Graduate Course Catalog

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18.501	Wetlands Ecology	Credits: 3
Types, characteristics and definitions, functions and values, regulation and management of wetlands; with due regard given to geology, soils and hydrology, and biological/ecosystem interations.
18.502	Limnology	Credits: 3
Limnology is a lecture course which covers the basic elements of limnology, which has been described as the study of the functional relationships and productivity of non - marine (i.e., freshwater and estuarine) communities as they are affected by the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment. Starting with the origins of lake basins in the landscape, the course presents key concepts for understanding how lakes work and are affected by man. These concepts (e.g., heat budgets, lake circulation patterns, nutrient budgets) are incorporated with the lake biota (e.g., phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish) and synthesized to provide perspective on ecosystem structure and function. While the emphasis is on lakes and ponds, the course also examines the stream environment and its function. Finally, the course considers man - made stresses for lake and stream systems and provides the tools to diagnosis and restore aquatic resources.
18.503	Toxicology and Risk Assessment	Credits: 3
Basic toxicological principles, spectrum of effects with emphasis on mammals, predicting fate of chemicals, assessing potential exposure, prediction of exposures. Case studies of major health hazards, issues of regulation. Strong interdisciplinary approach.
14.504	Advanced Strength Of Material	Credits: 3
Stress and strain at a point; curved beam theory, unsymmetrical bending, shear center, torsion of non-circular sections; theories of failure; selected topics in solid mechanics.
18.505	Glacial and Pleistocene Geology	Credits: 3
The course will examine how study of nature, origin and history of glacial events can allow the residual soils and landforms to be dealt within a meaningful comprehensive manner in investigations of groundwater, environmental and engineering problems.
18.506	Regional Hydrogeology	Credits: 3
This course will concentrate on the storage and steady-state flow of groundwater at a basin-wide scale. Topics will include flow nets, fluid potential, and numerical modeling of flow controlled by basin geometry and geology. Also considered is water movement in the zone of aeration, the interaction of groundwater with surface water, and techniques for solving practical problems.
18.510	Water Resource System Assessment	Credits: 3
The course is designed to build understanding of the technologies and methods of analysis of water resource management issues and of the interdependence they have to each other when real problems must be evaluated. It presumes no prior background in any water related technology. The emphasis is upon building understanding of fundamental concepts in order to apply them to the management of water resources. Management in this case implies resolution of conflicts in technology utilization of a resource because of scarcity or incompatibility of competing possible uses. Hypothetical cases are resolved to aid in converting concepts into reasonable applications to problems. Prerequisites: Students must only meet the general one year of calculus and of chemistry requirements for matriculation into the Environmental Studies M.S. program. Students whose first language is not English are urged to gain facility in understanding spoken technical English and in having easy facility with formal written English prior to enrolling. 92.131 Calculus I and 92.132 Calculus II.
14.521	Reliability Analysis	Credits: 3
A review of the elementary principles of probability and statistics followed by advanced topics including decision analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and system reliability. In-depth quantitative treatment in the modeling of engineering problems, evaluation of system reliability, and risk-benefit decision management.
18.523	Air Pollution Control	Credits: 3
Air pollutants, their sources, emission rates, ambient concentrations, effects on health, animals and vegetation including aquatic life. The Clean Air Act, National Ambient Air Quality Standards, New Source Performance Standards, Prevention of Significant Deterioration. Monitoring at emission sources and in the ambient; exceedances and enforcement. Air pollution modeling as a tool of permitting and enforcement. Emission control technologies and strategies. Local, regional and global air resources management.
18.527	Environmental Law	Credits: 3
The large body of law, which has developed since the early 1960's, is examined in considerable detail. Federal laws relating to the environment, particularly with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Acts. State and local laws and ordinances are discussed where pertinent.
