What is the ODU Online Coastal Engineering Certificate Program (CECP)?

A series of four(4) graduate level courses in the specialty area of Coastal Engineering within Civil Engineering. All are offered online over the Internet, in synchronous (Visual Streaming) mode, over a two year period (spring, fall semesters). The Certificate is earned after successful completion of the four courses from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Old Dominion University (ODU) Norfolk, Virginia, USA. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of the four courses must be a minimum of a B average (3.0) to earn the Certificate.

What's the purpose?
The purpose of the CECP is to provide practicing engineers the opportunity to study Coastal Engineering at the graduate level to help them in the practice of their engineering profession. The Certificate demonstrates a basic level of understanding of the physical sciences, engineering, economics, the environment, and the institutional-political-social and aesthetic constraints that influence all coastal engineering design. The Certificate may also provide the necessary credentials for continuing education by state licensing boards and professional organizations.

What are the academic requirements?
An undergraduate degree from an accredited university in Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Ocean etc.) or the Oceanographic sciences (Oceanography, Geology, etc.) is preferred. Experienced professionals in the Coastal Engineering field may also register. Graduate students at other universities may also take these courses, but must first determine credit transfer possibilities at their university.

How long will it take to earn the Coastal Engineering Certificate?
The Coastal Engineering Certificate can be earned in two years. If starting this Fall 2014 semester, you can be finished by the end of the Spring 2016 semester. All courses are relatively self-contained so that you can begin at any semester, or miss a semester and pick up the missing course(s) when offered again over the two year cycle. Ideally, all students should begin with the CEE 582 Introduction to Coastal Engineering course, but the program recognizes that this may not always be possible. See Courses page for course offering this coming semester.

Who is the instructor/professor that teaches the courses ?
In the past, all four courses have been taught by David R. Basco, Ph.D., P.E. , Professor of Civil Engineering and Director of Coastal Engineering Centre.  Dr. Basco retired May 31, 2014. The CECP courses in the future will be taught by Assistant Professor, Dr. Gangfeng Ma and Assistant Professor, Dr. Navid Tahvildari

If you have any further questions after reviewing all the above questions, answers, and links to additional information, please feel free to contact Dr. Ma at gma@odu.edu        Edited July 31, 2014.