Prof. Toole’s University and Career FAQs
This document provides unofficial and from-the-hip answers to the following questions (scroll down or Control+left click on the link).
How important is getting a P.E.?
Should I pursue my masters on a full- or part-time basis?
When should I go to grad school?
What are my chances of getting financial assistance for my masters?
What graduate degree should I pursue?
How can I maximize my chances of getting accepted and funding?
How does Bucknell’s 3-2 Program work and when should I apply?
Are there special instructions for a Bucknell 3-2 program involving construction research?
How important is it that I have an internship in civil and environmental engineering?
What special experiences should I pursue at Bucknell?
How can I line up research with a professor?
How do I know if construction management is for me?
What should I do if I am interested in architecture?
How important is getting a P.E.?
Obtaining professional licensure is extremely beneficial for all Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) graduates, even those who do not intend to spend their entire career in CEE. Having a P.E. as soon as possible is critical to professional advancement for consulting engineers and other CEEs performing design. Having a P.E. is highly desirable for CEEs working in construction or development because it sets you apart from non-licensed peers in the eyes of employers and clients. In short, obtaining your P.E. will give you a credential that will open doors and boost your earnings potential.
Every Bucknell CEE student should take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during their junior or senior year, regardless if they intend to pursue a career in CEE or not. Proper preparation for this exam is essential. CEE graduates going into construction should discuss their desire to obtain a P.E. with prospective employers in order to ensure their first few years of experience will qualify them to sit for the P.E. exam.
Should I pursue my masters on a full- or part-time basis?
Full-time graduate school is generally preferable in terms of the quality of the education you will receive, how much you will enjoy the program, and how quickly you will receive the degree. (Completing a masters through evening courses generally takes three or more years of trying to squeeze in a course on top of a busy job, while full-time programs are typically completed in 18-24 months.) Engineering students with strong applications often have their tuition waived and receive a modest living stipend for living expenses.
But not everybody can afford to give up a full-time job salary to study full-time. Also, students with weak applications may be required to pay all or part of their tuition costs. In this case, it makes sense to take courses on a part-time basis. Most companies will reimburse full-time employees for the tuition costs of evening courses. (Some companies require you to get the course approved before you take it and/or earn at least a B.)
When should I go to grad school?
(Note: This paragraph does not apply to Bucknell’s 3-2 program. See advice on this program below.)
Having two or more years of work experience will strengthen your application (which may increase your chances of getting into a better school and/or getting funding) and allow you to get more out of school. However, some people find it much more difficult to go back to school several years after they earn their B.S. because their employer makes it too financially attractive to stay in their current position, marriage and kids come along, etc. So go work for a few years unless you think you will end up never going back to school, in which case go now. Not knowing what type of job you want or which subdiscipline of civil engineering most interests you are NOT good reasons to go to grad school right away.
What are my chances of getting financial assistance for my masters?
Your chances depend mostly on which degree you pursue and the strength of your application. Regarding the degree, getting part or all of tuition paid for an MBA or a one-year M.S. program is highly unlikely. Getting a break on tuition and perhaps even a stipend for living expenses is more likely for a thesis M.S. program, especially if the school is not an Ivy League school. If you choose a thesis M.S. program (which typically takes two years), your chances of getting funding depend on your GPA (above 3.5 is good), your GRE scores, whether you have been involved with faculty research as an undergraduate, and perhaps your work experience. Your chances of getting funding for a Masters will be much higher if you indicate you intend to stay on for a Ph.D.
If you are not awarded a research or teaching assistantship as part of being accepted into the masters program, don’t give up. Student loans are generally available. Students with good work habits and strong communication skills can often line up some sort of assistantship after being on campus for a semester.
What graduate degree should I pursue?
For most civil and environmental engineers, the choice is whether to pursue a M.S. in civil engineering or construction management or to pursue an MBA. If you are interested in consulting engineering/engineering design, an M.S. in CEE is a good idea. If you are interested in construction engineering and management, either an M.S. in Construction Management or an MBA is the way to go. Most construction management employers will value either degree. MSCM degrees provide important skills for early- and mid-career advancement. An MBA provides important skills for mid- and late-career advancement (i.e., working up to being a Vice President and above). As noted above, securing some sort of financial assistantship while pursuing an MBA is very rare, but student loans are always an option.
How can I maximize my chances of getting accepted and funding?
Get good grades (3.4 and higher) throughout your undergraduate years and especially during the junior year, do well on the GREs by studying for them, do research with a faculty member while an undergrad (see below), draft a good essay and have it reviewed by the Writing Center and a faculty member or two, and ask faculty whom you have impressed to write you letters of recommendation. Letters from senior CEE faculty are preferable to letters from untenured or non-engineering faculty.
How does Bucknell’s 3-2 Program work and when should I apply?
The 3-2 program within the College of Engineering is a special program that allows a few current students to earn a masters degree after only one additional year of coursework and a satisfactory thesis. You should start the process early in your junior year by speaking with the CEE Graduate School representative (currently Prof. DiStefano) and picking up an application at Graduate School office in Marts Hall. You will need to submit an essay and arrange for letters of recommendation from at least two professors. One of these letters will be from a faculty member with whom you have spoken about supervising your research. Your completed application must be received at the Graduate School office by March 1 of your junior year. You should hear whether your application is accepted over the summer.
