Graduate Studies Opportunities
The Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering has a set of novel and innovative graduate programs available to resident and non-resident Tulane students. All are fully accredited by SACS. These are:
- Graduate Certificate in River-Coastal Science and Engineering that has been in operation since the Spring 2018 semester and is designed for non-resident, early career professionals, although it is available to resident students as well. This 15 credit certificate is customizable by the student in riverine or coastal topics, or a blend of the two. These credits would also apply toward a graduate degree in RCSE including a non-resident M.S. program (#3 below).
- Master of Science in River-Coastal Science and Engineering (resident). This is a 30 credit degree program (24 classroom + 6 research credits) that requires a thesis and is designed for students working on research topics with a thesis advisor while resident in that advisor’s lab group and supported (tuition + stipend) through a research assistantship or fellowship.
- Master of Science in River-Coastal Science and Engineering (non-resident). This 30 credit degree is identical in requirements to the resident option in #2 above but is designed to allow professionals to acquire the degree remotely while employed. This degree also requires a thesis, but it is anticipated that the thesis committee and topic would be designed as an offshoot of the student’s employment. We envision that most students who pursue this degree will have acquired the Graduate Certificate as an intermediate step, which provides an opportunity for the student to arrange their funding through the employer and to design a thesis project that fits their individual work-life issues.
- Doctor of Philosophy in River-Coastal Science and Engineering As is mandated by Tulane University for all PhD programs, this degree will require a minimum one year period of residency during the degree program. This is a 48 credit degree program (up to 24 credits of graduate classwork can be transferred from previous graduate education). Like the resident M.S. degree, the PhD is designed for students working on research topics with a dissertation advisor while resident in that advisor’s lab group and supported (tuition + stipend) through a research assistantship or fellowship.
More details about each of these programs and application instructions are available by clicking on the appropriate programs on the right. Questions about programs should be directed to the RCSE graduate advisor Dr. Ehab Meselhe (emeselhe@tulane.edu).
It should be noted that tenure-track professors in RCSE are already accepting applications for resident M.S. and PhD students to work with them as major advisor beginning the Fall 2023 semester. Students are encouraged to reach out to RCSE faculty in their area of interest to explore available opportunities to join their research group before applying.
