For the M.S. in Coastal and Ecological Engineering, there is only a thesis option available. The thesis option requires the student to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of approved course work and to submit an acceptable thesis worth 6 hours. One half of the coursework must be at the 7000 level or above. Coursework for the M.S. degree is divided into two categories: a 12-hour set of core courses for all students in the program, and a 12-hour set of approved electives for students wishing to specialize in either coastal or ecological engineering. Civil engineering has a special place in LSU's history with the first engineering degree at LSU being awarded to a civil engineering graduate in 1869. Also, in 1969, the first African American to graduate from the College of Engineering received his bachelor's in civil engineering. During 1908, the university was reorganized into individual colleges. At that time, the College of Engineering was established with civil engineering being one of four departments within the new college. Expanding the department's offerings to include graduate studies, the master's degree program in civil engineering was initiated in 1932 and the doctoral degree program in 1970. The bachelor's in environmental engineering program was established in 1995. Most recently, in 2012, a master's degree in coastal and ecological engineering was added bringing the number of programs offered by CEE to five.