Course Descriptions

CIE200 / Statics [3-0, 3 cr.]

Review of vector algebra; force system resultants; equilibrium of a particle and rigid body; internal forces and applications to beams, trusses and frames; shear and moment diagrams for beams; centroid and moment of inertia.

Pre-requisite: MTH102 / Calculus II and PHY111 / Mechanics.

CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials [3-0, 3 cr.]

Review of equilibrium principles; types of stress and linear stress-strain relationships; axial, shear, torsion, and bending deformations; shear force and bending moment diagrams; and deflection of beams by integration.

Pre-requisite: CIE200 / Statics.

CIE204 GEOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS [3-0, 3 cr.]

Overview of the earth, its processes and products, including rocks and minerals, faults and folds, landslides, streams, glaciers, oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, plate tectonics, and structural analysis of deformed rocks, fundamental principles of geological sciences influence the design and construction of engineering structures.

Pre-requisite: sophomore standing.

CIE302 / Structural Analysis I [3-0, 3 cr.]

Classification of statically determinate/ indeterminate structures; deflections using the principle of virtual work; introduction to matrix algebra, analysis of statically indeterminate structures using Flexibility Method and Stiffness Method;

Pre-requisite: CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials.

*CIE303 / Structural Analysis I – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Structural analysis using commercial software; computational model for trusses and frames: load cases, supports, linear static analysis. Results visualizations and assessment: axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams; deformed shapes.

Co-requisite: CIE302 / Structural Analysis I.

CIE304 / Stress Analysis [3-0, 3 cr.]

Stress-strain formulations in 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D; introduction to constitutive theories of materials and failure criteria for engineering materials; design and analysis of pressure vessels; elastic stability and simple buckling problems of columns, plates and shells; introduction to linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) concepts and integrated design.

Pre-requisite: CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials.

*CIE305 / Stress Analysis – LAB [0-3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory demonstration of stress analysis concepts including: stress and strain measurements, failure of materials, elastic stability, and fracture mechanics.

Co-requisite: CIE304 / Stress Analysis.

CIE306 / Concrete Structures I [3-0, 3 cr.]

Analysis and design of reinforced concrete members according to ACI code including: beams, solid and ribbed one-way slabs, T-beams, doubly reinforced beams, short columns, including development length and splicing of reinforcing steel bars.

Pre-requisite: CIE302 / Structural Analysis I and CIE308 / Construction Materials.

*CIE307 / Concrete Structures I – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Concrete design using commercial software according to established codes. Results visualization and assessment for beams, slabs, columns and footings: concrete section, reinforcement, development length, reinforcement layout.

Co-requisite: CIE306 / Concrete Structures I.

CIE308 / Construction Materials [3-0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the geological origins of construction materials and the effects of geological processes. General considerations on the use of materials in construction, required properties, selection, testing, design, and quality control of civil engineering materials. Design and testing of ordinary Portland cement concrete, asphaltic concrete, masonry, steel, and wood construction; overview of composites and other materials in civil engineering.

Pre-requisite: CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials.

*CIE309 / Construction Materials – LAB [0-3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory demonstration of materials testing and evaluation methods with emphasis on aggregate, concrete, and steel reinforcement testing as per national and international standard methods and specifications.

Co-requisite: CIE308 / Construction Materials.

CIE320 / Fluid Mechanics [3-0, 3 cr.]

Properties of fluids; hydrostatics and kinematics; basic equations and conservation laws: mass, energy and momentum; Reynolds Transport Theorem; steady laminar and turbulent pipe flow; dimensional analysis and similitude, flow measurements.

Pre-requisite: CIE200 / Statics.

*CIE321 / Fluid Mechanics – LAB [0-3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory applications in fluid mechanics including fluid measurements and properties; flow in pipes; Reynolds number; forces on gates; orifices; weirs; open channel flow; and pumps.

Co-requisite: CIE320 / Fluid Mechanics.

CIE322 / Hydraulics [3-0, 3 cr.]

Review of governing equations, design of municipal water supply and distribution systems, flow in pipes and flow regimes; methods of flow measurements; open channel flow with gradually varied flow computations; hydraulic machinery. Introduction to spillways, reservoir routing, well hydraulics and drawdown.

Pre-requisite: CIE320 / Fluid Mechanics.

*CIE323 / Hydraulics – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Analysis and design using commercially available software: municipal water distribution systems including pipes, reservoir, pumps and losses. Results visualizations and assessment: pressure, velocity, head losses.

Co-requisite: CIE322 / Hydraulics.

CIE361 / Surveying [2-0, 2 cr.]

Basic measuring procedures for distances, elevations, angles, bearings, azimuths; theory of measurements and errors, leveling, mapping; construction and topographic surveys, traverses, adjustment and closure, subdivision of Land; area and volumes computations, road surveys: coordinate systems, triangulation.

Pre-requisite: MEE211 / Engineering Graphics

*CIE362/Surveying - LAB [0-3, 1cr.]

Students will apply in the field concepts learned in class including basic measuring procedures for distances, elevations, angles, bearings, azimuths; theory of measurements and errors, leveling, mapping; construction and topographic surveys, traverses, adjustment and closure, area and volumes computations.

Co- Requisite: CIE361 / Surveying

CIE400 / Steel Structures [3-0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to the AISC-LRFD design philosophy; discussion of the behavior, analysis and design of steel structures; design of tension members, simple bolted connections, introduction to welded connections, compression members, laterally supported beams, beams under torsion, and lateral torsional loading.

Pre-requisite: CIE302 / Structural Analysis I and CIE304 / Stress Analysis.

CIE424 / Water Distribution and Treatment [3-0, 3cr.]

Physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters and standards; water quantity, population estimation and use factors; methods of distribution and design criteria and periods; stresses in pipes and pipe materials, distribution system related appurtenances; water treatment techniques: purpose, sedimentation, thickening, coagulation/flocculation processes and basin design, filtration, disinfection, effect of climate change on water supply. 

Pre-requisite: CIE322 / Hydraulics.

*CIE425 / Environmental Engineering – LAB [0-3, 1 cr.]

Fundamental quantities, titration, standards, physical, chemical and biological water and wastewater characteristics and parameter determination using standard methods, data reduction, analysis and interpretation.

Pre-requisite: CHM201 / Chemical Principles and co-requisite: CIE424 / Water Distribution and Treatment.

CIE426 / Wastewater Collection and Treatment [3-0, 3 cr.]

Design of sanitary and storm sewers and related appurtenances, mass balances and hydraulic flow regimes; reaction order and rates, analysis of experimental data, attached and suspended growth biological waste water treatment systems including: activated sludge and its variations, aerated lagoons, SBR, trickling filters, RBC; basic nitrification-denitrification processes; oxygen requirements; introduction to sludge treatment and disposal; effect of climate change on wastewater treatment.

Pre-requisite: CIE424 / Water Distribution and Treatment.

*CIE427 / Environmental Engineering – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Analysis and design of wastewater treatment plants using commercially available software: sizing of tanks; and effluent concentration. Results visualizations and assessment; effect of climate change on waste water treatment.

Co-requisite: CIE426 / Wastewater Collection and Treatment.

CIE434 / The Civil Engineering Profession [2-0, 2 cr.]

Introduction to the history and heritage of civil engineering; specialized sub disciplines; professionalism and professional registration and societies; continuing education; impact of historical and contemporary issues on the identification, formulation, and solution of engineering problems , impact of engineering solutions on the economy, environment, political landscape, and society. The course involves teamwork researching topics related to the impact of contemporary engineering solutions including climate change.  

Pre-requisite: fifth year standing

CIE436 / Detailing for Civil Engineers [0-2, 2 cr.]

An introduction to computer-aided drafting techniques and design drawings using a CAD program and sketching to generate two and three dimensional drawings based on the conventions of engineering graphical communication, applications to different Civil Engineering areas of specialty. A required team effort project introduces the preparation of working design drawings and consideration of production methods.

Pre-requisite MEE211 / Engineering Graphics and fifth year standing.

CIE444 / Soil Mechanics [3-0, 3 cr.]

Formation and types of soils, field testing and soil classification, permeability and seepage analysis in saturated soils, stresses in a soil mass, total and effective stress analysis, stress-strain relationships and strength properties of soils, failure criteria, and theory of consolidation.

Pre-requisite: CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials.

*CIE445 / Soil Mechanics – LAB [0-3, 1 cr.]

Laboratory testing for properties and characteristics of soils including: classification tests, soil compaction and relative density, hydraulic conductivity, shear strength tests, and consolidation test.

Co-requisite: CIE444 / Soil Mechanics.

CIE446 / Foundation Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Analysis, design and construction aspects of foundations including: subsurface exploration and soil characterization; design of shallow foundations based on bearing capacity and settlement calculations; earth pressure theories and design of typical retaining structures; introduction to deep foundations design.

Pre-requisite: CIE444 / Soil Mechanics.

