M.ENG. CE Curriculum

Program Background

With the country experiencing a resurgence in infrastructure construction and development, the need for specialized civil engineering fields is becoming relevant. The Department of Civil Engineering at DLSU is in the forefront of introducing specialized curriculum in its Master of Science Program. These fields of specialization include Construction Technology and Management (CTM), Geotechnical Engineering (GTE), Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering (HWR), Structural Engineering (STE) and Transportation Planning and Engineering (TRE). Furthermore, being an archipelagic country the need to improve the port infrastructure of the country is important.

Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (M.ENG. CE)

Course Requirements
Term 1 2 3 4 5 6
Advanced Mathematics 6 units 3 3
Specialization Courses 15 units 6 6 3
Cognates / Electives 6 units 3 3
Methods of Research 6 units 3
Comprehensive Exam 0 unit 0
Thesis 6 units 6 0 0
Orientation for Non-DLSU graduates (1 unit) (1)
Total 36(1)units 9(1) 12 9 6 0

Practicum: CIV8310, CIV8320, CIV8330
Form: EN-31

Application for Practicum Defense
Form: EN-18

Advanced Mathematics (MS CE)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
COE5310 Advanced Mathematical Methods Review of linear algebra and linear differential equation, existence and uniqueness, autonomous systems, phase portraits, nonlinear system, linearization, stability, perturbation, chaos and bifurcation.
COE5320 Numerical Methods with Computer Programming and Application Matrix computations, roots of linear and non-linear system, interpolation, numerical integration and differentiation, predictor connector, and Runge Kutta Methods, finite difference methods and introduction to finite element methods.
COE5100 Statistical Analysis and Design Basic Research Methods; Analysis of variance and covariance; Experimental Design; Advanced Regression Analysis; Non-Parametric Test

MS CE Major Courses (Construction Technology and Management)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV620M Advanced Construction Engineering This course covers topics on specialized construction technologies; methods and equipment used for heavy or massive construction; and underwater construction.
CIV621M Advanced Concrete Technology This course deals with the Properties of component materials; Factors of affecting workability; strength and durability; admixtures; test on concrete properties and quality control and specifications.
CIV622M Construction and Development Topics covered are Construction and Development Planning; National Development Planning; Urban Development and Housing Act; National Land Use Act; Build- Operate- Transfer Law; Environmental Impact Assessment; Local Government Regulations; Zoning and Safety Regulations.
CIV623M Construction Problems This course covers topics such as case studies of construction issues and problems; construction law; codes of practice; safety requirements; claims and litigations; arbitration.
CIV624M Construction Administration This course deals with the construction contracts and specifications, organization, financing, bonding and insurance problems; purchasing, accounting, quality control and quality assurance programs, and management information system.
CIV625M Construction Scheduling and Estimating This course focuses on advanced methods for planning, scheduling, and estimating in construction project management. Topics include critical path scheduling, resource management, cost estimation, and budget control.
CIV816M Environmental Resource Economic for Sustainable Infrastructure This course aims to provide engineering students with a deeper understanding of sustainable development through the theories and tools used in environmental resource economics. This course covers basic concepts of microeconomics, environmental economics, resource economics, and sustainability engineering. Analytical and numerical tools for evaluation are also discussed: cost-benefit analysis, numerical optimization of renewable and non-renewable resources, and life-cycle analysis. By the end of the course, students are expected to have better understood sustainable development and to have applied the theories and tools discussed by creating practical case examples in their own fields of interest.
CIV629M Life Cycle Assessment of Construction and Building Materials The course covers civil engineering construction technology and management specifically focusing on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Construction and Building Materials. It will focus on environmental impact of construction and building materials, LCA, eco-labelling and procurement. In addition, LCA on various application will be discussed under sustainable building materials, building sectors, methodology to develop eco-labels for construction and building materials, building structures and others. International standards and other topics related to LCA of building materials will also be discussed. Student major outputs are inclined towards research on available journal and reference publications.
CIV630M Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Construction The course deals with quality assurance and quality control on methodologies, materials, processes, and safety.
CIV631M CTM Introduction to Builders This course is designed to introduce upper-level undergraduate students to the concepts and practices of entrepreneurial thinking. Using a combination of lectures, case studies, student led discussions, team business plans, patents, investor presentation formats. The course teaches life skills in entrepreneurial thought and action that students can utilize in careers ranging from starting companies to instigating cutting edge R&D projects in a large company intrapreneurial endeavors. Major course themes include: Introduction to Entrepreneurship, Idea Generation and Feasibility Analysis, and Business Planning. Lecture on Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board on the preparation to be an Authorized Managing Officer will also be conducted.
CIV632M Construction Project Financing The subject is designed to develop an understanding of financing in constructions and projects, be it small or big. Project financing structures; Strategies for securing fund for construction project; understanding how a bank analyzes the contractor’s business and financial risk; key documents required; understanding contactor’s balance sheet, financial ratios computations as key element for loan approval; project evaluation process, methods and techniques; cashflow analysis, repayment, and loan to value ratio; construction loan agreement, loan and mortgage agreement, default provisions.
CIV633M Data Analytics in Construction Management This course emphasizes the use and process of database in aiding decisions makers in construction project management. The use of tools and software with artificial intelligence are considered to illustrate graphical representation and quantitative analysis of parameters.
CIV695M System and Project Management This course will focus on the management and implementation of construction projects, both public and private infrastructure projects. A project is a finite piece of work being constructed and has a date of completion and is constructed to provide a certain function to address a need or satisfy an idea. The field of project management is basically about the planning, execution and control of projects. The course is divided into three major parts: (1) project finance, (2) project evaluation, and (3) project organization.
CIV811M Special Topics: Construction Technology & Management Course content varies and depends on the expertise of the faculty.
CIV818M Environmental Resources and Systems for Sustainable Infrastructures This course will focus on green materials, life cycle analysis and sustainable systems that are used in constructing/designing sustainable buildings

