Mar 28, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2018-2019 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2018-2019 [Archived Catalog]

Courses


 
  
  • CISH or CSCI 6960 - Topics in Computer and Information Sciences


    Credit Hours: 1 to 3

  
  • CIVL 1100 - Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering


    Deals with the practice of civil and environmental engineering. Not a highly analytical course, as the course is primarily intended for first year students. Some topics include: history of civil engineering; present practice; typical employers; typical projects; design philosophy; professional topics including organizations, registrations, ethics. Discuss case histories, bring in outside speakers. Students attend CE Capstone presentations.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 1

  
  • CIVL 1200 - Engineering Graphics for Civil Engineers


    An introduction to the elements of computer aided design for civil and environmental engineers using AutoCAD Civil 3D. Students will be introduced to basic AutoCAD drafting techniques as well as learn the key features of Civil 3D that aid site development design and analysis. Topics covered will include general AutoCAD techniques, existing conditions development and analysis using field collected survey data and GIS information, pipe network design, grading design, and roadway corridor layout.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 1

  
  • CIVL 2030 - Introduction to Transportation Engineering


    Introduction to basic concepts in transportation engineering including planning, design, and operations. Introduces the challenges and issues in modeling transportation problems. Studies of various concepts related to the design of highway facilities, level of service, and demand for transportation services. Concepts related to signal optimization. Policy implications. Basics of transportation planning.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • CIVL 2040 - Professional Practice


    Contract essentials; types of contracts for construction and for engineering services. Bidding procedure, surety bonds, insurance, litigation. Standard contract documents, the compilation of specifications. Engineering ethical principles and codes.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 2630 - Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering


    The application of the basic laws and phenomena of science to particulate matter, specifically soils. Basic physical and mechanical structural characteristics of soil. Equilibrium and movement of water. Flow through porous media. Effective stress. Stress-strain-time relations. Basic laboratory work as related to practice.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: ENGR 2530.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

    Contact, Lecture or Lab Hours: 6 contact hours
  
  • CIVL 2670 - Introduction to Structural Engineering


    Introduction to the elastic behavior of structural components. Analysis of statically determinate systems. Deflection calculations by virtual work and elastic load methods. Analysis of simple statically indeterminate structures. Influence lines. Interaction of structural components. Typical structural engineering loads.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: ENGR 2530 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • CIVL 2940 - Readings in Civil Engineering


    Credit Hours: 1 to 3

  
  • CIVL 4010 - Foundation Engineering


    Subsurface investigation. The application of the principles of soil mechanics to the design of footings, retaining walls, pile foundations, bulkheads, cofferdams, bridge piers and abutments, and underpinnings.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 2630 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4020 - Bedford Seminar


    The seminar will be interdisciplinary with students from both architecture and civil engineering departments. The content of the lectures bears direct relation to practical experience and is considered to be supplementary to the other courses in the respective engineering and architecture schools. Specific types of structures will be examined with the help of suitable existing project examples clarifying and critically analyzing the basic engineering principles behind them. Students will be exposed to the collaborative methods inherent within the architect/engineer relationship.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Corequisite: CIVL 4450 Conceptual Structural Systems.  

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4070 - Steel Design


    Analysis and design of metal structures. Structural materials and loads. Design of beams, columns, bolted and welded connections. Composite construction.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2670.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4080 - Concrete Design


    Analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures using ultimate strength methods. Design of beams, columns, slabs, and footings. Development and anchorage of reinforcing bars. Laboratory testing of hardened concrete mechanical properties.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2670.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

    Contact, Lecture or Lab Hours: 6 Contact hours
  
  • CIVL 4140 - Geoenvironmental Engineering


    The application of geotechnical engineering to the environmental area. Deals with waste disposal, waste containment systems, waste stabilization, and landfills. Emphasis on design of such facilities. Includes related topics necessary for design, e.g., geosynthetics, groundwater, contaminant transport, and slurry walls. Some field trips are possible. (Students cannot receive credit for both this course and CIVL 6550.)

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4150 - Experimental Soil Mechanics


    Second course in geotechnical engineering, emphasizing experimental aspects of soil behavior. Laboratory experiments to measure the following soil properties: consolidation, compressibility, shear strength, permeability, various moduli, and bearing capacity. Theory, practical applications of theory, and laboratory.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2630 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • CIVL 4240 - Introduction to Finite Elements


    An introductory course in use of the Finite Element Method (FEM) to solve one-and two-dimensional problems in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and elasticity. The methods are developed using weighted residuals. Algorithms for the construction and solution of the governing equations are also covered. Students will be exposed to the use of commercial finite element software.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: ENGR 2250 or ENGR 2530 or ECSE 4160 and senior standing.