Students who are accepted into the 3-2 program need to complete a graduate schedule of courses that identifies the six courses that will be taken for graduate credit. Many upper level CEE courses can be taken for graduate credit if arranged with the instructor before the semester starts. 3-2 students take some graduate classes during the senior year and the remaining required graduate and undergraduate courses during their fifth year on campus. During this fifth year, the student will not have to pay for tuition but will be expected to provide the department with approximately 10 hours per week of grading or lab assistance. Unlike regular (two-year) masters students, 3-2 students do not receive a stipend for living expenses. Fourth year students who have completed nearly all of the required 34 undergraduate credits are typically allowed to participate in Commencement with their classmates but do not actually receive their BSCE diploma.
The 3-2 program is definitely not for everyone. Bucknell may not offer enough graduate courses in your area of interest. Most importantly, completing a masters thesis after only one additional year of study (beyond the normal four years) requires tremendous initiative and discipline. It is highly likely that completing the masters thesis within one year will require full-time research during both the summers before and after the fifth year. Students who leave campus to start a job before completing their thesis often struggle to finish their thesis.
Are there special instructions for a Bucknell 3-2 program involving construction research?
The preceding paragraphs apply to all areas of civil & environmental engineering. Pursuing a 3-2 masters with research in construction is particularly difficult for two reasons. First, there is only one construction course offered at Bucknell. Second, Prof. Toole’s research areas are in areas of construction that are not covered in CENG 472 or CENG 490. Thus, construction masters students must learn advanced construction topics through independent study and/or relevant courses in the College of Arts & Sciences.
The steps below are typically required to be admitted to and succeed in the 3-2 masters program when your masters thesis will be related to construction.
1. Let Prof. Toole know by January 15 of your 3rd year that you may be interested in staying for a masters at Bucknell and performing your masters thesis research on a construction topic. You should already be registered to take CENG 472 during the spring of your 3rd year.
2. Send your resume, unofficial transcript and draft 3-2 application essay to Prof. Toole by February 1 of your 3rd year. He will write one of the two required letters of recommendation and critique your essay. Arrange for another CEE professor to write a second letter of recommendation.
3. Submit your 3-2 application to the Graduate Studies office by March 1 of your 3rd year.
4. Register for an independent study (CENG 479) to be taken during one of the semesters of your 4th year. This study will include topics in construction management, construction engineering, project management and/or social science research methods, depending on your background and intended research topic.
5. Submit a proposal for a University undergraduate summer research grant by Feb 1 of your 4th year. If this proposal is not funded, submit a proposal for summer funding to the CEE Chiloro Fund by May 1 and present your proposed summer research to the Chiloro Committee by the end of final exams. (These grant programs provide $2500-$3000 stipends for your summer research. You will be responsible for your own housing and food.)
7. Perform thesis research full-time during the summer between your 4th and 5th years.
8. Take 3-4 courses during the fall of your 5th year, likely including 1-2 courses in management or a social science that is relevant to your research.
9. Take 1-2 courses during the spring of your 5th year as well as register for 1.5 thesis credits.
10. Complete a masters thesis and pass an oral defense. Ideally, these would both occur by May 15 of your 5th year, but many students require several additional summer months after their 5th year. Do NOT make the mistake of accepting a job and committing to start work before August 1 without first checking with Prof. Toole.
How important is it that I have an internship in civil and environmental engineering?
Both to strengthen your resume and to help you choose a career, you should have one summer internship each in design (i.e., a consulting engineering or an engineering department in a government organization) and in construction (i.e., a CM firm or a field position in a governmental organization). Doing research or ILTM over the summer may be acceptable substitutes for one of these. Being a lifeguard, waitress or working for your parent’s company is OK immediately after your freshman year but not in subsequent summers.
What special experiences should I pursue at Bucknell?
Study abroad, participate in the Bucknell Brigade or a similar intense service learning experience, consider applying to ILTM, consider performing research with a faculty member.
How can I line up research with a professor?
All CEE faculty have active research projects (both during the academic year and the summer) and generally need 1-3 students at a time to assist in the research. Sometimes this research is part of an unpaid independent study for academic credit. Other times the work is paid for by a grant and carries no credit. If you are interested in such research, ask a professor who specializes in the area of CEE you are interested in and who regards you as a disciplined student.
How do I know if construction management is for me?
People who do well in construction tend to be:
· People-oriented more than number crunching-oriented
· Serious multi-taskers
· Able to think on their feet
· Able to handle stress and conflict
· Willing to start working early and end late (i.e., don’t mind long days)
· Willing to relocate temporarily or to drive significant distances to jobsites
· Aware of the value of having people with different backgrounds and technical specialties part of their team.
What should I do if I am interested in architecture?
Although CEE and architecture are related, your BSCE degree will not allow you to become a registered architect simply by completing a one-or two year Masters of Science in Architecture. To become a registered architect, you must receive a Masters of Architecture, which typically requires three years due to its extensive studio experience.