MS CE Major Courses (Geotechnical Engineering)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV656M Advanced Soil Mechanics The course deals with the study soils’ phase relationship and classification, pore water pressures, permeability and seepage, shear strength and stress-strain behavior, consolidation, and application of elasticity and plasticity theories in solving geotechnical engineering problems.
CIV661M Geosynthetics and Geosystems in Civil Engineering This course introduces the types and functions of geosynthetics and the various forms of geosystems, and their different applications in civil engineering. It also focuses on the fundamental theories and principles in designing with geosynthetics and geosystems. During classes, students are trained on the application of analysis and design software, and they are also taught on the basic construction guidelines of related structures and systems.
CIV691M Foundation Engineering This course covers design and construction aspects of structural foundation systems; soil-rock-structure interaction; case studies. Bearing capacity of different foundation, mats, spread and pile foundation.
CIV694M Soil and Rock Dynamics This course covers dynamic characteristics of earth materials; wave phenomena in soil and rock masses; analysis and design of substructures and earth structures for dynamic loads.
CIV646M Ground Improvement Techniques This course covers important design and construction aspects associated with ground improvement techniques including Vertical Drains, Lightweight Fills, Vibro-Compaction, Dynamic Compaction, Stone Columns, Deep Soil Mixing, Column Supported Embankments, MSE Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes, Soil Nailing, and Grouting.
CIV697M Sanitary Landfill Design The course covers the geotechnical aspects of landfill design. The course will address the landfill siting, design and construction. This course will discuss both the material properties and engineering design of geosynthetic components in modern landfill construction. This course also deals with the determination of the settlement, stability and increase of capacity of landfills. Additional topics on integrated waste management system, to manage and monitor sanitary landfills.
CIV696M Soil and Rock mechanics The course covers topics on soil mechanics and an introduction to the theoretical and practical applicability of rock mechanics in civil engineering. Topics covered in this course include: fundamental of engineering geology, spherical projection methods, physical properties of intact rocks and rock masses, rock discontinuities, in-situ stresses and stress measurements, rock slope engineering, and underground excavations in rock.
CIV698M Ground Improvement Techniques The course is the study of underground structures and its relation to civil and geotechnical engineering. This course provides fundamental background on the analysis of the geotechnical aspects of underground excavation, support and tunnel execution. An understanding of the methods involved in the analysis, design and construction of tunnels is essential.
CIV699M Slope Stability Analysis and Stabilization Methods The course covers lateral earth pressures, transient seepage analysis, retaining walls, slope failure mechanism, methods for slope stability analysis. Site investigation, selection of soil strength parameters, soil testing, slope stability design, and stabilization methods will also be discussed.
CIV814M Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering Course content varies and depends on the expertise of the faculty.