*CIE447 / Geotechnical Engineering – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Geotechnical analysis and design using commercial software including design of foundations and lateral earth retaining systems. Results visualizations and assessment.

Co-requisite: CIE446 / Foundation Engineering.

CIE460 / Highway Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Planning, design, and operation of transportation systems. Theory and practice of the geometric design of streets and highways including horizontal and vertical curves, traffic flow modeling, analysis, control, and safety. Introduction to the design of intersections, and interchanges. Introduction to pavement design principles.

Pre-requisite: CIE361 / Surveying.

*CIE461 / Transportation Engineering – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Highway design using commercial software integrating planning, geometric design, traffic modeling and GIS systems. Results visualizations and assessment.

Co-requisite: CIE460 / Highway Engineering.

CIE465 / Transportation Systems Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Road vehicle performance, analysis and design of infrastructure systems, components of highway systems; planning and design of freeway interchanges, highway capacity and quality of service using High Capacity Manual methodologies, fundamentals of traffic flow theory and queuing analysis, traffic control and analysis of intersections, travel demand and forecasting.

Pre-requisite: CIE460 / Highway Engineering.

CIE480 / Civil Engineering Management Fundamentals [3-0, 3 cr.]

Organization and management theory, understanding of business fundamentals as applied in the private, government and non-profit sectors; public policy; public administration fundamentals with applications. Principles of leadership, government regulations and responsibilities of the different parties involved in public construction, construction contracting processes, development of the different phases of a construction project, bonds and insurance requirements, funding mechanisms, dispute resolution processes, professional ethics.

Pre-requisite: INE320 / Engineering Economy and Co-requisite GNE305 / Professional Ethics, and a senior year standing.

CIE485 / Construction Planning and Scheduling  [3-0, 3 cr.]

quantity take-off and price estimating, proposal preparation; scheduling methods and networks, application of construction control tools such as: CPM, PERT, repetitive scheduling method, and overlapping networks; resource allocation and leveling; time-cost tradeoff; budgeting , cost control and update

Pre-requisite: CIE480 / Civil Engineering Management Fundamentals.

*CIE486 / Construction Management – SOFT [0-2, 1 cr.]

Use of commercial software for the operations, scheduling, planning, resource allocation, budgeting and control of construction projects.

Co-requisite: CIE485 / Construction Management.

CIE498 / Professional Experience [0-6, 6 cr.]

Professional experience through training in the execution of real-life engineering projects.

Pre-requisite: fifth year standing and consent of instructor.

CIE510 / Finite Element Method I [3-0, 3 cr.]

Stress analysis of solids: shape function, displacement interpolation, linear constitutive relations, element stiffness-matrix, direct stiffness method, assessment of model adequacy, error estimation. Stress analysis using commercial software.

Pre-requisite: CIE202 / Mechanics of Materials.

CIE512 / Concrete Structures II [3-0, 3 cr.]

Design of: deep beams reinforced for shear and torsion; stair cases, slender columns, two-way column-supported slabs, footings, foundation and retaining walls.

Pre-requisite: CIE306 / Concrete Structures I and CIE444 / Soil Mechanics.

CIE517 / Earthquake Analysis of Structures [3-0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to earthquake engineering including plate tectonics with emphasis on seismicity of Lebanon; introduction to structural dynamics and natural modes of vibrations, determination of earthquake loading on structures; computer analysis of structural response.

Perquisites: CIE302 / Structural Analysis I and CIE303 / Structural Analysis I-Soft

CIE520 / Solid Waste Management [3-0, 3 cr.]

Quantity and quality of municipal and industrial solid wastes, collection, transfer, disposal, treatment and recovery of solid wastes, hazardous and non-hazardous residues, solid waste management principles and processes, environmental impact assessment, environmental legislation and risk, and pollution control management, effect of climate change on solid waste management. 

Pre-requisite: 4th year standing

CIE 521 / Hydrology [3-0, 3 cr.]

Occurrence of water, precipitation, interception, depression storage, infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, snow melt, well hydraulics, stream flow, data sources, instrumentation, runoff and hydrographs, hydrograph routing, probability in hydrologic design and frequency analysis, and introduction to hydrologic modeling, effect of climate change on hydrology. 

Pre-requisite: 4th year standing.

CIE522 / Environmental Impact Assessment [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course is the study and evaluation of the impacts of large scale projects on the quality of the physical, biological, and socio-economic environment taking into account environmental laws and regulations and EIA guidelines, identification of impacts, quantification methods, mitigation measures, and monitoring plans. Case study involving the preparation of an EIA report,  including sustainability impact assessment and effects of climate change. 