14.527	Geotechnical and Environmental Site Characterization	Credits: 3
This course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of various site investigation and site assessment technologies employed in geotechnical and environmental engineering. The course begins with introduction to site investigation planning and various geophysical methods including: seismic measurements, ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic conductivity, time domain reflectometry. Drilling methods for soil, gas and ground water sampling; decontamination procedures; and long term monitoring methods are studied. Emphasis in this course is placed on conventional and state-of-the-art in situ methods for geotechnical and environmental site characterization: standard penetration test, vane shear test, dilatometer test, pressuremeter test and cone penetration tests. Modern advances in cone penetrometer technology, instrumented with various sensors (capable of monitoring a wide range of physical and environmental parameters: load, pressure, sound, electrical resistivity, temperature, PH, oxidation reduction potential, chemical contaminants) are playing a major role in site characterization. Principles underlying these methods along with the interpretation of test data will be covered in detail. The course will also look into emerging technologies in the area of site characterization. (3-0)3
14.529	Engineering with Geosynthetics	Credits: 3
Rigorous treatment in the mechanism and behavior of reinforced soil materials. Laboratory and insitu tests for determining the engineering properties of geosynthetics (geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids and geocomposites). Design principles and examples of geosynthetics for separation, soil reinforcement and stabilization, filtration and drainage.
14.530	Deep Foundations	Credits: 3
Design and analysis of deep foundations including: Cost analysis of foundations. Effects of pile installation. Static capacity and settlement analysis of single piles and a pile group under vertical and lateral loads. Interfacial friction. Pile load test standards, construction, interpretation, and simulation. Dynamic analysis of piles, the wave equation analysis, dynamic measurements during driving and their interpretation. Caisson design, construction, and integrity techniques.
14.531	Advanced Soil Mechanics	Credits: 3
Theories of soil mechanics and their application. Drained and undrained stress-strain and strength behavior of soils. Lateral earth pressures, bearing capacity, slope stability, seepage and consolidation. Lab and insitu testing.
14.532	Theoretical Soil Mechanics	Credits: 3
Development and solution of the theories important in geotechnical engineering. Analytical and approximate methods of solution including finite element and finite difference. Elasticity theory for stress distributions. Upper and lower bound theory applied to retaining structures and shallow foundations. Soil structure interaction. Seepage and consolidation theory.
14.533	Advanced Foundation Engineering	Credits: 3
Design and analysis of shallow foundations, excavations and retaining structures including: site exploration, bearing capacity and settlement theories, earth pressures, braced and unbraced excavations, rigid and flexible retaining structures, reinforced earth, dewatering methods and monitoring techniques.
14.534	Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering	Credits: 3
Effects of dynamic loading on foundations and earth structures. Single and multiple degree-of-freedom systems. Modal analysis. Basic seismology. Stress-strain and strength behavior of soils during cyclic and dynamic loading, including liquefaction. Soil amplification. Effect of earthquakes on retaining walls and dams. Dynamically loaded foundations.
14.536	Soil Engineering	Credits: 3
The study of soil as an engineering material, and its use in earth structures (e.g. dams, road embankments), flow control, and compacted fills. Stability of natural and man made slopes, soil reinforcement and stabilization.
14.537	Experimental Soil Mechanics	Credits: 3
Application of testing procedures to the evaluation of soil type and engineering properties. Testing for classification, permeability, consolidation, direct and triaxial shear and field parameters. The technical procedures are followed by data analysis, evaluation and presentation. Critical examination of standard testing procedures, evaluation of engineering parameters, error estimation and research devices.
14.538	Soil Behavior	Credits: 3
Study of the physico-chemical and mechanical behavior of soil. Topics include: soil mineralogy, formation, composition, concepts of drained and undrained stress-strain and strength behavior, frozen soils.
14.539	Ground Improvement	Credits: 3
Design and construction methods for strengthening the properties and behavior of soils. Highway embankments, soil nailing, soil grouting, landslide investigation and mitigation, dynamic compaction, stone columns.