MS CE Major Courses (Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV640M Advanced Hydraulics This course discusses the principles, theories and computational modelling involved in pressured flow, porous media flow and open channel flow.
CIV641M Advanced Hydrology This course discusses the catchment hydrology (e.g. precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, interception, and depression storage; infiltration runoff hydrograph and rainfall- discharge relationships),and use of statistics, probability in hydrological applications.
CIV642M Advanced Fluid Mechanics This course discusses theories and the computational concepts on mass (continuity), energy and momentum of fluid flow theories for pressured pipe flow and open channel flow ( e.g. finite difference, finite volume approaches)
CIV643M Hydraulic Structures Design This course covers topics on hydraulic analysis and design in dam and reservoir operations; hydropower system; drainage pumping stations; conveyance systems and coastal defense structures.
CIV644M Soil Erosion and Sedimentation This course covers erosion, control structures; sediment transport, stable channel design; desilting and diversion structure.
CIV650M Fundamentals of Water Resources Engineering This course discusses the roles and uses of water, water laws, demographic and socio-economic information for water resource development. It discusses the theories and applications from hydraulics & hydrology, use of statistics and probability risk and reliability in water resource development.
CIV652M Ground Water Development This course covers topics on groundwater movement, storage and exploration; aquifer testing; well design, construction, production testing and maintenance, groundwater recharge development and management of aquifers.
CIV658M GIS and Remote Sensing Applications for Catchment Hydrology This covers applications of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing on catchment hydrology. Open- source modelling software are used in this course for hydrological modelling and simulation, and visualization of water flow.
CIV659M Sustainable Drainage Systems for Industry and Commerce This course highlights the characterization and quantification of environmental problems and identification of best practice solutions; and sufficiently flexible regulatory regimes that offer effective means to prevent pollution and achieve good working environments in which industry and commerce can flourish. Special topics to be covered include ways on how modern industries are striving towards more sustainable practices, with case studies of impacts and of greener industry practices, as well as philosophical and policy approaches. The role of regulators, planners and government in fostering a greener industrial base is also included.
CIV812M Special Topics on Water Resources Engineering Course content varies and depends on the expertise of the faculty.
CIV817M Coastal Processes and Protection This course provides basic and fundamental concepts in understanding coastal processes, hydrodynamics and protection. Open-source software are used to simulate, model and visualize sediment transport and wave transformation processes.
CIV822M Flood Control, Land Drainage and Stormwater Management This course covers analysis and design for urban and rural area flood control and drainage using catchment models, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling of rainfall-runoff processes.

