Program Overview

Introduction to the Wind Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program

The Wind Science and Engineering Ph.D. program at Texas Tech University is a unique interdisciplinary program that aims to provide students with a broad education necessary to pursue research and solve problems related to the detrimental effects of windstorms and to learn to take advantage of the beneficial effects of wind.

Program Objectives

The educational objective of the program is to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to conduct multidisciplinary research in wind science and engineering. The program focuses on the detrimental effects of windstorms, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, as well as the beneficial effects of wind, including wind energy.

Program Requirements

• The doctorate requires at least 60 semester hours of graduate studies in addition to a dissertation.
• Each student's core coursework and dissertation research are multidisciplinary.
• Coursework for students is tailored with the advice and consent of their graduate advisor to provide background for multidisciplinary dissertation research.
• Students are also required to complete 6-credit hours of summer off-campus external internship at an academic institution, in a governmental or private laboratory, or with a private company.
• Opportunities are available to complete this internship requirement abroad.

Research and Dissertation

• Students pursue multidisciplinary research under the guidance of the chair or co-chairs of their advisory committee.
• Graduate faculty members from at least two disciplines will be represented on each student's advisory committee.
• Research must be multidisciplinary and can include a combination of engineering, atmospheric sciences, economics, physical sciences, and mathematics.
• Field/lab experiments, analytical research, or numerical simulations are examples of acceptable dissertation research.

Qualifying Examination and Publication

• Students must complete a qualifying examination to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
• The qualifying examination questions are based on a dissertation proposal, which is provided to the advisory committee by the student prior to the qualifying examination.
• Additionally, students shall have at least one paper based on their dissertation research published (or accepted to be published) in a peer-reviewed journal prior to graduation.

Financial Support

Financial support in the form of scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships is available to qualified students.

Program Director

The director of the Wind Science and Engineering Ph.D. program is Dr. Delong Zuo, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering.