Structural Engineering

The bulk of the experimental research program in structural engineering is located at the Donald G. Fears Structural Engineering Laboratory, one of the largest, dedicated structural engineering laboratories in the United States. Located on OU’s Research Campus South in Norman, Fears Lab contains over 30,000 square feet of laboratory space, including 1,800 square feet of strong floor capable of reacting 320,000 pounds at any one location. An adjacent office building houses faculty and student offices, a conference room, library, and computing facilities.

Experimental research at Fears Structural Engineering Laboratory is supported by the following testing equipment:

• 200,000-pound capacity universal testing machine 
• 600,000- and 450,000-pound capacity concrete compression machines • axial compression and tension capacity of 6,000,000 pounds 
• internal pressure loading capability of 6000 psi 
• state-of-the-art high efficiency concrete mixer for concrete materials research 
• 60-foot-long prestressing bed for fabricating test specimens 
• two freeze-thaw testing cabinets for evaluating concrete durability 
• 55,000- and 22,000-pound capacity actuators with six-inch stroke integrated into closed loop hydraulic systems for dynamic and cyclic testing 
• 55,000-pound capacity test frame with compatible controller 
• large-scale rotating bending fatigue apparatus
• two seismic simulators (shake tables)—one 4-foot by 6-foot uniaxial simulator and one 6-foot by 7- foot six-degree-of-freedom simulator—for testing structural response to earthquakes 
• two large environmental chambers with temperature and humidity controls
• laminar flow fume hood for clean space 
• several multi-channel, microcomputer-based, data acquisition systems with up to 100 channels of input, two with a 100,000 Hz synchronized testing rate
• 15-foot by 60-foot vacuum chamber for testing roofing systems 
• full array of miscellaneous hydraulic, electronic and data acquisition equipment 
• a large complement of machine tools and manufacturing capability 

Numerous computer systems at OU and within the Gallogly College of Engineering support numerical and analytical research. Acknowledging the importance of computational resources in this research field, the state-of-the-art OU Supercomputing Center for Education and Research (OSCER) can further train and support students’ needs with its High-Performance Computing infrastructure.

MSCE programs are open to students with undergraduate degrees in civil engineering or related engineering or science disciplines who have completed certain minimum undergraduate coursework. Both thesis and coursework only options are available for obtaining the master's degree. The coursework only option requires completion of 32 semester credit hours, of which 9 hours are structural core courses and are listed on page 8 of this document. The thesis option requires completion of 30 semester credit hours, with the same core course options, five hours devoted to thesis research, and one hour to a course on technical communications. The thesis option also requires a final defense.

A master’s degree in a related discipline is typically required for admission to all CEES PhD degree programs, although students who have outstanding academic credentials and a documented record of research experience at the undergraduate level may occasionally be admitted to the doctoral program without a master’s degree. The doctoral program requires completion of research that expands the student’s professional knowledge in the fundamental concepts of structural engineering. The student is expected to produce a research dissertation of professional significance that could be the basis of two or more papers published in refereed journals. The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 48 hours of post-bachelor’s coursework, a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 41 hours of dissertation research, and one hour of technical communications, all totaling at least 90 post bachelor’s hours. Twenty-four hours of CEES courses or equivalent and at least 6 hours of courses outside CEES are required. The coursework required for the doctoral program is determined by each student with the approval of their advisor and a faculty committee and is based on the student’s educational background and chosen research program.

Faculty research interests cover a broad spectrum of structural engineering. Current and recent research projects involving members of the structural engineering faculty include:

• structural steel and cold form steel structures; reinforced, prestressed, and post-tensioned concrete structures; and steel-concrete composite structures
• determination of tendon stresses and secondary effects in post-tensioned structures • bond performance of prestressing strands
• repair and rehabilitation of bridge structures using innovative concrete materials 
• development of high-performance and ultra-high-performance concrete for transportation structures 
• use of blast furnace slag and other pozzolans to improve performance of concrete 
• rapid setting and shrinkage compensating concrete using calcium sulfoaluminate cement 
• rehabilitation and life cycle analysis of infrastructures and existing structures using fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and FRP composites 
• use of nanomodification techniques for mechanical improvements in structural materials 
• machine learning tools for optimized material behavior 
• study of 3D-printed composites for civil engineering 
• hybrid carbon-glass FRP strengthening 
• seismic testing of structural components and ductility of slab-column connections 
• static and dynamic modeling of tall building systems, structural dynamics, and earthquake engineering 
• code analyses and model development 
• infrastructure resiliency 
• accelerated ways to enhance risk assessment 
• machine learning in structural engineering applications 
• natural hazard mitigation strategies 
• numerical analysis and Monte Carlo simulation 
• neural networks, Hilbert transform, and Hilbert-Huang-transform 
• field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based smart wireless sensing
• structural health monitoring and damage detection

