Civil and Environmental Engineering

Credit Limitations:  A maximum of fifteen (15) previously completed credit hours can be applied toward a single graduate degree. This includes:

• A maximum of nine (9) credit hours taken as a non-matriculated student,

• A maximum of six (6) credit hours transferred from another institution, and

• A maximum of six (6) graduate credit hours taken as an undergraduate. 

Candidates for graduate degrees are required to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA with no grade below C accepted toward degrees. In addition, only one course (maximum of 4 credit hours) with a grade of C+ or C may be accepted for credit towards a graduate degree.

Minimum Credit Hour Requirements:

Direct Admit (Bachelor to PhD): 30 graduate credit hours of coursework. 14 credit hours of research.

Traditional PhD (MS to PhD): 18 credit hours of coursework. 14 credit hours of research.

The traditional PhD path is utilized by students who have been granted a Master's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related academic field.

Degree Requirements: All students will take a preliminary examination, during their first or second year of study. This examination is intended to reveal if there are knowledge gaps in the general field of study. Some students may be required to take additional coursework to correct for deficiencies. If additional coursework is required, the specified courses may not count towards the overall requirements of the graduate degree. Coursework is planned/ mapped with the input of the student's research advisor and approved by the graduate supervisory committee (further information below). All students pursuing a PhD are required to complete a dissertation. Students must propose their dissertation research to the supervisory committee. The committee will vote to approve or disapprove the the dissertation topic. Decisions are made by majority vote. Following the research proposal, a minimum of two semester's time must pass before the student can complete the final dissertation defense. The dissertation defense is a presentation of the academic works also overseen by the student's supervisory committee. Students must pass the dissertation defense by majority vote. Details regarding the requirements of the dissertation have been outlined by the Graduate School.

All students are required to have a doctoral supervisory committee.

• Details on the composition of this supervisory committee.

• Details regarding the responsibilities of the supervisory committee.