Program Overview

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Environmental Engineering in Civil Engineering, PhD

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers graduate work leading to master's and doctoral degrees in a variety of specialized areas. The PhD program in Environmental Engineering in Civil Engineering is designed to provide advanced knowledge and skills in environmental engineering, with a focus on research and independent study.

Overview

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy, primarily a research degree, requires from three to four years of graduate study beyond the master's degree. Candidates must demonstrate a capacity for independent research by preparing an original thesis on a topic within the major field of study, must meet the qualifying requirements or examination in the area of specialization, and must pass both preliminary and final examinations.

Degree Requirements

• Entering with an approved Master's Degree:
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • CEE 599 | Thesis Research (min-max applied toward degree) | 32
    • Elective courses (subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below) | 32
    • Total Hours | 64
• Entering with an approved Baccalaureate Degree:
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • CEE 599 | Thesis Research | 32-40
    • Elective Courses (subject to other requirements and conditions below) | 56-64
    • Total Hours | 96

Other Requirements

• A maximum of 8 hours of CEE 597 (or other independent study) may be applied toward the elective course work requirement; approval required.
• There is no department-wide foreign language requirement. However, the faculties of some areas of specialization may require foreign language proficiency if essential to the conduct of research in that area.
• 64 graduate hours must be completed in residence.
• A Master's degree is required for admission to the PhD program.
• PhD exam and dissertation requirements:
  • Qualifying exam
  • Preliminary exam
  • Final exam or dissertation defense
  • Dissertation deposit
• The minimum program GPA is 2.75.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD program in Environmental Engineering in Civil Engineering, students will be able to:

1. Identify and utilize advanced mathematical, computational, design, and/or experimental skills to solve complex problems in civil and environmental engineering.
2. Demonstrate technical knowledge and depth in at least one or more CEE subject areas and breadth of knowledge in at least one additional area.
3. Communicate effectively (written, oral presentation, and other media) technical ideas, design concepts, or research results.
4. Understand the student's professional and scientific ethical responsibilities.
5. Propose, plan, and execute original research ideas that target current or future societal challenges related to civil and environmental engineering.
6. Demonstrate skills to teach technical subjects in CEE at the university level.

Department Research

Areas of study and research pursued by the faculty are focused in the following ten specializations:

• Construction management
• Environmental engineering and science
• Environmental hydrology and hydraulic engineering
• Geotechnical engineering
• Materials
• Structural engineering
• Engineering materials and additive manufacturing technologies
• Transportation engineering
• Sustainable and resilient infrastructure systems
• Energy-water-environment sustainability
• Societal risk and hazard mitigation

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Graduate College with full status in environmental engineering in civil engineering is granted to graduates of accredited institutions whose requirements for the master's degree are substantially equivalent to those of the University of Illinois, provided the applicant's preparation is appropriate for advanced study in his or her chosen major field and his or her cumulative grade point average is at least 3.00 (A = 4.00). The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is currently optional. However, it is strongly recommended that the GRE test be submitted to help faculty with admission and funding decisions for all PhD applicants.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and research and teaching assistantships. Starting in Fall 2020, Grainger Engineering PhD students in their first five years of enrollment who meet the minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed a funded appointment for fall and spring that includes a full tuition waiver, a partial fee waiver, and a stipend.