia/Pacific region, and elsewhere.
  2. Graduates will have obtained technical and non-technical knowledge/skills that contribute to personal and employer success, and benefit the communities they serve.
  3. Graduates will recognize conflicts and adhere to professional ethical standards.
  4. Graduates will apply sustainability principles in their construction engineering projects and designs.
  5. Graduates will continue their professional development, and aim for professional licensure and advanced degrees.

The BSCNST degree requires completion of 129 credit hours of course work, the equivalent of four years of full-time work. These requirements include 66 credit hours of civil and construction engineering courses from the following areas: applied mechanics, structural analysis, hydraulics, transportation, soil mechanics and various aspects of construction (project management, methods, safety, law, etc.). The undergraduate experience culminates in a senior capstone course in which students apply the knowledge they have gained throughout their undergraduate course work toward the planning and design of a comprehensive construction project.

There are three basic components to the undergraduate program:

  1. The university-wide General Education Core and Graduation requirements, which are usually substantially completed during the first two years of the university experience.
  2. The College of Engineering requirements; and,
  3. The CECE department requirements. These are discussed below.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all registered credit hours and a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all upper division courses (numbered 300-499) in mathematics, science, and engineering.

The student learning outcomes (SLOs), also known as student outcomes, describe a skill set that students are expected to have at the time of graduation. The SLOs are:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Advising is an important element of the undergraduate program. All students are assigned an advisor prior to their first semester. Students must receive approval of their program of courses prior to registration each semester and will not be able to register without it. Such advising takes place during the prior semester (for continuing students); the advising period will be listed on this website and communicated to students prior to advising week.

Departmental Requirements

Students must complete specific civil and construction engineering (CEE) and non-CEE courses as listed on the CNST Curriculum Check Sheet corresponding to the year in which they are admitted to the program; see cee.hawaii. edu/undergraduate-study-2-2/. The check sheet also lists additional details about the program of courses to be followed. Most courses have prerequisites that have to be completed before enrollment. These are listed in the Catalog of courses. Important requirements include the following

  • C grade or better is required for PHYS 170.
  • C grade or better within two attempts is required for CEE 270.
  • C grade or better is required for CEE 370.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all registered credit hours.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for all upper division courses (numbered 300-499) in mathematics, science and engineering.
  • Must take one Technical Elective or Technical Elective in Sustainability (TES) course from the course options listed on the check sheet.

Graduate Study

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

The department offers a graduate program leading to the MS degree in civil engineering with several areas of concentration under Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis). Close cooperation is maintained with other departments and the Water Resources Research Center. Details and requirements of each plan may be obtained from the department office or at www.cee.hawaii.edu.

Applicants must present a BS in civil engineering or the equivalent as determined by the application review committee (and/or may be required to fulfill deficiencies) and must submit a Statement of Objectives form. If so required by Graduate Division, applicants must supply the TOEFL or other approved English proficiency test score.

Requirements

Both Plan A and Plan B require a minimum of 30 credit hours, exclusive of seminars. Plan A includes 9 credit hours of thesis research and a minimum of 12 credit hours in graduate civil and environmental engineering (CEE) courses, exclusive of thesis, seminar, and directed reading. Plan B includes a minimum of 18 credit hours of graduate civil and environmental engineering courses, exclusive of seminar and directed reading, as well as a technical report. Both plans require a minimum of 1 credit of seminar.

Combined Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees

BAM is a fast track program designed to allow qualified students to receive both BS and MS degrees in 5 years by allowing the double-counting of 6 credits of course work in both degrees. CEE juniors who have achieved a grade of B or better in the gateway course appropriate for their specialty (CEE 320, 330, 355, 361, 375, or 381); and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply to the Fast-Track BAM program.

Double counted courses must be taken in the senior year after admission into the program: three (3) credits for CEE 490, and three (3) credits for one CEE 600+ course that depends on the student’s area of emphasis.

Students apply to the BAM program after their fifth semester (Junior year). Upon approval of the graduate chair, students then submit the regular online MS application documents. Early admission to the MS program occurs in the senior year when the two double counted courses are taken. BAM students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during MS studies. Students in the BAM program can choose either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Non-Thesis) options to fulfill the MSCE program requirements to receive the MSCE degree in the 5th year.

PhD in Civil Engineering

Applicants to the PhD program must have fulfilled the requirements for the MS in civil engineering at UH Mānoa or its equivalent as determined by the application review committee. Those who have earned the MS at universities other than UH Mānoa may elect to furnish the results of the GRE General Test or submit evidence of passing either the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) or PE (Professional Engineer) exam. All applicants must furnish official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate studies and three letters of reference clearly indicating that they are capable of completing a rigorous PhD program. Applicants must also supply a letter explaining in detail their career goals, specific area of concentration, work experience, and reasons for applying to the program. If so required by Graduate Division, applicants must supply the TOEFL or other approved English proficiency test score.

Requirements

Candidates for a PhD are required to pass a qualifying examination consisting of oral and written components. The examination will be confined to basic topics in civil engineering. One purpose of the qualifying examination is to identify possible deficiencies in the student’s background with a view toward remedial measures. In addition, the examination serves as a means of assessing the student’s potential for doctoral studies.

To earn a PhD in civil engineering, a student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 50 credit hours in course work beyond the BS and a minimum of 1 credit hour in civil and environmental engineering graduate seminar as a PhD student. Students must also complete and successfully defend a satisfactory doctoral dissertation. Based on a written recommendation of the student’s dissertation committee and with the approval of the chair of graduate studies in civil engineering, students entering the PhD program may be granted an equivalence of up to 30 credit hours earned as part of the student’s master’s program. The 30 credit hour equivalents may include up to 9 credit hours for the previous MS thesis work but exclude graduate seminar credit hours taken as part of the MS program.

The courses that a student undertakes to fulfill the PhD credit hour requirements must be approved by the student’s dissertation committee. At least 27 credit hours must be from graduate-level civil engineering courses. The remaining courses may include graduate and 400-level courses offered by the civil, environmental and construction engineering department or other appropriate departments of UH Mānoa.

Comprehensive Examination

Every PhD student must pass a comprehensive examination. The purpose of this examination is to ascertain the student’s advanced knowledge in the chosen specialty. Examinations are given when, in the judgment of the dissertation committee, the student has had sufficient preparation, but not sooner than six calendar months after the student has passed the qualifying examination.

Students pass the examination if no more than one committee member opposes such an action. Students who fail may repeat the test once at least six months later. Students who fail the examination a second time are dismissed from the program.

Dissertation Defense

PhD candidates are required to take a final oral examination in defense of their dissertation. The examination is conducted by the candidate’s dissertation committee. Students pass upon the favorable recommendation of the majority of the committee.