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 4240. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 4240.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4270 - Construction Management


    Application of engineering principles to planning construction operations. Network scheduling (CPM, PERT), resource allocation. Cost engineering and control.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: senior standing.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4280 - Design for Constructability


    Design of systems to consider foundations, structures, and constructability; foundation alternatives; structural design to simplify erection; prefabrication, modulation of structures; material handling on a construction site; crane selection and placement; temporary works.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: CIVL 4070 Steel Design or CIVL 4080 Concrete Design or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4440 - Matrix Structural Analysis


    Principles of displacement-based structural analysis; development of element and structure stiffness matrices; direct stiffness method for matrix structural analysis of trusses, beams, and frames; computer analysis of structures; introduction to finite element method.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2670.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4450 - Conceptual Structural Systems


    This course covers concepts of structural systems. The course is aimed at understanding behavior of different structural systems and how they respond to various loading conditions. The concept of load transfer, shaping, and form finding is of particular interest. This concept is reinforced through analytical, digital, and physical modeling intended to foster intuitive thinking. The course includes the following: approximate analyses of statically indeterminate beams, rigid frames, and vierendeel frames; cable suspended structures, arch supported structures; masonry structures, space frame, and folded plate structures; spherical, cylindrical, and hyperbolic shells; net and tent structures; air-supported and air-inflated structures, and hybrid structural systems. The course includes guest lectures, project, computer simulation, and testing physical models.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2670. Corequisite:  CIVL 4020.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4570 - System Modeling for Civil and Environmental Engineering


    This course is an applications-oriented course covering basic analytical tools for modeling and optimization of large-scale civil and environmental engineering systems. Application domains that will be discussed include: scheduling in large systems, construction management, multi-purpose reservoir operation, transportation and logistics planning,  as well as other civil and environmental engineering systems. An overview of different optimization techniques, with a particular focus on network flow problems and introductory stochastic analysis will be provided. Software to solve these problems will be used throughout the course. 

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: junior status.
     

    When Offered: Fall term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4620 - Mass Transit Systems


    The basic concepts of planning, design, and operation of urban mass transit systems. Topics include travel demand, network configurations, communication and control systems, power systems, vehicle technology, guideway and vehicle support and guidance technology, routing and scheduling, operating practice, marketing and financing of transit service, interface design, and implementation. These topics are discussed with relation to bus transit systems, guided transit systems, and several new systems. Several case studies examined.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4640 - Transportation System Planning


    Introduction to the analysis and planning of transportation systems. Study of the basic interaction between transportation supply and demand. Role of transportation systems analysis in the social, environmental, and policy making. Trip generation. Trip distribution. Mode split. Traffic Assignment. Computer applications (meets with CIVL 6250 Transportation System Planning). Students cannot obtain credit for this course and CIVL 6250.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4660 - Traffic Engineering


    Basic characteristics of traffic flow, including driver, vehicle, volume, speed, delay, capacity, and accidents; traffic regulation and control, signs, markings, signals, and signal systems; basic traffic flow theory; study methods and analysis procedures to solve traffic engineering and control problems.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4670 - Highway Engineering


    Principles of geometric design of highways, intersections, interchanges, and terminals. Practical issues of vertical and horizontal curvature, highway evaluation, driver and vehicle dynamics, and traffic safety are also addressed. Computer-aided design and modeling.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4920 - Civil Engineering Capstone Design


    Open-ended design project in which students work in teams. Oral presentations and written reports cover alternates considered, design assumptions, cost, safety, and feasibility. This is a communication-intensive course.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: senior status and 6 credit hours of civil engineering design electives in one concentration. Concentrations and associated design electives are: 1) Structural: CIVL 4070 and CIVL 4080; or 2) Geotechnical: CIVL 4010 and either CIVL 4140 or CIVL 4150; or 3) Transportation: two of the following courses: CIVL 4620 or CIVL 4640 or CIVL 4660 or CIVL 4670; or 4) Environmental: two of the following courses: ENVE 4200 or ENVE 4330 or ENVE 4340 or ENVE 4350.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 4940 - Readings in Civil Engineering


