Structural Engineering: Hazard Analysis—Graduate Certificate

Online Education for Working Professionals

Determine the risk of environmental load effects applied to structures.

Learn to address the likelihood of structural failure.

Perform risk analysis associated with environmental loads to structures under static and dynamic loadings. Master the basics of performance-based design. Study large deformation effects, post-yield behavior, non-standard geometries, and unusual geometries. Analyze loads from wind, snow, and earthquake ground motion.

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How to Apply

3 courses in 3 semesters.

Department	Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Admissions requirement	Civil engineering, structural engineering, or related degree.
Contact	Angela Keranen

Length	3 courses in 2-3 semesters
Effort	3 hours per credit per week
Each course	3 credits
Total credits	9
Course type	Online or on-campus
Modality	Watch class recordings on demand
Cost	Based on credits and course type
Already enrolled?	Speak with your advisor

Curriculum

Progress quickly with a compact curriculum. Work with the program advisor to select courses that fit your interests and pre-requisite skills.

Prerequisites

Check your preparation. Here are some of the pre-requisite courses for this certificate, depending on elective chosen. CEE 3710 or MA 3710 or equivalent is required. Review the course descriptions for details.

CEE 3710 - Uncertainty Analysis in Engineering

Introduction to probability, statistics, and uncertainty analysis with examples from civil engineering (e.g. models of vehicle arrivals, structural reliability, flood distributions). Topics include: discrete probability theory, probability distributions, parameter estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, linear regression, and model selection.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2160

MA 3710 - Engineering Statistics

Introduction to the design, conduct, and analysis of statistical studies aimed at solving engineering problems. Topics include methods of data collection, descriptive and graphical methods, probability and probability models, statistical inference, control charts, linear regression, design of experiments.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2160 or MA 3160(C)

CEE 4201 - Matrix Structural Analysis

Analysis of trusses and frames by the direct stiffness method. Use of a typical commercial computer code is stressed as a tool for complex structures. Introduces three-dimensional structures.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 3202

CEE 5241 - Structural Dynamics

Free and forced vibration of undamped and damped single degree of freedom systems. Seismic design using the equivalent lateral force method. Introduction to multi-degree of freedom systems and transmissibility.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 4201(C)

Required Courses

Take a 3-credit required course.

CEE 5730 - Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability

Examines probabilistic analysis of engineering systems including first-order methods, Monte Carlo simulation, and time-to-failure analysis. Reliability analysis will include capacity/demand reliability and system reliability. Emphasis will be on civil and environmental engineering systems.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 3502 or CEE 3710 or MA 3710

Electives

Take 6 credits of elective courses.

CEE 4244 - Loads for Civil Structures

The course focuses on the theory and building code requirements for civil structural loadings that are used in design. The loads and load combinations will include dead loads, occupancy live loads, snow loads, wind loads, and seismic loads.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 3202

CEE 5242 - Advanced Structural Dynamics

Earthquake engineering and advanced dynamic analysis. Includes modal analysis, time history response of multiple degree-of-freedom systems, and base isolation.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 5241

CEE 5201 - Advanced Structural Analysis

The study of nonlinear structural analysis techniques, especially energy methods, applied to elastic buckling analysis, large deflections of beams, second-order effects in frames, and plastic analysis of steel structures.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 4201

Typical Schedule

The minimum completion time is three semesters. Here is a typical schedule.

Fall 1 or 2	Spring 1 or 2
CEE 5242 or CEE 5730	CEE 4244 or CEE 5201

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to the Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts, test scores, or letters needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
GMAT/GRE: Not required
Preferred major: Civil, environmental or related degree

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Overall Band Score of 6.5

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

Certificate Admissions

Prospective Students

Prospective students and non-degree seeking students interested in obtaining a graduate certificate must apply to the certificate program using the online application.
Accelerated certificate options exist for current Michigan Tech undergraduate students in good standing and have achieved at least junior-level standing or recent bachelor’s graduates of Michigan Tech (less than two years).
The number of credits earned prior to admission that can be counted are restricted.

Current Graduate Students

Current Michigan Tech graduate students who are in a degree program do not need to formally apply. Current students must still submit the appropriate degree schedule in order to complete the certificate.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Interested in taking a single, online course? Enroll as a non-degree seeking student.

Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to:

Evaluate hazard and risk for various structures subjected to natural events, including earthquake, wind, and snow loads, and to improve the design and better communicate risk to owners and the general public.

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