MS CE Major Courses (Structural Engineering)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV572M Matrix Theory of Structures The course on Matrix Theory of Structures focuses on the matrix analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate trusses, beams and frames for internal forces and displacements using the Direct Stiffness Method, which is the method used in most computer programs. The application of the method to plane grids, space trusses and space frames will also be presented. Special topics on modeling of supports, hinges and substructures will be discussed.
CIV574M Seismic Design and Analysis of Buildings CIV574M is a graduate course in Structural Engineering which focuses on understanding the behavior of buildings when subjected to earthquakes. The course introduces seismic risk, seismic hazard assessment and fundamentals of structural dynamics. Detailed discussion focuses on the elements of seismic design, seismic design criteria, seismic analysis, seismic design, and seismic detailing as applied to buildings.
CIV674M Structural Dynamics This is a basic course in structural engineering which focuses on the dynamic analysis of structures using various models (mass-spring-damper model, shear building, lumped mass model, beam, truss, and frames). Different types of dynamic loads on structures will be considered. Dynamic analysis of single-degree-of-freedom systems and multi-degree-of-freedom systems using various methods like modal analysis, time history analysis and response spectrum analysis will be discussed. A prerequisite to the course is a good foundation on Theory of Structures, Ordinary Differential Equations and Use of Computer-aided tools (Excel, Matlab).
CIV608M Advanced Concrete Mechanics This course in structural engineering discusses the properties and fundamental behavior of concrete material and structures. It includes an introduction to cement chemistry, phase composition of cement, and a discussion on the sustainability of concrete (cement) as a construction material. Multi-scale representation of concrete is presented and experiments to determine concrete properties including the effect of size and strain localization (softening) are discussed. Mechanics of concrete behavior in shear, flexure, and axial compression are studied in detail. Strength evaluation of hardened concrete using both destructive and non-destructive procedures and their correlation is also introduced. Advanced topics include the use of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) in concrete experiments.
CIV810M Special Topics in Structural Engineering This course is an open-ended discussion on any special topics relevant and related to Structural Engineering. Some topics that may be covered in this course are any or combination of the following:
– Wind load analysis derivation on buildings and other structures based on Section 207 provisions of the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NCSP), Volume 1, Seventh Edition (2015);
– Performance-based earthquake engineering and design of low- to medium-rise buildings using static nonlinear analysis (pushover analysis); and/or
– Seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing buildings in accordance with ASCE 41-17.
CIV571M Analysis and Design of Highway Bridges This course covers understanding and determining highway bridge loadings; distribution and application of moving loads; analysis and design of different types of highway bridge superstructures on simple span such as longitudinally reinforced concrete slab bridge, reinforced concrete deck girder, prestressed concrete deck girder, and composite steel deck girder; analysis and design of simply supported bridge substructures such as abutments; understanding and application of standard codes and specifications on highway bridge design.
CIV604M Advanced Prestressed Concrete This course covers the principles & methods of prestressing; special properties of materials needed for effective prestressing; loss of prestress; analysis & design of sections for bending including its ultimate strength; shear design; deflection calculation; and applications to buildings and bridges.