    Credit Hours: 1 to 3

  
  • CIVL 4960 - Topics in Civil Engineering


    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6170 - Mechanics of Solids


    This course provides an introduction to the mechanics of solids from a continuum perspective. Topics covered in this course include: vector and tensor analysis, coordinate systems and calculus in curvilinear coordinate systems, kinematics (motion, deformation and strain), stress and momentum balance, energy principles and balance laws, linear isotropic and anisotropic elasticity, thermoelasticity, method of solutions for 2-D and 3-D linear elastic boundary value problems, applications to simple structures.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6170. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6170.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6180 - Mechanics of Composite Materials


    Micromechanics of elastic heterogeneous solids. Plasticity of composite materials. Thermoelastic and thermoplastic behavior. Mechanics of distributed damage. Mechanical behavior.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: one graduate course in mechanics of solids.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6180. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6180.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6190 - Advanced Transportation Models


    This graduate level course will introduce two types of advanced models related to travel demand forecasting: the land use models and the activity-based models. This project-based course will allow students to obtain sound knowledge of advanced modeling techniques, and to have some preliminary experience with building, estimating, and applying advanced transportation models.

    When Offered: Spring term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6200 - Plates and Shells


    Preliminaries on linear, three-dimensional elasticity theory. Reduction of the elasticity theory to theories of plates and shells. Anisotropy. Nonlinear theories. Applications.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6200. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6200.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6210 - Structural Stability


    Concepts of stability pertaining to structural and mechanical systems. Static and dynamic theories of stability. Configurations include bars, plates, shells, and structural complexes.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6210. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6210.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6220 - Critical Issues in Transportation


    To provide the students with a broad understanding of cutting edge methodologies in transportation modeling and economics not thoroughly covered in other courses and emerging issues pertaining to transportation research and practice.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6230 - Transportation Economics


    Review of economic concepts and their application to transportation. Economic basis of transportation demand. Estimation of aggregate and disaggregate demand functions. Value of time. Supply functions. Cost functions, production functions. Transportation externalities. Valuation techniques. Cost/benefit analysis and multi-criteria approaches.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 2030 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Spring term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6240 - Intelligent Transportation Systems


    The course discusses Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies and their application areas. ITS technologies. ITS Architecture. ITS applications. A number of outside speakers will complement the lectures. The students are expected to give at least two technical presentations and write a final paper on an ITS topic of their choosing.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6250 - Transportation Systems Planning


    The analysis and planning of transportation systems. Study of the basic interaction between transportation supply and demand. Role of transportation systems analysis in social, environmental, and policy making. Trip generation. Trip distribution. Mode split. Traffic assignment. Computer applications. Students cannot obtain credit for this course and CIVL 4640. 

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6260 - Transportation Network Analysis


    Fundamentals of transportation network analysis, including graph representations of transportation networks, shortest path search algorithms, static traffic assignment and user equilibrium, and dynamic traffic assignment. Focus on how basic mathematical analysis tools such as linear and nonlinear programming can be used to analyze transportation network problems. The objective of this course is to introduce students to transportation network analysis fundamentals so that they are equipped with basic skills to analyze related problems in this area.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 2030; MATH 2400.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6270 - Traffic Control and Simulation


    Topics on traffic control systems such as signals and ramp metering; sensor-aided and data-oriented traffic modeling; fundamentals and applications of microscopic traffic simulation. State of the art signal design and traffic simulation tools will be used throughout the class.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2030, CIVL 4660 or their equivalents.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6280 - Dynamic Traffic Models


    The fundamentals of dynamic equilibrium with applications to planning and real-time operations in transportation systems. A network optimization approach to dynamic models including time dependent shortest path algorithms, analytical and simulation models for dynamic traffic assignment. Applications of these approaches to network wide real-time control. Emphasis on implementation of algorithms using programming languages.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6260.

    When Offered: Fall term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6290 - Freight Transportation Systems


    Background and socio-economic aspects of freight transportation. Freight policy and planning objectives. Distribution system and participating agents. Behavior of freight agents. Short-medium term operational improvements: Land use and traffic related. Short-medium term operational improvements: System level strategies. System perspective of freight activity. Strategic freight transportation planning and freight demand modeling.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: CIVL 6250.

