The PhD in Civil Engineering program is designed for highly qualified personnel interested in a rewarding career in fundamental or applied research. The program involves advanced courses and an intensive research program culminating in a dissertation. The development of applied research skills will also prepare PhD graduates for a career either in or outside of academia in new and traditional fields of Civil Engineering including but not limited to structural, fire safety, geotechnical, water resources, construction, environmental and transportation engineering.

The program consists of 8.0 full Course Equivalents (FCE) over four years (full-time): 1.5 FCE elective courses, 1.0 FCE Comprehensive Examination, 0.5 FCE PhD Seminar, and 5.0 FCE PhD dissertation. Students can follow a full-time or flexible full-time model. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

Conduct independent research and show competence within specific area(s) of Civil Engineering through the formulation and execution of engineering research plan(s) using advanced mathematical, scientific, and engineering concepts;
Design and execute experiments and/or analytical/numerical analyses, depending on the nature and scope of the research;
Develop novel solutions, and demonstrate originality in the solution to Civil Engineering problems;
Analyze complex issues based on established principles and techniques within the discipline of Civil Engineering.