MS CE Major Courses (Transportation Engineering)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV682M Transportation Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis The course introduces the students to traffic modeling and simulation approaches at the macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic states. Transport network supply models to be discussed include both static and dynamic models. There will also be some discussion about discrete choice analysis, route, and time-of-travel choices as well as activity-based models. Other models to be discussed include, integrated land use and transportation models, demand/supply interactions, equilibrium, and day-to-day dynamics, as well as testing optimization algorithms. Economic activity models including pricing and logistics will also be covered. Public transportation models for both low frequency and high frequency services will be discussed.
CIV678M Public Transport Planning Management and Operations The course deals with public transport systems planning to include transit operations and service scheduling, capacity, speed, special operations, modeling, and optimization in transit systems analysis. The course also includes the planning of transit stations, transit lines, and networks. The second part of the course will deal with transportation economics, focusing on its application to public transport analysis and planning. Additional topics include the use of co-benefit analysis in evaluation of public transport projects and discussion of the concept of Transit-Oriented-Development (TOD).
CIV674M Highway Geometric Design The course deals with the geometric design of highways including the highway functional and system classifications, design controls and criteria, design elements, cross-section elements, local roads and streets, collector and arterial roads as well as expressways/freeways. Furthermore, intersections as well as grade separation and interchanges are also covered.
CIV675M Airport Engineering This course deals with the study of airports from planning to design and operations. A review of the nature of civil aviation and airports is first discussed while also providing some local context. The characteristics of aircraft related to airport design are then discussed and followed by air traffic management. Airport planning and forecasting demand are also given emphasis. Airport design including the geometric design of the airfield, airport lighting, marking and signage as well as drainage will also be covered. Special topics on airport security is also included.
CIV676M Urban Transportation Planning for Philippine Cities This course is a mix of lecture and laboratory where students will make use of an Urban Transportation Planning software, OpenPaths for application in a particular Philippine City. The course will be mainly based on the four-step urban transportation Planning process of trip generation, trip distribution, modal split analysis, and traffic assignment modelling methods. Aside from the hands-on experience of using and applying the software to real urban transportation system and activities, theories and concepts that will be taught include growth factor modelling, category analysis, multiple classification analysis, regression modelling applications, gravity modelling, multinomial modelling, Bureau of Public Roads models under user equilibrium and incremental assignment, and stochastic user equilibrium modelling.
CIV677M Advanced Modeling Applications in Transportation The course deals with discrete choice modeling applications in engineering. To start the course, review of important probability and statistical concepts, hypothesis testing and matrix algebra that will be most often encountered in discrete choice modeling is important. Concepts on choosing and the paradigm on choice data will then be discussed. The use a discrete choice modeling software and its hands on use will be accorded to students. Developing questionnaire surveys for revealed and stated choice experiments will also be taught. Multinomial, Nested and Mixed Logit will then be taught to students. Other Modeling Tools to be discussed include Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Structural Equations Modeling (SEM).
CIV676M Urban Transportation Planning for Philippine Cities The course deals with transportation systems engineering and planning, land use and transportation interaction, urban transportation planning studies, trip generation analysis, trip distribution analysis, modal split analysis, traffic assignment and transport forecasting. Emphasis is on urban transport systems application for Philippines cities. An urban transport planning software will also be taught to students.

OTHERS (BSMS/MS/MENG/MSPHEM)

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
COE5000 Engineering Orientation The course includes topics on the DLSU history, mission statement, organizational structure, key officers/offices; the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the life and writings of St. John Baptist de la Salle; Lasallian core values and professional ethics.
COE996M Oral Comprehensive Exam
COE5200 Methods of Research A study of the fundamentals of research designs, analysis and interpretations of data, project feasibility studies, and qualitative research techniques.
COE571M Techpreneurship This course takes the participant through entrepreneurship in technology ventures, which is about commercializing technology ideas into viable enterprises. It is about training techies, scientists and researchers in the skills and attitudes of entrepreneurs, about empowering them to realize the opportunities and commercial values arising from their ideas, technologies, technology applications or products. The course examines the development of ideas and how these are translated into opportunities and eventually businesses; it challenges the students to go through the process of writing a business plan, which will be their final output in this course.

Seminars – Integrative Courses

Course Code Course Title Brief Description
CIV565M Seminar on Sustainable Infrastructures and the Environment This course covers topics on strategies to achieve sustainable infrastructure such as low-impact development, land planning, and engineering design approach to manage storm-water run-off as part of green infrastructure.
CIV680M Seminar on Disaster Risk reduction and Infrastructure Development This course is an extension of CIV680M. The seminar gives an overview on the relationship between the natural environment and the built environment. The course will introduce environmental hazards due to earthquakes, wind, flood and climate and their corresponding risks and impact to development. Disaster risk reduction is introduced as an intervention so that the impacts due to hazards may be reduced. The course will be conducted as a seminar where faculty members and/or invited resource persons discuss specific issues related to the theme of the course. The final project for this seminar is a written and oral report of a case study where the principles of DRR are applied.
CIV578M Seminar on Applied Computing in Civil Engineering This course deals with tools needed by Civil Engineering students in their research. Such concepts and application of the following: system dynamics modeling, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Kalman Filter (KF) and the sequential Monte Carlo Simulation (SMCS), Structural Equations Modeling (SEM), and discrete choice modeling, as applied to problems in Civil Engineering will be covered in this course. It is recommended that the students who are about to do their dissertation or master’s thesis are encouraged to enroll in this subject. This course will be taught by a team of faculty.