    When Offered: Spring term odd-numbered years



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6300 - Transportation Statistical Modeling


    This graduate level course will introduce a number of econometric models to analyze transportation data, ranging from count of crash occurrence to household trip frequency. Students will learn to specify, estimate, and interpret models to study various transportation issues.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6310 - Advanced Concrete Structures


    Advanced analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. Design of deep beams, slender columns, two-way floor systems. Deflection computations. Design for torsion. Prestressed concrete fundamentals.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 4080 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6320 - Advanced Steel Design


    Advanced analysis and design of complex metal structures. Flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid connections. Plate girders, torsional design. Effects of semi-rigid connections on structural stability.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 4070 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6340 - Bedford Design Studio


    Open-ended design project in which students work in teams of four (two engineers and two architects) to replicate the Architecture/Structural Engineering integrated design of buildings. Oral presentations and written reports and studio critics cover alternatives considered, design assumptions, and cost estimates. This is a communication-intensive course.


    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 4020 Bedford Seminar, CIVL 6310 Advanced Concrete, CIVL 6320 Advanced Steel.

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6350 - Masonry Design


    To develop a general familiarity with the structural design of masonry elements and structures. This includes exposure to the historical development of design specifications as well as specific design procedures unique to this material.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: CIVL 4070 Steel Design or CIVL 4080 Concrete Design or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6360 - Timber Design


    To develop a general familiarity with the structural design of wood elements and structures. This includes exposure to the historical development of design specifications as well as specific design procedures unique to this material.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: CIVL 4070 Steel Design or CIVL 4080 Concrete Design or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6380 - Advanced Concrete Mechanics


    Mechanics of concrete failure under uniaxial and multiaxial stress states. Strain-softening behavior and damage localization in tension and compression. Nonlinear strain-hardening behavior under triaxial compression. Tensile fracture and size-effect. Constitutive modeling of concrete mechanical behavior. Cohesive crack model. Plasticity models, damage models, microplane models, and discrete models.

     

    When Offered: Fall term even-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6390 - Wind Engineering


    This course will develop understanding and integrate skills across the fields of fluid mechanics, meteorology, climatology, bluff-body aerodynamics, structural dynamics, code provisions for design, wind tunnel testing, and damage documentation.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: ENVE 4310.

    When Offered: Spring term odd-numbered years.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6440 - Nonlinear Structural Analysis


    Matrix formulation of nonlinear structural analysis problems; analysis of structures with geometric and material nonlinearities; elastic and inelastic buckling; plastic analysis of beams and frames; computer analysis of nonlinear structure.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 4440 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6450 - Structural Dynamics


    Analysis of elastic and inelastic single and multiple degree-of-freedom structural systems under time-dependent loads including harmonic, impulse, earthquake, and other general dynamic loads. Development of equations of motion. Analytical and numerical evaluation of free and forced vibration response. Identification of dynamic system properties. Modal analysis. Vibration isolation and force transmissibility. Dynamic measurement sensors. Shock loading spectrum. Frequency-domain analysis.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 4440.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6460 - Advanced Structural Dynamics


    Stochastic response of lumped parameter and continuous systems to random excitation, wave propagation, power spectral densities, covariance and cross covariance functions, transfer functions, application of procedure to wind and earthquake engineering. Review of current literature.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6450.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6480 - Designing with Geosynthetics


    Civil Engineering applications of geosynthetics including geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners, geopipe, and geocomposites. Designing by function, including separation, reinforcement, filtration, drainage, liquid barrier, and combined functions. Applications in the areas of landfills, groundwater drains, geotextile reinforced walls and slopes, roadways, and other civil engineered type structures.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2630 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6490 - Earthquake Engineering


    Seismology concepts including plate tectonics, fault mechanisms, quantification of earthquake size, and wave propagation. Dynamic sensors for earthquake ground motion measurement. Estimation of ground motion parameters using attenuation relationships. Linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses for evaluation of the seismic response of structures. Code-based approach to the seismic analysis and design of structural systems. Seismic design considerations for various construction materials. Base isolation and energy dissipation systems for seismic protection of structures.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6450.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6510 - Advanced Geotechnical Engineering


    An intensive study of the fundamentals of soil mechanics at the graduate level. Transmission of stresses between particles. Soils in which the pore water is either stationary or flowing under steady conditions. Soils in which pore pressures are influenced by applied loads, and hence the pore water is flowing under transient conditions.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 4150.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6520 - Advanced Foundations and Earth Structures


    The applications of the principles of soil mechanics to the design of foundations, at the graduate level. Subsurface investigation. Design of footings, retaining walls, pile foundations, flexible retaining structures, anchor tie-backs, bridge piers, abutments, embankments, and natural slopes. Slope stability analysis and landslide prevention. Earthquake effects. Case studies.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 4010, CIVL 4150.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6530 - Seepage, Drainage, and Groundwater


