As some of you know I am supposed to complete my masters of civil engineering this December at NC State University. I have taken their online program while working full time and paid as I went. In short, to be allowed to graduate you have to have a "committee" review your plan of study and approve it. My committee is my advisor who is also the head of the department. He left his comment on my final plan of study that "The engineering communication course does not count as one of the 10 courses required for the degree." The course he is referencing is CE 550, Professional Engineering Communication. I took the course Fall '21 and received an A.

A little background, graduation requirement is 30 credit hours, 2/3 of which must be in a concentration (mine is Geotechnical). I have completed 7 out of my 10 courses in Geotechnical so that is satisfied. The requirement for the remaining credit hours is as follows. "The remaining credit hours can be civil engineering courses or related courses from other departments."

I called my advisor yesterday and his reasoning is that CE 550 is not a Civil Engineering course despite it being labeled as such. I also had to pay the engineering experience fee to take this course. He claims since it is not a math based quantitative course it does not count. Mind you, I am allowed to take related courses from other departments, so how does this not count even if you don't consider it to be a Civil class?

The result of our conversation was that he approved me to drop him as my advisor and now I am being assigned a new advisor that will hopefully see things differently and approve my plan of study. How is it not black and white? How can each advisor have a different opinion?

I don't see how this isn't considered straight up fraud. I will not be out $2000 for taking this course because someone deems it "not a civil engineering course" even though it as labeled as such. To say this has been frustrating would be an understatement

Go to the Dean if you don't sort it out with the new advisor. And, keep a productive attitude with all of them so that they want to help.

Ditto. If they won't correct this matter, contact an Attorney. The statement contained within that text, "The remaining credit hours can be civil engineering courses or related courses from other departments." is IMHO clear . . . "A Rose, though called by any other name, is still a Rose" :-)

They just need more money. Bet if you just offered another $2000 check that course would count and you’d be on track to graduate.

Just take the African trans woman studies course and I'm sure that'll satisfy them.

But what they said.

All colleges have a "catalog" or list of courses required and or counted towards a degree in any field. Check with someone in the campus registrar"s office. That's the department that validates the degrees and or grades on your transcripts. Your professor/advisor was probably the one that enrolled you in that class. But their "opinion" doesn't matter as the university has guidelines set up for each requirement....

I know this because my wife is an advisor at the college she works. In the summer and before second semester she has that giant "catalog" in her lap when placing students. ALL universities have one....

Why was your plan of study not reviewed and approved prior to you completing almost all of it? If part of your plan was an issue, that should have been sorted out before hand, not after the fact.

Something is not adding up. Seems to me that the purpose of having an advisor would be to prevent a situation like this from happening.

This you have a crapy advisor

I had something similar happen when I was in college. My advisor mapped out my classes and approved the schedule. Later, it came out that one of my classes wouldn't be applied towards my degree. I raised a bunch of stink and it took a while, but after some time, it was accepted.

Hope it works out for you!

The dean should know if others had the same fate and how they were resolved. If others have not been able to get their degree with the same situation you are in then the battle may be up hill. If you are ardent about moving forward you may be able to get the language and the course descriptions changed for the future and also resolve your current issue. The fact that you were assigned another advisor to me indicates that even at that level there are differing opinions on this issue. Politics is everywhere during our current times. I don't think this is about money, it is about what differing people in leadership choose to do and that is in any business be it academia or elsewhere.

Bryce

It sounds to me that this professor has a bone to pick with the administration and/or department over what courses count toward graduation for your major. He probably lost a battle with the administration on this and is now taking it out on students to "protest" the admins decision to include nonquantitative courses. Or he simply may object to online courses.

In any event, I would talk with the department chair to make sure you get an advisor that is professional, doesn't play games with students, and will allow you to get your degree. My guess is that he had absolutely no qualms with agreeing to be dropped as your advisor. Most departments have someone that advises students on such things.

You are the example how higher education should be managed. You are paying as you go working your way for your career. Some in the higher education industry just can’t deal with individuals that start with a goal!

Little update, talked with the woman over the engineering online program a few minutes ago. In order to be assigned an advisor from another civil discipline such as environmental or structural I would have to complete my coursework in that discipline, so that would basically mean starting over

They are discussing it with the geotech department and said they will have an answer tomorrow afternoon. If the answer stays the same I plan on contacting the dean

As for the advising process and the plan of work submittal this late in the game, I went through advising meetings the first two semesters with my advisor where we discussed courses and degree requirements. After the first two semesters he said the meetings were not necessary and he removed my advising hold without reviewing my courses or having a meeting. It has been that way ever since Spring '21. I know he has to review my courses to clear my advising hold, but he did not say anything until now

Be prepared to be disappointed, because the Dean is almost likely going to back the head of department.

Welcome to the world of college professors and admin that think we are not worthy to be around them and that their do-do does not stink!

good luck buddy hope it works out for you

Well things have changed this morning. I spoke to the Director of Graduate Programs about my situation. He was definitely on my side. A couple hours later I received an email saying that my request for a new academic advisor was approved

I was given a new advisor I have never heard of, he is an associate professor in the Civil department.

In short order I emailed him explaining the situation and he approved my graduate plan of work!

It required lots of phone calls and some constant nagging to the lady over the engineering online program but it turned out alright

Man it sure is a relief

The first guy required some "grease" to approve you.