Earthquake Engineering

The postgraduate specialist study in Earthquake Engineering is intended as a form of professional development and lifelong learning primarily for civil engineers and architects engaged in the design and construction of earthquake-resistant structures. The study is based on the application of scientifically grounded knowledge of structural behavior in earthquakes and modern standards for earthquake-resistant design.

The assessment of disaster risk in the Republic of Croatia places the risk of earthquakes at a very high level with possible catastrophic consequences. The earthquakes in Zagreb on March 22, 2020, and in the Sisak-Moslavina County on December 29, 2020, caused significant material damage, socio-economic consequences, and irreparable loss of human lives, highlighting the urgency of taking measures to mitigate the risk of earthquakes in Croatia. Therefore, earthquake risk is mentioned as an essential segment in the Strategy for Disaster Risk Management by 2030, which envisages the development of strategic programs in the field of earthquake engineering.

This study enables participants to acquire highly specialized knowledge and skills in the field of structural dynamics, the application of modern calculation methods, techniques for strengthening existing structures, the rehabilitation of buildings individually protected as cultural heritage, methodologies for earthquake risk assessment, structural and material testing, earthquake-resistant design of bridges, the application of isolators and other energy dissipating devices, and the use of modern materials and construction technologies.

Upon completion of the university specialist study, participants obtain the academic title of Specialist in Earthquake Engineering, with the abbreviation spec. aedif. seism.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants apply for the program based on a public competition announced by the Faculty no later than May 1 of the current year for the next academic year.

The obligations of participants consist of attending postgraduate classes, taking exams, participating in programs and seminars, and working on the final specialist paper. A total of 60 ECTS credits must be earned in the program, of which the participant must earn 36 ECTS credits from exams and 24 ECTS credits from the final specialist thesis.

The study is open to individuals who have completed a university graduate program or an integrated undergraduate and graduate program, or an undergraduate program (according to previous regulations) in the scientific field of technical sciences, and individuals who have earned at least 60 ECTS credits from subjects within the field of civil engineering during their studies, including at least 15 ECTS credits from the field of structural engineering.

Individuals who have not earned the required number of ECTS credits are required to enroll in and pass differential exams.

Exceptionally, a university specialist program may be enrolled in by individuals who have completed a professional graduate program upon passing differential exams determined by the Faculty and have at least five years of work experience in the field of the study.

The costs of differential exams are borne by the participant and are not included in the prescribed tuition fees.

STUDY PROGRAM

Teaching for individual subjects is organized in shifts or as block sessions and is delivered through lectures, exercises, seminars, and practical (field and laboratory) work.

Students enroll in mandatory courses worth a total of 24 ECTS credits, as well as elective courses worth a total of 12 ECTS credits.

The study is conducted over a period of one (1) year, divided into two semesters, and students are required to complete the program within a maximum of two (2) years from the date of enrollment.

Specialist Thesis

The student proposes a topic for the final specialist thesis upon enrollment in the second semester. The accepted topic of the final specialist thesis is evaluated with 4 ECTS credits.

After achieving 36 ECTS credits from courses and passing exams, along with completing the final specialist thesis, the participant initiates the assessment process for the final specialist thesis. The committee for assessing the project, which may be the same as the one for approving the topic, reviews the completed work. A positively evaluated thesis is worth 14 ECTS credits.

An applicant who receives a positive evaluation for the thesis has the right and obligation to publicly defend the thesis. The defense is conducted in the language in which the thesis was written. A successful public defense of the final specialist thesis is worth 6 ECTS credits.

Competencies Acquired Upon Completion of the Program

Understanding general phenomena and engineering issues in the field of earthquake engineering.
Knowledge and skills necessary for analyzing the seismic resistance of new and existing buildings and finding one or more acceptable engineering solutions to achieve greater seismic resilience.
Designing complex structures resistant to seismic loads according to the current technical regulations for seismic resistance design.
Developing and revising assessments of structural seismic resilience and providing an assessment of the level of seismic resistance of buildings according to relevant regulations.
Recognizing mechanisms of structural failure and, based on this knowledge, conducting rapid/detailed assessments of buildings damaged by earthquakes and providing a general assessment of the remaining structural capacity.