14.540	Urban Transportation Planning	Credits: 3
Objectives and procedures of the urban transportation planning process. Characteristics and current issues of urban transportation in the United States (both supply and demand). Techniques of analysis, prediction and evaluation of transportation system alternatives. Consideration of economic, environmental, ethical, social and safety impacts in the design and analysis of transportation systems.
14.541	Traffic Engineering	Credits: 3
Engineering principles for safe and efficient movement of goods and people on streets and highways, including aspects of (a) transportation planning; (b) geometric design; (c) traffic operations and control; (d) traffic safety, and; (e) management of transportation facilities. Topics include: traffic stream characteristics; traffic engineering studies; capacity and level-of-service analysis; traffic control; simulation of traffic operations; accident studies; parking studies; environmental impacts.
14.543	Traffic Principles for Intelligent Transportation Systems	Credits: 3
The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the traffic principles that are pertinent for the planning, design and analysis of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The course is oriented toward students that come from different disciplines and who do not have previous background in traffic or transportation principles. It is designed as an introductory course that will enable the student to pursue more advanced courses in transportation systems subsequently.
14.545	Public Transit Plan and Design	Credits: 3
Planning and design of public transportation systems and their technical, operational and cost characteristics. Discussion of the impact of public transportation on urban development; the different transit modes, including regional and rapid rail transit (RRT), light rail transit (LRT), buses, and paratransit, and their relative role in urban transportation; planning, design, operation and performance of transit systems (service frequency and headways, speed, capacity, productivity, utilization); routes and networks; scheduling; terminal layout; innovative transit technologies and their feasibility.
14.546	Pavement Design	Credits: 3
Fundamentals of planning, design, construction and management of roadway and airport pavements. Introduction to the theory and the analytical techniques used in pavement engineering. Principal topics covered: pavement performance, analysis of traffic, pavement materials; evaluation of subgrade; flexible and rigid pavement structural analysis; reliabilitydesign; drainage evaluation; design of overlays; and pavement distresses.
14.547	Airport Planning and Design	Credits: 3
Planning and design of civil airports. Estimation of air travel demand. Aircraft characteristics related to design; payload, range, runway requirements. Analysis of wind data, runway orientation and obstruction free requirements. Airport configuration, aircraft operations, and capacity of airfield elements. Design of the terminal system, ground access system, and parking facilities.
14.548	Traffic Management and Control	Credits: 3
The course presents modern methods of traffic management, traffic control strategies and traffic control systems technology. Main topics covered, include: transportation systems management (TSM); traffic control systems technology; control concepts - urban and suburban streets; control and management concepts - freeways; control and management concepts - integrated systems; traveler information systems; system selection, design and implementation; systems management; ITS plans and programs. The course will also include exercises in the use and application of traffic simulation and optimization models such as: CORSIM, TRANSYT and MAXBAND/ MULTIBAND.
14.549	Traffic Flow Theory	Credits: 3
Traffic flow theory seeks to describe through precise mathematical models (a) the interactions between the vehicle and the roadway system and (b) the interactions among vehicles. Such theories forms the basis of all the models and procedures used in design and operational analysis of streets and highways. The course examines the fundamental traffic flow characteristics: time headway, flow, time-space trajectories, speed, distance headway and density. In depth treatment of related analytical techniques including traffic stream modeling at both microscopic and macroscopic levels, supply and demand analysis, shock wave analysis, queuing analysis and simulation modeling of traffic systems.
14.550	Behavior of Structures	Credits: 3
Classical and matrix methods of structural analysis applied to complex plane trusses. Elementary space truss analysis. Elementary model analysis through the use of influence lines for indeterminate structures. The digital computer and problem oriented languages as analytical tools.
14.551	Advanced Steel Design	Credits: 3
Elastic and plastic design of structural steel systems, residual stresses, local buckling, beam-columns, torsion and biaxial bending, composite steel-concrete members, load and resistance factor design.
14.552	Behavior - Concrete Structure	Credits: 3
The main objective of this course is to expand the students' knowledge and understanding of reinforced concrete behavior and design. Advanced topics at material, element, and system level are built on quick reviews of undergraduate level knowledge and are related to current design codes.
