College of Engineering & Information Technology

 

 Graduate Index


Ralph E. White, Dean

Overview

The College of Engineering and Information Technology offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in the following disciplines: chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Graduate study in the College of Engineering and Information Technology has two objectives: to deepen the student’s knowledge in a particular field of specialization and to expose the student to a broad range of educational experiences that build upon and complement their undergraduate education. A graduate program of study normally consists of a combination of course work and independent study or research. Small class sizes and participation in independent study or research promote the goal of close student-faculty contact throughout the program. As early as possible, each student prepares a program of study, in collaboration with a departmental graduate director or research advisor, that is tailored to meet the student’s specific needs, interests, and career objectives.

In addition to serving students through on-campus courses and research, the college offers many courses via its distance education program, APOGEE, which uses a combination of closed-circuit /talk-back TV, videotapes, and occasional Saturday classes on the Columbia campus. Through APOGEE, students may earn Master of Engineering degrees while maintaining full-time employment. Interested persons should request a special APOGEE brochure and application packet directly from the College of Engineering and Information Technology.

Fields of Specialization

For students pursuing the Master of Engineering degree, a field of specialization may be developed through selection of courses having an appropriate focus, as well as an optional program of independent study. Each student should prepare a formal program of study as early as possible. Plans for independent study must be proposed and approved before the work is initiated.

The Master of Science degree develops a field of specialization through a focused program of courses plus directed thesis research. Each student should consult with the departmental graduate director in order to identify and select a research advisor. The student, in collaboration with the research advisor, prepares a program of study and defines a thesis research project as early in the program as possible.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree emphasizes independent dissertation research in a chosen field of specialization, together with preparatory course work. Each department has its own procedures for matching doctoral students with research advisors; the departmental graduate directors should be consulted for details. As soon as students are assigned to research advisors, they should prepare a program of study and develop initial plans for their dissertation research.

The subject areas of independent study programs, thesis research, and dissertation research depend on the mutual interests of the student and the research advisor. Prospective students should consult with departmental graduate directors to obtain information on the current research interests of the faculty and the availability of research projects in various fields of specialization within each department.

The college also encourages cross-disciplinary research through four centers: the Center for Electrochemical Engineering, the Center for Industrial Research, the Center for Information Technology, and the Center for Mechanics of Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation. These centers use faculty and student expertise from all departments to pursue research and development projects in areas of interest to industry, government, and academe.

Course Descriptions (ENGR)

The following courses carry the prefix ENGR indicating that students from more than one engineering department commonly enroll in them.

  • 540–Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing. (3) (Prereq: graduate student standing or consent of instructor) Design for the environment; life cycle analysis; environmental economics and global competitiveness; legal and regulatory affairs; and management of technological change. Interdisciplinary collaboration of engineering, science, math, and business majors.
  • 701–Introduction to Engineering for Teachers I. (3) Participants will develop skills and knowledge to teach ENGR 101. For teachers and graduate students in teacher education programs. Restricted to nonengineering majors only.
  • 707–Continuum Mechanics. (3) Development of theory of strain and of stress; constitutive equations; compatibility conditions; equations of motion. An introduction to courses in mechanics of solids and of fluids.
  • 710–Dynamic Analysis. (3) (Prereq: ENGR 424) Analysis of lumped and continuous multidegree of freedom mechanical systems. Transfer function analysis. Response of systems to steady-state, shock, and random excitation. Introduction to non-linear vibrations and wave propagation.
  • 721–Elasticity. (3) (Prereq: ENGR 707) Equilibrium, strain-displacement, compatibility, and constitutive equations in terms of complex potential stress functions, applications to plane engineering boundary value problems including beams, disks, thick-walled tubes, and stress concentration problems.

 

Chemical Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering


[Bulletin Home Page] [Graduate Bulletin Contents] [Disclaimer] [The Graduate School]

This web site updated September 2001 by Thom Harman, and copyright © 2001-2002 by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina. All Rights Reserved.
URL http://www.sc.edu/bulletin/grad/GCollEngineer.html