    Introduction to groundwater hydrology, well hydraulics, permeability, seepage, flow nets, filter criteria, dewatering, slope stabilization, practical applications.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 2630 or equivalent.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6540 - Dynamics of Soil and Soil-Foundation Systems


    Basics of dynamic response of soil and soil-foundation systems, including applications to earthquake engineering and machine foundations. Systems studies include shallow and deep foundations, buried structures, earth structures, slopes, and earthquake site response.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6450.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6550 - Advanced Geoenvironmental Engineering


    An intensive study of the application of geotechnical engineering to the environmental area. Deals with waste disposal, waste containment systems, waste stabilization, and landfills. Emphasis on design of such facilities. Includes related topics necessary for design, e.g., geosynthetics, groundwater, contaminant transport, and slurry walls. Some field trips are possible. This course meets concurrently with CIVL 4140. CIVL 6550 students are required to do a term paper and/or project, read additional professional papers and publications, and do additional laboratory experiments. (Students cannot receive credit for both this course and CIVL 4140.)

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6660 - Fundamentals of Finite Elements


    Graduate-level course on the fundamental concepts and technologies underlying finite element methods for the numerical solution of continuum problems. The course emphasizes the construction of integral weak forms for elliptic partial differential equations and the construction of the elemental level matrices using multi-dimensional shape functions, element level mappings, and numerical integration. The basic convergence properties of the finite element method will be given. This course serves as preparation for students working on finite element methods.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: differential equations.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6660. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and MANE 6660.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6670 - Nonlinear Finite Element Methods


    The formulations and solution strategies for finite element analysis of nonlinear problems are developed. Topics include the sources of nonlinear behavior (geometric, constitutive, boundary condition), derivation of the governing discrete equations for nonlinear systems such as large displacement, nonlinear elasticity, rate independent and dependent plasticity and other nonlinear constitutive laws, solution strategies for nonlinear problems (e.g., incrementation, iteration), and computational procedures for large systems of nonlinear algebraic equations.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6660 or MANE 6660.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6670. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6670.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6680 - Finite Element Programming


    Examines the implementation of finite element methods. Consideration is first given to the techniques used in classic finite element programs. Attention then focuses on development of a general geometry-based code which effectively supports higher order adaptive technique. Technical areas covered include: effective construction of element matrices for p-version finite elements, ordering of unknowns, automatic mesh generation, adaptive mesh improvement, program and database structures. Implementation of automated adaptive techniques on parallel computers is also covered.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites: CIVL 6660, MANE 6660, CSCI 6860, or MATH 6860.

    When Offered: Spring term odd-numbered years.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6680. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6680.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6690 - Advanced Finite Element Formulations


    This course focuses on generalized weighted residual methods and multifield variational principles for constructing approximate solutions to sets of governing differential equations and associated boundary conditions. Topics include hybrid and mixed methods, boundary element formulations, p-version finite elements, global/local procedures, and penalty methods. Problem areas include solid mechanics (nearly incompressible solids, plates, and shells), fluid mechanics including compressible flows, and heat transfer.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6660 or MANE 6660.

    When Offered: Spring term even-numbered years.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6690. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6690.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6700 - Finite Element Methods in Structural Dynamics


    Solutions to the free vibration and transient dynamic responses of two-and three-dimensional structures by the finite element method are considered. The governing finite element matrix equations are derived and numerical aspects of solving these time-dependent equations considered. Topics include the formulation of the eigenvalue problem, algorithms for eigenvalue extraction, time integration methods including stability and accuracy analysis, and finite elements in time. Modal analysis and direct time integration techniques are compared for a variety of two-and three-dimensional problems.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6660 or MANE 6660.

    When Offered: Fall term odd-numbered years.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6700. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and MANE 6700.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6780 - Numerical Modeling of Failure Processes in Materials


    State-of-the-art in computational modeling of failure processes in materials. Topics include numerical modeling of discrete defects, distributed damage, and multiscale computational techniques including multiple scale perturbation techniques, boundary layer techniques, and various global-local approaches.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CIVL 6660 or MANE 6660.

    When Offered: Spring term even-numbered years.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as MANE 6780. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and MANE 6780.

    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6900 - Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar


    Civil and environmental engineering graduate students present seminars about their research to an audience composed of students and faculty, and participate in discussions about the research of others. The course consists of one-hour weekly meetings. The faculty member in charge of the course helps the students develop their presentation and communication skills. M.S. and Ph.D. students are required to take this course once before completion of their terminal degree. This course is not required for M. Eng. students not doing a thesis or project.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 1

  
  • CIVL 6910 - Colloquium Series


    Seminars by distinguished guest speakers. All undergraduates and graduates are strongly encouraged to attend as many lectures as possible.