14.553	Wood Structures	Credits: 3
Review of properties of wood, lumber, glued laminated timber and structural-use panels. Review of design loads and their distribution in wood-frame buildings. Design of wood members in tension, compression and bending; and design of connections.
14.554	Prestressed Concrete Design	Credits: 3
Fundamental behavior and design of prestressed concrete structural elements and systems. Basic concepts of prestressing, commonly used methods and devices, and general design philosophy. Service-load and ultimate-strength design of prestressed concrete elements for flexure, shear and torsion effects, including serviceability constraints for control of deflection and cracking.
14.555	Advanced Structural Design	Credits: 3
The course will cover the design of composite beams, composite columns, slender columns, retaining walls, two way slabs, and strap footing according to the ACI (ACI 318-02) and the AISC (Manual of Steel Construction, LRFD, 3rd edition) design codes.
14.556	Finite Element Analysis	Credits: 3
Finite element theory and formulation, software applications, static and dynamic finite element analysis of structures and components.
14.557	Structural Dynamics	Credits: 3
Analysis of typical structures subjected to dynamic force or ground excitation using direct integration of equations of motion, modal analysis and approximate methods.
14.558	Bridge Design	Credits: 3
Analysis and design of modern bridges, using computer software for the 3-D modeling of sample bridges under dead and live loading and seismic excitation. AASHTO specifications are used for the design of superstructures and substructures (abutments, piers, and bearings) under group load combinations.
14.559	Design of Masonry Structures	Credits: 3
Fundamental characteristics of masonry construction. The nomenclature, properties, and material specifications associated with basic components of masonry. The behavior of masonry assemblages subjected to stresses and deformations. Design of un-reinforced and reinforced masonry structures in accordance with current codes.
14.561	Physical Chemical Treatment Processes	Credits: 3
Course provides a theoretical understanding of various chemical and physical unit operations, with direct application of these operations to the design and operation of water and wastewater treatment processes. Topics include colloid destabilization, flocculation, softening, precipitation, neutralization, aeration and gas transfer, packed & tray towers, oxidation, disinfection, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, settlings, activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange, and filtration.
14.562	Physical and Chemical Hydrology Geology	Credits: 3
Well hydraulics for the analysis of groundwater movement. A review of the processes of diffusion, dispersion, sorption, and retardation as related to the fate and transport of organic contaminants in groundwater systems. Factors influencing multi-dimensional contaminant plume formation and migration are addressed. It is the goal of this course to provide environmental scientists and engineers with the technical skills required to understand groundwater hydrology and contaminant transport within aquifers. A term paper and professional presentation in class regarding a relevant topic is required.
14.564	Hydrology & Hydraulics	Credits: 3
This course utilizes engineering principles to quantitatively describe the movement of water in natural and manmade environmental systems. Topics include: hydrologic cycle, steam flow and hydrographs, flood routing, watershed modeling, subsurface hydrology, and probability concepts in hydrology, hydraulic structures, flow in closed conduits, pumps, open channel flow, elements of storm and sanitary sewer design will be addressed.
14.567	Environmental Aquatic Chemistry	Credits: 3
This course provides environmental understanding of the principles of aquatic chemistry and equilibria as they apply to environmental systems including natural waters, wasewater and treated waters.
14.568	Environmental Fate and Transport	Credits: 3
The fate of contaminants in the environment is controlled by transport processes within a single medium and between media. The similarities in contaminant dispersion within air, surface water and groundwater will be emphasized. Interphase transport processes such as volatilization and adsorption will then be considered from an equilibrium perspective followed by the kinetics of mass transfer across environmental interfaces. A profesional presentation of a selct paper or group of paper concerning a course topic is required.