Pre-requisite: consent of instructor or senior standing.

CIE525 / Environmental Policy and Management [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course explores human made problems in the environment parallel with concepts in environmental ethics, management and policies so as solutions are provided concerning preservation of the environment. Topics covered are toxic and solid wastes, pollution of air, water, food and soil, international and national environmental ethics, management and policies.

Pre-requisite: senior standing

CIE526 / Environmental Remediation [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course deals with processes employing microorganisms, fungi, plants or their enzymes to return contaminated environments, such as polluted waters and soils, to their natural conditions. The control, optimization and monitoring of bioremediation is discussed as well as the environmental factors and microbial populations involved. In-situ, ex-situ applications and genetic engineering approaches are emphasized as well as effects of climate change. 

Pre-requisite: senior standing

CIE540 / Advanced Geotechnical Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Advanced topics in geotechnical engineering including: Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD); design of deep foundations for axial and lateral loading; two-dimensional limiting equilibrium methods of slope stability analysis; design methods for slope stabilization; design of shoring systems such as diaphragm walls, sheet-pile walls, anchored walls, and braced excavations.

Pre-requisite: CIE 446 / Foundation Engineering

CIE563 / Transportation Planning and Land Use [3-0, 3 cr.]

Interaction between transportation and land use variables, including modeling requirements, impacts, and data needs within the context of good community planning and economic development; transportation management, administration, finance, system evaluation, implementation, and integration as well as incorporation of climate change in planning.

Pre-requisites CIE465 / Transportation Systems Engineering and GNE 331 / Probability and Statistics

CIE564 / Mass Transit Systems [3-0, 3 cr.]

An overview of mass transit systems; transit system planning including demand and cost analysis and evaluation; transit system design including route design, scheduling, and fare policy; transit networks and marketing; para transit systems; future trends in mass transit.

Pre-requisites INE320 / Engineering Economy and CIE465 / Transportation Systems Engineering.

CIE582 / Infrastructure Management [3-0, 3 cr.]

General methods of engineering systems management and the different types of infrastructure. Application of different methods for the planning and analysis of complex infrastructure projects considering possible financing alternatives, engineering solutions, and overall management issues during the life cycle of the project. Review of selected case studies from the Arab Gulf countries,climate change and global environmental issues.

Pre-requisite: CIE 485 / Construction Management

CIE584 / Quality Management Systems [3-0, 3 cr.]

Introduction to quality management systems, ISO 9000, 14000, Total Quality Management, and the applications of QMS to engineering and management of large projects, systems, and organizations.

Pre-requisite: 4th year standing

CIE585 / Risk and Natural Hazard Management [3-0, 3 cr.]

Types, frequency, effects of natural hazards, calculation of return period, planning and designing engineering systems to survive natural events, mitigation of damage.

Pre-requisite: GNE331 / Probability and Statistics.

CIE586 / Construction Decisions under Uncertainty [3-0, 3 cr.]

Application of decision analysis theory to construction project and organization decisions under uncertainty; decision trees and sensitivity analysis, utility assessment, multi-attribute utility theory, multiple sampling and decision strategies; bidding theory and use of probabilistic modeling and Monte-Carlo simulation to determine optimal bidding strategies.

Pre-requisites CIE480 / Civil Engineering Management Fundamentals and GNE 331 Probability and Statistics

CIE587 / Construction Cost Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Cost engineering for construction organizations, projects, and operations. Construction financial accounting, project monitoring and cost controlling; construction financing, break even analysis, profit, earned value, balance sheets, and cash flow analyses; Cost indices, parametric estimates, unit price proposals, quantity take-off, cost estimation and bid preparation.

Pre-requisite CIE485 / Construction Management

CIE600 / Topics in Civil Engineering [3-0, 3 cr.]

Special topic relevant to civil engineering. Course title and content are announced prior to registration time.

Pre-requisite: To be announced prior to registration time.

CIE601 / Project I [3-0, 3 cr.]

This course provides students with a design experience that is as close as possible to real life design projects; students will work on multidisciplinary teams according to a team work plan and under the supervision of fulltime faculty; each team meets separately with their advisors as needed to complete the work on the project but not less than three times during the semester; students choose from a set of predefined projects that have been approved by the department.

Co-requisite: sixth year standing and consent of instructor.

CIE602 / Project II [3-0, 3 cr.]

Independent work performed by student with emphasis on research. Selection of topic and progress of work are supervised by a faculty advisor. Formal technical report and presentation are required.

Pre-requisite: CIE601 / Project I and Consent of instructor.

*Course is a co-requisite to the corresponding course