CEE grad schools in Tennessee 1

[francesca]

Can anyone rank the Civil & Environmental Engineering grad schools in Tennessee? I'm tied to TN until my husband graduates with his bachelors degree, so an awesome grad school out of state is no use to me.

I'm considering a PhD track, but haven't yet got my masters' and the fields I'm considering are traffic engineering (as in modeling/policy, not highway design) or hydraulics. I have 3.5 yrs work experience in the former, and 1.5 yrs in the latter.

I've applied to Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville and Tennessee Tech. I haven't applied to Memphis State or any of the smaller colleges. Should I consider these, and what can anyone recommend should I get offers from all three that I've applied to?

My husband is currently at Austin Peay State Uni and is looking at UTK as a first choice or TTU/MTSU to complete his undergrad in Computer Science. This will be a factor, but it's possible that we could live midway between two colleges and have a hell of a commute!

 

[CRAIGSTANLEY]

UT Knoxville has a online masters program that luckily my work pays for

I think the classes run $900/class .... 11 classes(33 hours) needed for graduation...so about 10 grand total...

it is a total distance program...basically the professor teaches a live class on the UT campus and has a microphone...there are visible notes in a powerpoint presentation

you can attend the lecture live or download and watch it later

all homework is sent through email..tests are sent and returned through mail

you do need a proctor for the examinations...I use someone at work..I heard that a local librarian will work as a proctor..but not sure about that

I think it is a awesome program...learn from home and get a real degree...there is no indication on your transcript that you were distant ed....no difference than attending real time, since there is an actual class going on on the UT campus...you are just listening from your office

good luck

 

[francesca]

Thanks. Did you pick UT because they have such a good online program, or because you thought it was the best online program, or even the best program?

I can't afford to go unless I get an assistanceship. With my husband midway through his undergrad right now, we don't have $10,000 floating around for me to go to grad school! It seems that the distance learning masters at UT is much cheaper than the full-time one, though. I saw somewhere $10,000 per semester!

 

[CRAIGSTANLEY]

I think the UT Knoxville grad program is just as good program as any in Tennessee...probably as good as any program in the United States...in my opinion...if an engineering school is ABET accredited..it is just as good as any

i guess you are talking about Vanderbilt when you mentioned 10000/semester...I know a few people that went through the Vandy CE grad program...they didn't seem too excited about it...just a regular program...Vanderbilt does not have the research that UTK and Tennessee Tech has....it is a small program

I don't think the name "Vanderbilt" on your diploma helps much in the Civil Engineering world..maybe in the legal or medical field...but not CE..However, Vanderbilt does have a beautiful campus(landscaping,buildings)...but it is not worth 10000/semester to me...

I guess if you are considering a PhD and getting a academic/research job, the name "Vanderbilt" may have some weight...maybe you need to talk to someone more familiar with PhD jobs than me....I'm just one of those CE's that like's to build things
I am just doing to masters to learn a little bit..and help me study for the PE

PE+(ABET bachelors degree)+lot of experience + (good communication skills) is really all an engineer needs to work in most jobs...masters is somewhat helpful, but not worth as much as a PE liscense ...PhD..not sure about PhD....i would be afraid to have one...I don't want to be classified as "overqualified"

but I always admired the professors that have Dr. before their names.


anyways..thats my 2 cents
hope it helps
good luck

 

[francesca]

Thanks for your help. A career in academia is appealing to me. I am hoping to take the PE exam in the fall, and with ABET frowning upon my South African undergraduate degree, inexplicably because I did too much engineering and no humanities, not even six years of international experience is getting me far in the private sector. I'm hoping my GRE scores can get me a fellowship/assistanceship for grad school.

I really appreciate your help, and your advice regarding Vanderbilt is valuable. While it may have clout in the wide world, if I'm ultimately looking for a tenure track somewhere, the quality of my PhD program will be important.

 

[sam74]

Is your online grad program an engineering program? I took a quick look at UTK's website and didn't find any mention of this at my first glance.

 

[francesca]

It's an engineering degree.

http://www.engr.utk.edu/civil/gradprogram/distance-ed.php

 

[alanpaustin]

I attended the UT Knoxville Civil/Environmental graduate school and found it to be an outstanding choice. They were probably the happiest 1.5 years of my life. I interviewed at several other grad schools, and generally found a lack of available graduate funding / assistanships.

I got into UTK with a full research assistantship, grad school housing...the works. This was in '95 and there was a lot of funding, particulary from all of the research out at Oak Ridge, and the air quality issues in the Smokey Mountains. The education was excellent and plenty challenging.

The placement office is great for employment. Upon graduation, I gained immediate employment with CH2M HILL, and have been gainfully employed ever since. In fact, I just started my own company.

I disagree with the "over-qualification" issue cited above. My belief nowadays is that an MS is pretty much the entry level qualification for a good firm. It certainly has provided a great background for my profession. And I will add, that without my MS studies, I would have never passed the environmental P.E.

Lastly, UTK is a beautiful place year round, but mostly in the autumn.

Best of Luck.

 

[Rockjoint]

I agree with alanpaustin. Everyone lately in the media has been suggesting that the Masters degree is indeed the entry-level degree for many disciplines.