14.570	Wastewater Treatment and Storm Water Management Systems	Credits: 3
The era of massive subsidies for construction of sanitary sewers and centralized, publically operated treatment works (POTWs) has passed. Non - point pollution from sources such as onsite disposal systems has become a major focus of concern in our efforts to protect and improve ground and surface water quality. Much of the new construction in areas not already served by centralized collection and treatment must use the alternative technologies. This course is design oriented. The variously available technologies are studied in depth. Students evaluate various technologies as they may be applied to a complex problem for which information is available, and develop an optimum problem solution.
18.571	Air Pollution Phenomenon	Credits: 3
Air pollutants: their sources, emission rates, ambient concentrations and trends. National and international standards for emissions and ambient concentrations. Air pollution meteorology: atmospheric structure and dynamics. Air pollutant dispersion and transport. Photo-oxidant pollutants: precursors and products. Particular matter: primary and secondary particles, their dispersion, transport and deposition on a local and regional scale, including regional haze (visibility impairment). Acid deposition: precursors and products, their transport, dispersion, dry and wet deposition. Global air pollution, e.g. stratospheric ozone depletion and greenhouse effect.
18.572	Energy and Environment	Credits: 3
Laws that govern the conversion of energy from one form to another. Flow of energy in our present industrial society from extraction through transport and conversion to end use. Electricity: generation from fossil fuel, nuclear, hydro, solar and other sources; its distribution and end use. Air, water and soil pollution from all sources of energy on a local, regional and global scale. Amelioration of environmental effects by emission control, fuel switching, renewable energy and conservation.
14.572	Marine and Coastal Processes	Credits: 3
This course focuses on the coastal dynamics of currents, tides, waves, wave morphology and their effects on beaches, estuaries, mixing and sediment transport/accretion processes. Generalized global aspects of atmospheric and hydrospheric interactions with ocean currents are also presented.
14.573	Solid Waste Engineering	Credits: 3
Characterization, handling and disposal of municipal, industrial and hazardous wastes. Technologies such as landfills, recycling, incineration and composting are examined. A term paper and professional presentation in class regarding a relevant topic is required.
14.576	GIS Applications in Civil and Environmental	Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the basic concepts and skills necessary to engage applied Geographic Information Systems within the field of Civil Engineering. Selected topics include: GIS analysis procedures, integration of survey control for data acquisition and rectification, hardware software selection criteria, and error propagation analyses.
14.577	Biosystems in Environmental Engineering	Credits: 3
Course covers the fundamental aspects of microbiology as they pertain to environmental engineering. The course serves as a basis for the understanding of biological water/wastewater treatment processes. Topics include: introduction to fundamental microbiology (i.e. macromolecules, genetics, and expression), metabolism (anabolism/catabolism, fermentation/respiration, electron acceptors, electron donors, aerobes, anaerobes, heterotrophs, and chemolithotrophs), biodegradation (kinetics of biological growth, pollutant availability), and energetics of growth (thermodynamics), microbial ecology, pathogen, toxicology, and biosensors.
14.578	Biological Wastewater Treatment	Credits: 3
Course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of biological wastewater treatment operations. Topics include kinetics of biological growth and substrate utilization, materials balance in chemostats and plug flow reactors, activated sludge process analysis and design, sedimentation and thickening, nitrification and denitrification, phosphorus removal, fixed-film processes analysis and design, anaerobic processes analysis and design, aerated lagoons and stabilization ponds, and natural treatment systems.
18.578	Advanced Synoptic Meteorology	Credits: 3
18.579	Atmospheric Structure and Dynamics	Credits: 3
14.580	Construction Law	Credits: 3
An introduction to contract, statutory and tort law governing the relationships between the multitude of parties involved in the construction process. The purpose of this course is to give students an understanding of how the law interacts with the construction industry. Course introduces students to the obligations, rights and risks of architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, sureties and insurers throughout the construction process.
18.581	Understanding Massachusetts Contingency Plan	Credits: 3
The Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) is a body of regulations designed to streamline and accelerate the assessment and cleanup of releases of oil and hazardous materials to the environment. This course serves as an introduction to the MCP and will explore the intent and use of key aspects of this working document. Though primarily a regulatory course, some topics to be covered are technical by nature. Prerequisites: None. Though not required, some familiarity with relevant environmental science and/or engineering principles is desirable.
