A structural engineering master\u27s program -- The trials and tribulations

This paper is specifically intended for the advertised session in the CE Division on “current issues affecting graduate CE programs such as double dipping, accreditation of masters programs, combined MS/BS degree, research versus practice oriented masters degrees, etc.” California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is a predominately undergraduate university. Cal Poly has recently expanded master’s level graduate programs to support advanced education and faculty-student professional development opportunities. The Architectural Engineering Department in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) started a structural engineering master’s degree program six years ago and has graduated five separate classes. Since its inception, this master’s program has dealt with a variety of issues to include accreditation, blending the program with the undergraduate degree, offering a non-project option, managing the program through continuing education, collaborating with other departments, partnering with industry, and accommodating students who did not graduate from the Cal Poly ARCE undergraduate program. This paper offers a history of this masters program, describes these various issues, presents the current state of the program and makes recommendations for its future