Enrollment as a graduate student in CEES requires::

• an undergraduate degree in civil engineering or an undergraduate degree in an associated area plus approved additional coursework 
• a 3.0 GPA or above from an accredited university or college 
• completed Statement of Goals or Purpose (500 words or less) 
• two letters of reference (master’s degree) and three letters of reference (doctoral degree) that address applicant’s knowledge of engineering and scientific principles, analytical abilities, experimental abilities, initiative and communication skills, plus additional comments that would be beneficial in evaluating applicant’s skills 
• official GRE scores are optional and not required for admission but may be required by some potential faculty sponsors to be considered for a Qualifying Graduate Assistantship. 
• TOEFL (iBT) score of at least 79 or IELTS score of at least 6.5 for students whose native language is not English

In addition, for admission to the doctoral program, applicants are encouraged to submit a sample of written research work, such as a refereed publication or abstract of a master’s thesis.

No more than 8 hours of eligible graduate coursework may be transferred from another institution for the master’s degree. No more than 30 hours of eligible graduate coursework, including a maximum of 5 hours of master’s thesis research, may be transferred from another institution for the doctoral degree.

The University of Oklahoma provides research and teaching assistantships to qualified graduate students. These assistantships include a stipend, tuition wavier, and health benefits. Students with assistantships can enroll for a maximum of 9 credit hours per semester and are not subjected to tuition fees. OU fellowships may be available for highly qualified students pursuing the doctoral degree.

All applicants are considered for funding during admission review, and you may hear back from a faculty member once they begin to review applications. You may also contact a faculty member in your area of interest to see if financial assistance is available.

Research assistants typically write their thesis or dissertation on the subject for which financial support is received. Teaching assistants typically supervise laboratory sections, hold office hours, and grade assignments. Instructor positions are occasionally available for doctoral students, particularly those interested in an academic career. Graduate students whose native language is not English must first pass an English proficiency exam before being appointed as a teaching assistant or instructor with student contact.

Master’s students receiving financial assistance are almost always those who pursue the thesis option. Because students with assistantships typically spend 10-20 hours per week on their teaching or research responsibilities, such students may take up to an additional year to complete their master’s degree.

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degreegranting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare needs of the state, region, and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls approximately 30,000 students, has nearly 3,000 faculty members and has 20 colleges offering 152 majors at the baccalaureate level, 160 majors at the master’s level, 75 majors at the doctoral level, and 20 majors at the professional level. The university’s annual operating budget is approximately $2.4 billion and is an equal opportunity institution.

Norman, Oklahoma is a community of about 124,000 located 18 miles south of Oklahoma City and 190 miles north of Dallas. A variety of recreational, cultural, and social activities are available in Norman and surrounding areas. Lake Thunderbird, 10 miles east of Norman, provides an excellent setting for numerous water activities. Norman was recognized as one of the most progressive cities in the state and the Norman Public School system has been acknowledged as one of the top school systems in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City, with a metropolitan population of approximately 1.4 million, is the state’s capital and largest city, and boasts a minor league ballpark and a canal that flows beside choice restaurants, shops, and quaint cafes in the historic Bricktown entertainment district. In the downtown Oklahoma City area, you'll also find the Myriad Botanical Gardens, the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. There's never a shortage of fun in the metro. With more than 50 attractions, you can catch a movie in the OmniDome large-format theater at the Science Museum Oklahoma (formerly called the Omniplex) or tour one of the nation's top zoos right next door. Don't miss a stroll through the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, where galleries are full of priceless Western art and treasures.

To apply, visit our application website at https://www.ou.edu/coe/cees/apply and then the university’s Graduate College application website at https://gograd.ou.edu/apply/.

The University of Oklahoma in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. For questions regarding discrimination, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment, please contact the Office(s) of Institutional Equity as may be applicable – Norman campus at (405) 325-3546/3549, the Health Sciences Center at (405) 271-2110 or the OU-Tulsa Title IX Office at (918) 660-3107. Please see www.ou.edu/eoo.

Accommodations are available by contacting (405) 325-2344 or ceesgradstudies@ou.edu.