14.581	Engineering Systems Analysis	Credits: 3
The course presents advanced methods of operations research, management science and economic analysis that are used in the design, planning and management of engineering systems. Main topics covered, include: the systems analysis methodology, optimization concepts, mathematical programming techniques, Network analysis and design, project planning and scheduling, decision analysis, queuing systems, simulation methods, economic evaluation. The examples and problems presented in the course illustrate how the analysis methods are used in a variety of systems applications, such as: civil engineering, environmental systems, transportation systems, construction management, water resources, urban development, etc.
14.583	Stochastic Concepts	Credits: 3
This course provides the tools for Developing probabilistic models for the analysis of civil engineering systems with emphasis in traffic and transportation engineering. Continuous and discrete random variables. Expectation and moment generating functions Stochastic processes, Markov chains, limiting probabilities. Poisson process and the exponential distribution. Queueing theory. Simulation of random variables.
14.584	Capstone Practicum	Credits: 3
This course will include; directed study regarding the technical and also social, political and financial aspects of a project; and on-site project review and assessment, and culminate with preparation of a professional project report and presentations.
14.585	Transportation Safety	Credits: 3
Transportation Safety goes beyond the accepted standards for highway design. Providing a safe and efficient transportation system for all users is the primary objective of federal, state, and local transportation agencies throughout the nation. This class addresses fundamentals of highway design and operation, human factors, accident investigation, vehicle characteristics and highway safety analysis.
14.595	Hazardous Waste Site Remediation	Credits: 3
This course focuses on the principles of hazardous waste site remediation (with an emphasis on organic contaminants) using physical, chemical or biological remediation technologies. Both established and emerging remediation technologies including: bioremediation, intrinsic remediation, soil vapor extraction (SVE), in situ air sparging (IAS), vacuum- enhanced recovery (VER), application of surfactants for enhanced in situ soil washing, hydraulic and pneumatic fracturing, electrokinetics, in situ reactive walls, phytoremediation, and in situ oxidation, will be addressed. A term paper and professional presentation in class regarding a relevant topic is required.
14.596	Grad Industrial Exposure	Credits: 0
14.651	Special Topics in Civil Engineering	Credits: 3
Course content and credits to be arranged with instructor who agrees to direct the student.
14.691	Special Topics: Civil Engineering	Credits: 3
14.693	Civil Engineering Individual Project	Credits: 3
18.693	Master's Project in Environment	Credits: 3
14.705	Supervised Teaching in Civil Engineering	Credits: 0
14.733	Masters Project in Civil Engineering	Credits: 3
18.733	Graduate Project - Environmental Studies	Credits: 3
18.736	Graduate Project - Environmental Studies	Credits: 6
14.736	Masters Project in Civil Engineering	Credits: 6
18.739	Graduate Project - Environmental Studies	Credits: 9
14.741	Master's Thesis-Civil Enginnering	Credits: 1
14.742	Master's Thesis - Civil Engineering	Credits: 3
14.743	Master's Thesis - Civil Engineering	Credits: 3
18.743	Master'sThesis - Environmental Studies	Credits: 3
14.744	Master's Thesis - Civil Engineering	Credits: 4
14.746	Master's Thesis - Civil Engineering	Credits: 6
18.746	Master'sThesis - Environmental Studies	Credits: 6
18.749	Master's Thesis - Environmental Studies	Credits: 9
14.749	Master's Thesis - Civil Engineering	Credits: 9
14.753	Doctoral Dissertation	Credits: 3
14.756	Doctoral Dissertation/Civil Engineering	Credits: 6
14.757	Doctoral Dissertation	Credits: 7
14.759	Doctoral Dissertation	Credits: 9
14.763	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 3
18.763	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 3
18.766	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 6
14.766	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 6
14.769	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 9
18.769	Continued Graduate Research	Credits: 9