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Credit Hours: 0

  
  • CIVL 6940 - Readings in Civil Engineering


    Credit Hours: 1 to 3

  
  • CIVL 6960 - Topics in Civil Engineering


    Credit Hours: 3

  
  • CIVL 6970 - Professional Project


    Active participation in a semester-long project, under the supervision of a faculty adviser. A Professional Project often serves as a culminating experience for a Professional Master’s program but, with departmental or school approval, can be used to fulfill other program requirements. With approval, students may register for more than one Professional Project. Professional Projects must result in documentation established by each department or school, but are not submitted to the Office of Graduate Education and are not archived in the library. Grades of A, B, C, or F are assigned by the faculty adviser at the end of the semester. If not completed on time, a formal Incomplete grade may be assigned by the faculty adviser, listing the work remaining to be completed and the time limit for completing this work.

  
  • CIVL 6980 - Master’s Project


    Active participation in a master’s-level project, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s project report. Grades S or U are assigned at the end of the semester.  If recommended by the adviser, the master’s project may be accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in the library.

    Credit Hours: 1 to 9

  
  • CIVL 6990 - Master’s Thesis


    Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a master’s thesis. Grades of S or U are assigned by the adviser each term to reflect the student’s research progress for the given semester. Once the thesis has been presented, approved by the adviser, and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education, it will be archived in a standard format in the library.

    Credit Hours: 1 to 9

  
  • CIVL 9990 - Dissertation


    Active participation in research, under the supervision of a faculty adviser, leading to a doctoral dissertation. Grades of IP are assigned until the dissertation has been publicly defended, approved by the doctoral committee, and accepted by the Office of Graduate Education to be archived in a standard format in the library. Grades will then be listed as S.

    Credit Hours: Variable

  
  • COGS 2120 - Introduction to Cognitive Science


    This course is an introduction to the new and quickly growing field of cognitive science. Cognitive Science is a highly interdisciplinary field of study of mind at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, linguistics, and anthropology. This is a communication-intensive course.
     

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed with PHIL 2120 and PSYC 2120. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and PHIL 2120 and PSYC 2120.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 2340 - Introduction to Linguistics


    This course offers a survey of scientific and applied approaches to the study of human language, highlighting the endlessly surprising nature of this sophisticated mode of communication. A sampling of the topics to be covered: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, lexicography, psycholinguistics, and historical linguistics. Lecture course.

     

    When Offered: Offered upon availability of instructor; typically once a year.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4210 - Cognitive Modeling


    This is an undergraduate level course that introduces the student to computational cognitive modeling. Cognitive modeling is the simulation of human cognitive, perceptual and motor processes based on a cognitive architecture. The benefit of cognitive modeling is that it facilitates the testing of ideas about human processes through comparison of model data with empirical data. This course covers ACT-R, a symbolic architecture and LEABRA, a neural-level architecture.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite:  COGS 4410 or permission of instructor. 

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as COGS 6210. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and COGS 6210.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4320 - Game Mechanics


    This is an iterative game prototyping class. The focus is on designing and tuning games from a rules-based perspective. Topics include cooperation and competition, risk and reward, probability, and game balance.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4330 - Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience


    This survey course is intended as an introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience. The topics covered will focus on exploring the neural underpinnings for cognitive processes, such as sensation, language, attention, motor control, executive functions, social communication, emotions, consciousness, and learning/memory. Basic aspects of nervous system function and neuroanatomy, brain development/evolution, structural and functional imaging techniques, and other research methods used in Cognitive Neuroscience will be discussed.

     

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: PSYC 1200, PHIL/PSYC/COGS 2120, or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Cross Listed: PSYC 4330.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4340 - The Linguistics of Computational Linguistics


    This course will explore how linguistics, the scientific study of the properties of human language and languages, can be applied to the development of intelligent agents that can fluently and meaningfully communicate with people in natural language. It will focus on linguistic phenomena that have so far been particularly resistant to effective machine processing, such as lexical ambiguity resolution, reference resolution, ellipsis, indirect speech acts, implicature, and non-literal language (e.g., metaphor and irony). 

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: COGS 2340 Introduction to Linguistics or permission of the instructor. 

