Civil Engineering (Ph.D.)
About
The Ph.D. degree is granted in recognition of high scholastic attainment in some area of civil engineering in concert with a demonstrated ability for independent research. The preparation and defense of a thesis embodying the results of an original investigation in a specialized area of civil engineering are essential features of the program.
All students matriculating into M.S (thesis option) or Ph.D. programs must pass one credit of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training prior to completing the degree, preferably prior to commencing the research. At the advisory committee’s or Graduate Coordinator’s discretion, this credit may be substituted for one of the 6 required thesis/dissertation credits (CIE 699).
Program Highlights
Requirements
The program for the Ph.D. carries a minimum residency requirement of two academic years and a course credit requirement of 42 credit hours, at least 12 of which must be 500-level and higher, or the equivalent, beyond the B.S. degree. Transfer credit of up to 24 credit hours and one academic year of residency may be accepted. In view of the wide variety of specialized areas embodied in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the student’s program of study will be established in consultation with the graduate committee. Before admission to candidacy for the Ph.D., a student must successfully complete a qualifying examination designed to test the student’s area of expertise. The qualifying examination will normally be taken as soon as possible after the student has completed the graduate school requirement of one and one-half years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. No foreign language requirement is included in the program.
Concentrations
Environmental and Water Resources
The Environmental and Water Resources Engineering areas focus on qualitative and quantitative aspects of marine and inland surface waters, groundwater and wetland environments within the broad context of environmental sustainability.
Geotechnical Engineering
The geotechnical engineering graduate program provides opportunities for specialized training and research in soil mechanics, unsaturated/gassy soil mechanics,, slope stability, soil-structure interaction, design of foundations and earth retention structures, advanced numerical modeling of geosystems, and sediment transport and soil erosion. Students in the program may choose either a thesis option, conducting fundamental research or research applied to practical engineering problems, or a professional practice option without a thesis.
Structural Engineering and Mechanics
The program offers graduate courses and opportunities for advanced research in several areas of structural mechanics and design. These include the development of innovative materials and structural systems to solve problems in traditional civil infrastructure, marine facilities, building structural systems, and non-traditional applications. Particular areas of strength are composite materials, including wood-based, polymer matrix, and cement-based systems, as well as innovative computational modeling approaches.
Transportation Engineering
The Transportation engineering graduate program provides opportunities for specialized training and research in Transportation Engineering, highway safety and operations, and Transportation systems and planning. Graduate courses are offered in Engineering Systems and Optimization, Advanced Transportation Planning, Transportation Operations and Highway Safety.
Program Learning Outcomes
Careers
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At a Glance
Degree Level
Doctoral
Degree Earned
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Concentrations
Environmental and Water Resources
Geotechnical Engineering
Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Transportation Engineering
Mode of Study
In-Person
Time to Complete degree
48 Credits
Featured Courses
XXX 101
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XXX 101
A really, really, really Long course title goes here
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XXX 101
Research Learning Experience
A really, really, really Long course title goes here
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Scholarships
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