Ph.D. - Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering program offers advanced courses in the areas of structural analysis and design, water resources and environmental engineering, transportation engineering, and geotechnical engineering. This program aims to educate technical experts to meet challenges related to enhancing infrastructure and the environment.  Students learn about conducting research and solving technical problems that have an impact both regionally and globally. The PhD program culminates in a written dissertation representing an original contribution to knowledge in the field, significantly enlarging, modifying or reinterpreting what was previously known. Students work closely with their advisor, but PhD research is an original, independent investigation of the chosen research topic.

Admission Criteria – PhD: CEE

Admission requirements for the PhD program include a M.S. degree in an engineering field, science, or closely related area.  All applicants must contact a CEE faculty member prior to submitting an application seeking a PhD advisor. For admission, a student must have a CEE faculty member agree to be his/her PhD advisor. Applicants must also meet PSU graduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements – PhD: CEE

A PhD student must complete the following departmental requirements:

1.    Complete a minimum of two years of full-time graduate work (including coursework and thesis credits) beyond the M.S. degree;
2.    Complete an approved program of study, which includes a minimum of 24 hours coursework;
3.    Pass the comprehensive examination;
4.    Present and pass a prospectus defense for advancement to candidacy;
5.    Complete 27 credit hours of dissertation credit (CE 603) leading to the completion of a doctoral dissertation;
6.    Present and pass the final oral dissertation defense; and
7.    Submit the written dissertation in compliance with University guidelines and deadlines.

The PhD student must be registered for 9 credits per term (full time) for three consecutive terms after admission. Once a PhD student is advanced to candidacy, he/she is expected to register for dissertation or research credit for a minimum of one full-time academic year. After this requirement for the first year of candidacy is met, the student must be registered for at least one credit for every term until all degree requirements are met.  PhD students must complete 27 hours of dissertation (CE 603) credits before graduation.

Note: Students should thoroughly read the PSU Bulletin’s Graduate Admissions Requirements and other information, especially the “General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees” and “Summary of Procedures for Doctoral Degrees.”

Pass/No Pass Grading Policy

All courses taken in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering by degree candidates must be taken for a letter grade, unless a course is only offered with a pass/no pass option. Courses outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering may be taken pass/no pass only with the consent of the student’s adviser. Non-degree seeking students may take Civil and Environmental Engineering courses pass/no pass with the consent of the instructor.