    Cross Listed: COGS 6340.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4360 - Behavioral Neuroscience


    This course is an introduction to the role of physiological mechanisms in behavioral processes. There will be detailed examination and discussion of the involvement of biological systems in feeding and drinking, sexual behavior, sleep and arousal, learning and memory, psychopathology and psychopharmacology.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: PSYC 1200, or PSYC/PHIL 2120, or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed with PSYC 4320; students cannot obtain credit for both courses.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4410 - Programming for Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence


    This course is an undergraduate course that teaches cognitive science and artificial intelligence concepts by enabling the student to develop and understand computer programs that implement them. It covers data collection and analysis, task environments, natural language, cognitive architectures, and learning. Some previous programming experience is very beneficial but not required.

     

     

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CSCI 2300 or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as COGS 6410. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and COGS 6410.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4420 - Game AI


    This course introduces students to basic concepts and methods of artificial intelligence and their applications in computer games. The topics include decision making, movement, path finding, and AI for human-like characters. This course will take the form of a combination of lectures, presentations by students, class discussions, and independent study.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CSCI 2300.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4440 - Sensibilities


    “Sensibilities”—a special ART_X@Rensselaer (Art Across the Curriculum) seminar—draws from the tremendous resource of EMPAC to inspire students to cultivate writing skills through the cross-disciplinary theme of the senses/perception. During the semester students will have opportunities to observe unique art/science presentations and performances in an intimate setting at EMPAC, providing rich experiences for discussions and writing. Classes include reading science and art texts, as well as writing workshops to develop authorial voice and experimentation.

     

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: PSYC 4440.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4520 - Game Development I


    This class is a practical primer for anyone interested in a career in the rapidly evolving industry of video gaming. It is an intense, team-based, project-based course in which students will closely follow the actual game development cycle, with each team producing a complete PC game.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: GSAS 2510 or CSCI 2300.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed with ARTS 4520 and CSCI 4520; students cannot obtain credit for more than one course.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4540 - Game Development II


    This course follows Game Development I. Students work in interdisciplinary teams to create one large-scale 3D game, working from concept to public release. Projects may include games, educational games, serious games and simulations, and interactive artworks, and will focus on creative design, technical execution, and use of game design principles. The course builds on skills and knowledge in previous courses in the GSAS core, including game design, game mechanics, game programming, art, and narrative.

     

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Game Development I or consent of the instructor.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Cross Listed: ARTS 4960, CSCI 4540.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4550 - Game Architecture


    This is a class on the composition of game engines, the substrate between hardware and scripting. Topics include splines, collision detection, event management, shader programming, scene graph manipulations, and rigid body dynamics.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: CSCI 2300.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4560 - A Cross-Linguistics Perspective


    This course will explore the different strategies used by different languages to fulfill the same needs of human communication. A sampling of topics: quickly learning the basics of a new language using linguistic principles; cross-linguistic knowledge elicitation and engineering;  principles of generative grammar; space, time, agency, and other linguistic phenomena viewed cross-linguistically.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: COGS 2340 Introduction to Linguistics or permission of the instructor.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: COGS 6560.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4600 - Cognition and the Brain


    Perception and thought are considered in terms of processes represented in the brain. The localization and lateralization of function are examined, drawing upon research on the behavioral effects of brain damage as well as brain-imaging studies and other approaches. Examples of topics include object recognition, memory, language, emotion, spatial ability, and motor processes.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: PSYC 1200, or PHIL/PSYC/COGS 2120, or COGS/PSYC 4330, or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed with PSYC 4600; students cannot obtain credit for both courses.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4610 - Stress on the Brain


    This seminar course is a detailed examination of the mind-brain relationship, through study of the stress response. Stress is simply defined as any challenge to an individual’s homeostasis or balance. This course will explore the neurobiological underpinnings of the stress response, with particular focus on how stressors can alter perception, affective and cognitive processing in the individual, which can in turn feedback to alter the general health of the individual (body and mind/brain). 

     

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: PSYC 1200 or permission of instructor.

    Cross Listed: PSYC 4610.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4620 - Cognitive Engineering


    Covers cognitive theory from an applied perspective to understand and predict the interactions among human cognition, artifact (i.e., tools), and task. Cognitive task analysis techniques will be taught and used throughout the course, as will techniques for collecting and analyzing fine-grained behavioral data. Topics covered may include visual search and visual attention, cognitive skill and its acquisition, hard and soft constraints on interactive behavior, human error, soft constraints on judgment and decision-making, and experts and expertise.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisites:  PSYC/PHIL 2120 or PSYC 4310 or PSYC 4370 or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed with PSYC 4620. Students cannot obtain credit for both courses.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4640 - Intelligent Virtual Agents


    This course introduces various computational approaches for creating intelligent conversational agents. This course will take the form of a combination of lectures, presentations by students, class discussions, and independent study.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: CSCI 1200 and CSCI 2300.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4700 - Hormones, Brain, & Behavior


    This course will examine hormone and brain/behavior relationships across the lifespan.  Hormones are molecules that are secreted by glands (the majority of which are located outside the brain) and have distal effects on their targets, such as the brain, throughout development.  A focus will be on hormones’ effects, mechanisms, and brain regions of interest for behavior and cognitive processes, such as perception, learning/memory, social cognition, motivation, and emotion.

     

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: PSYC 1200 or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: PSYC 4700.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4780 - Advanced Topics in Linguistics


    This course will serve as a seminar for advanced students of linguistics. The material to be covered will be selected collaboratively by the instructor and each cohort of students. Students, who ideally will have taken at least two linguistics-oriented courses previously, will be guided in pursuing topics that they have found particularly compelling in previous courses. 

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: COGS 2340 Introduction to Linguistics or permission of instructor.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: COGS 6780.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4880 - Language-Endowed Intelligent Agents


    This course will concentrate on the knowledge-based modeling of intelligent agents, with a special emphasis on semantically-oriented language processing. Theoretical and conceptual discussions will be balanced by practical work within the implemented OntoAgent cognitive architecture. It will discuss the modeling of decision-making, the various aspects of natural-language processing, and the art of knowledge engineering.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: A 2000-level computer science course or its equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

    When Offered: Upon availability of instructor.



    Cross Listed: COGS 6880.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 4940 - Readings in Cognitive Science


    An individually arranged independent study course under the supervision of a member of the Cognitive Science Department. The topic is selected by consultation between student and faculty member.

    Credit Hours: 1 to 4

  
  • COGS 4960 - Topics in Cognitive Science


    An advanced course concerned with selected topics in cognitive science.

    Credit Hours: 1 to 4

  
  • COGS 4990 - Undergraduate Thesis


    Students conduct original scholarly projects: original research, theoretical or analytical reviews of the literature, or computer simulations. Students prepare written reports relating to this project, under the supervision of a faculty member. This is a communication-intensive course.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: permission of a supervising faculty member (completion of the thesis/project/dissertation registration form).

    When Offered: Fall, spring, and summer terms annually.



    Credit Hours: 3-6

  
  • COGS 6100 - Seminar in Cognitive Engineering


    Integrated cognitive systems comprise human cognitive, perception, and motor subsystems in coordinated action with interactive devices. Examples may be as simple as a human using a VCR or as complex as the behavior exhibited by Air Force pilots. This course will introduce students to the cognitive theory behind integrated cognitive systems, the techniques for collecting and analyzing data such as eye movements and action protocols, as well as the software tools available for the representation of interactive behavior.

    Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: admission to the doctoral program.

    When Offered: Fall and spring terms annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 6200 - Cognition


    This course covers reasoning, decision making, and behavioral game theory, which are major domains in human higher order cognition. Each topic begins with normative theories and continues through formal and mathematical models, and the introduction of empirical studies. The course emphasizes integrations of competing approaches within a domain, integration between reasoning and decision making, and integration between individual decision making and game-theoretic interactions. Each year, the course has a theme. The theme for this year is quantum cognition, which applies quantum theory in cognitive modeling. This course is designed as self-contained, and has no prerequisites. A middle term presentation and a final term paper are required for each student. Graduate students only.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 6210 - Cognitive Modeling I


    This is a graduate level course that introduces the student to computational cognitive modeling. Cognitive modeling is the simulation of human cognitive, perceptual, and motor processes based on a cognitive architecture. The benefit of cognitive modeling is that it facilitates the testing of ideas about human processes through comparison of model data with empirical data. This course covers ACT-R, a symbolic architecture and LEABRA, a neural-level architecture.

    When Offered: Spring term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as COGS 4210. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and COGS 4210.

    Credit Hours: 4

  
  • COGS 6220 - Cognitive Modeling II


    This is a graduate level course that extends the objectives of Cognitive Modeling I to additional cognitive architectures. The first part of the course is a survey of cognitive modeling paradigms. The second part will be a more in depth coverage of two or three architectures and will be done by teams of students. Each team will study one architecture including the development of a model.

    When Offered: Fall term annually.



    Cross Listed: Cross listed as COGS 4220. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and COGS 4220.

    Credit Hours: 4

 

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11Forward 10 -> 19